As he celebrates his recent success, Tytan talks about importance of branding
Published: 13 May 2016 | by Janine Dube
Tytan - Photo supplied
For the best part of the last decade, the music industry in Zimbabwe has seen somewhat of a renaissance. This can be attributed to a new generation of musicians who are no longer willing to just copy what musicians in other parts of Africa or the world are doing.
They are now putting their own stamp on the sound or even creating a whole new genre. One of the new artists shining a beacon for Zimbabwe's music is none other than Tytan, who together with Ammara Brown and UK based producer, Jusa Dementor, created the hit song 'Mukoko.'
For Tytan, also known as Njabulo Nkomo, churning a good song is not the only aspect of forging a successful career. Branding, which arguably has been one of the aspects lacking for a lot of the country's musicians, is paramount.
Tytan - Photo supplied
In an interview with OneVybe, Tytan, who happens to run a brand management business, says that he believes that a lot of planning is necessary. He got into branding because he wanted to have ownership of his network and this has helped him learn valuable tricks of the trade. He tells OneVybe: "Branding is lacking in Zim and if you are not branded well, you're not going to make it. You might have good music but talent only counts for 5%."
Tytan does not just apply this ethos to his own music but to the artists that he manages and these include singers Cynthia Mare and Donald Kanyuchi. Donald was mentored by none other than Oliver Mtukudzi but has grown to develop his own style.
Under Tytan's management, Cynthia, who used to reside in the UK, has won notable awards and this helped open doors for both she and Tytan as artists in their own right or as collaborators. Cynthia and Donald are getting a lot of appreciation on the world stage and by the looks of it so it Tytan.
Oliver Mtukudzi with Ammara Brown and Cynthia Mare at HIFA 2014
Of his hit Mukoko, featuring Zimbabwe's beloved Ammara Brown, Tytan said he collaborated with her because she is a brilliant vocalist and she fit the concept of the song.
Although he does not always write about relationships, Tytan is inspired by love and happiness. Mukoko was inspired by his relationship and he tells OneVybe: "At that time my girlfriend and I were having trouble and we had given each other space."
During that time, Tytan reflected on their relationship and realised that she was a very special woman and such a sweetheart to him. He admits that in the past he had sometimes taken advantage of her and Mukoko was his way of reintroducing himself to her.
"Basically what the song is about is the beauty that women have that's inside, the happiness they bring to our lives through their sweetness. They are so sweet," he laughs. Tytan likens that sweetness to 'Mukoko,' a Shona word for honey or honeycomb.
The video was shot in the iconic suburb of Mbare in Harare so as to capture the essence of young love in a way that many Zimbabweans could identify with regardless of the background they come from.
Mukoko - Tytan ft Ammara Brown
Tytan started singing in 2003 when he was just 13-years-old and in secondary school. He loved music and says he wanted to be like the people he listened to such as Eminem and Zimbabwean rappers including Kingpin and David Chifunyise.
When he got started, Tytan, like most artists, faced a lot of challenges with little or no encouragement. Before embarking on music, he worked in IT and banking, mainly to please his parents and be a responsible adult.
Eventually he decided to follow his passion and in time things started to work out for him. Tytan says, "I didn't get much support in the beginning but as time went on, people like to be impressed by your accolades."
Tytan had a good feeling about Mukoko and he says the song got a lot of love right from the beginning when he started performing it as early as August 2015 at events.
He now hopes to tour outside Zimbabwe so he can meet the global fans that have helped his song, Mukoko, become a phenomenal success and the video for it to go viral.
OneVybe interview with Tytan
For more information:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYtYDMcIQ90rx3m3DfcDhBA
- OneVybe
They are now putting their own stamp on the sound or even creating a whole new genre. One of the new artists shining a beacon for Zimbabwe's music is none other than Tytan, who together with Ammara Brown and UK based producer, Jusa Dementor, created the hit song 'Mukoko.'
For Tytan, also known as Njabulo Nkomo, churning a good song is not the only aspect of forging a successful career. Branding, which arguably has been one of the aspects lacking for a lot of the country's musicians, is paramount.
Tytan - Photo supplied
In an interview with OneVybe, Tytan, who happens to run a brand management business, says that he believes that a lot of planning is necessary. He got into branding because he wanted to have ownership of his network and this has helped him learn valuable tricks of the trade. He tells OneVybe: "Branding is lacking in Zim and if you are not branded well, you're not going to make it. You might have good music but talent only counts for 5%."
Tytan does not just apply this ethos to his own music but to the artists that he manages and these include singers Cynthia Mare and Donald Kanyuchi. Donald was mentored by none other than Oliver Mtukudzi but has grown to develop his own style.
Under Tytan's management, Cynthia, who used to reside in the UK, has won notable awards and this helped open doors for both she and Tytan as artists in their own right or as collaborators. Cynthia and Donald are getting a lot of appreciation on the world stage and by the looks of it so it Tytan.
Oliver Mtukudzi with Ammara Brown and Cynthia Mare at HIFA 2014
Of his hit Mukoko, featuring Zimbabwe's beloved Ammara Brown, Tytan said he collaborated with her because she is a brilliant vocalist and she fit the concept of the song.
Although he does not always write about relationships, Tytan is inspired by love and happiness. Mukoko was inspired by his relationship and he tells OneVybe: "At that time my girlfriend and I were having trouble and we had given each other space."
During that time, Tytan reflected on their relationship and realised that she was a very special woman and such a sweetheart to him. He admits that in the past he had sometimes taken advantage of her and Mukoko was his way of reintroducing himself to her.
"Basically what the song is about is the beauty that women have that's inside, the happiness they bring to our lives through their sweetness. They are so sweet," he laughs. Tytan likens that sweetness to 'Mukoko,' a Shona word for honey or honeycomb.
The video was shot in the iconic suburb of Mbare in Harare so as to capture the essence of young love in a way that many Zimbabweans could identify with regardless of the background they come from.
Mukoko - Tytan ft Ammara Brown
Tytan started singing in 2003 when he was just 13-years-old and in secondary school. He loved music and says he wanted to be like the people he listened to such as Eminem and Zimbabwean rappers including Kingpin and David Chifunyise.
When he got started, Tytan, like most artists, faced a lot of challenges with little or no encouragement. Before embarking on music, he worked in IT and banking, mainly to please his parents and be a responsible adult.
Eventually he decided to follow his passion and in time things started to work out for him. Tytan says, "I didn't get much support in the beginning but as time went on, people like to be impressed by your accolades."
Tytan had a good feeling about Mukoko and he says the song got a lot of love right from the beginning when he started performing it as early as August 2015 at events.
He now hopes to tour outside Zimbabwe so he can meet the global fans that have helped his song, Mukoko, become a phenomenal success and the video for it to go viral.
OneVybe interview with Tytan
For more information:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYtYDMcIQ90rx3m3DfcDhBA
- OneVybe
You Might Also Like...
Leave a Comment
Most Recent Posts
