Lessons from travels, Maskal’s third effort builds on artist’s voyages

Several Malawian musicians have said they want to take their music across the continent and beyond.

While some have misunderstood the ‘going international’ concept as copying most trending genres or songs, Maskal understands that he can achieve the dream through collaboration and aggressive marketing.

The artist, who is working on his third album, is collaborating with an American company, DC Productions, to produce the musician’s videos and instrumentals for his songs.

The artist is also working with local music producer V2 and UK-based producers, God’s Favourite and Sunny Ncube, who produced The Way You Are, which was recorded and produced in UK.

In an interview with Chill, the musician, born Masiye Kansaru, said he will record new music with West African and Zimbabwean musicians in an attempt to reach out to other markets.

The artist said he understands he has to maintain a Malawian sound even when collaborating with foreign artists.

“It is important that artists maintain a Malawian sound to expose Malawian music beyond the borders,” said Maskal.

The artist said he will sing in Chichewa although some songs will be mixed with English.

“I believe language is not an issue when it comes to music. Malawians enjoy songs by Zahara, Mafikizolo, Awilo Longomba and Davido even when they can’t hear what the artists are singing about,” he said.

Maskal, who says his yet-to-be-titled album is due out next year, has already released two singles, The way You Are and Ona.

In the The Way You Are, the artist tells his lover that he loves her the way she is.

The singer drifted from his usual beat in the song as he rocks on a kwasa-kwasa beat.

In Ona, the artist does not deviate from his love themes. The song, whose instrumentation runs on a manganje beat, is about a man who is pouring out his heart to his lover.

However, the song sounds much like his previous hit Usatope off the Umunthu album.

Bricks from the same mould?

The artist is working on a video for Ona which will be shot in the country and is set for a November release.

Maskal said some of the videos from the upcoming album will be shot and edited in US.

“I am trying to reach a quality that can match with the standards for Channel O and MTV so that I can push this dream further,” said the velvety voiced artist.

He said it is important that Malawian artists work with as a team to promote their music, something he was quick to say he is working on.

Maskal is a singer and songwriter who has two albums, Nthawi (2010) and Umunthu (2012), on his discography since he rose to fame with his debut in 2010.

He was signed to Nde’feyo Entertainment until he left the outfit in 2012. The artist is a brand ambassador for Access Communications. n