Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 May 2008
Harare — Botswane-based disc jockey, Otis "The Flow" Frazer says his first ever compilation album will be out later this year featuring some of his hottest house music productions.
In an interview, the former Radio 3 (now Power FM) DJ, who is now producing music on a full time basis, said he was working with artistes from Botswana and Zimbabwe on his solo project.
"Many people have been asking when I intend to release my own album and I feel now it's the time to do that. So the project will be out later this year.
"Already I have recorded a Motswana artiste called Zonki who appears on Kalawa Records and I think she's the future. So definitely something fresh will be out soon," he said.
The move, he said, was in line with international standards where Djs are not only known for scratching the turntables, but also producing music.
Locally, DJs are restricted to playing music on radio or at nightclubs while internationally, being a DJ demands a lot more than just playing music on the decks. For instance, most Jamaican Djs are artistes in their own rights, like Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B, Ludacris and Beenie Man.
Down south, we have the likes of DJ Cleo, Oskido, S'bu and Fresh who have produced their own CDs or featured in various compilations. "It is my hope to break the South African market," The Flow said. Asked why he was producing a House music album and not Kwaito, The Flow said house music was now the in-thing although locally it was not as big as in other parts of Southern Africa.
"Well, am surprised to see that House music is not that big here and I think there is a lot that needs to be done to put House on track here. "I remember on radio The Hitman (Hosea Singende) and myself used to play a lot of House on radio and that is the sort of thing happening in other countries," he said. Commenting on the local music scene, The Flow said there was need to expose urban grooves and taking it to level where kwaito music is in South Africa.
"I think urban grooves is a good thing but it needs the exposure. The music has the potential to go on another level. "I have also noted that old skool music has peaked and it's a good thing that its working if I had the time I would have wanted to play alongside Mr Cool (Kudzi Marudza)," he said. He said if given a chance he would love to go back on radio just like other former radios the likes of Witness Matema, Tinotenda Katsande, Munyaradzi Mlimo who have gone back to radio.
"It is not a question whether things get better here but that my field of music which is House has gone down but when the time comes when the music is being appreciated hopefully I will be back."
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