Reggae Riddim making Waves across Zimbabwe

Internationally-recognised recording label, Abra Records, is set to release its first ZimReggae project In Your Arms Riddim along with three international projects this month. In your arms riddim which will be released this week features seven local artistes including Ras Caleb, Celsius, Nick Cavalli and Kilaman who made a contribution with positive inspirational lyrics on the project. Leader of the stable, Abra Simmz who usually focuses on dancehall, suggests that the project is aimed at providing the nation with positive music from young artistes and challenging other dancehall practitioners to produce inspirational music. “Jusa and I realised Zimdancehall had no direction, as in a secure future, and it is not too late for us to start positively messaged music for it starts with one artiste then the other. We want to create music that is meaningful and something people would feel securing the perpetuation of the music genre,”said Simzz. The project attracted names of upcoming artistes who have been awarded a chance to work with the international recording label, despite featuring in other local dancehall discographies. “Recording many artistes and big names on a riddim doesn’t always make it big. Younger artistes are always overshadowed by big names and through this riddim we have tried to give upcoming artistes a chance,” said Simmz. Tranquility, Spitfire and Pronuto riddims, the three projects which are in line for release under different recording houses in Jamaica, include local artistes such as Celsius, Sweetness, Dizzy Dee, Jusa Dementor and Jamaican experts, with Beenie Man among them. “We are planning rebranding which would mean our projects would be released under Abra Records although merging with other houses has brought us success, especially the Spitfire riddim which has Beenie Man on it,” said Simmz. THEOPHILUS MAKOMBE http://www.thezimmail.co.zw/2014/09/15/abra-records-to-launch-riddim/