Harare — TIRED of hopping from one studio to another trying to record their music and only to be turned down, two musicians have decided to start their own studio.

The recording studio, Joe Love Records, has opened in the capital after being shifted from Bulawayo where it initially operated as Moonlight Records. Run by Pathisani Sibanda and Ishmael Hoto, the studio boasts of state-of-the-art equipment.

"It has been painful and hard for us trying to record our own music only to be let down by the exorbitant fees they were charging.

"We didn't have that privilege to record and when God gave us the chance to buy the studio and recording equipment, we decided to extend this chance to fellow musicians whom we would be recording for a small fee," said Sibanda.

The coming in of some South African engineers and producers has boosted the studio.

"We want to produce the best music, hence the decision to bring in these guys from South Africa. Blessing Mubako, who holds a degree in musicology from the University of Zimbabwe, will be part of the engineers and producers," explained Hoto.

To date, the studio has recorded Flame of Africa, Scoo and the Jazz Elements and Faith Family from Solusi University. Choral groups are set to benefit from the studio where a special would be in store for them.

"We are also going to give free recording contracts to apostolic music groups we are going to pick during their festival in the Harare Gardens soon. We are currently working on videos by all our artistes and also want to tackle piracy," said Sibanda, without elaborating what measures they will put in place.

Sibanda studied music at Kwazulu Natal School of Arts.