Mutodi unveils 19-member band

Energy Mutodi

Enterprising musician Energy Mutodi will tonight delight audiences at the new home of live concerts, Holly’s Hotel. Mutodi has over the months been building on a band christened Mutodi Stars which was presented to audiences in recent weeks in several high-profile gigs around Harare.

Tonight the singer will take on stage his 19-member band that includes nine dancers. “I have built my own band now and no longer sing with Real Sounds. My new band, Mutodi Stars plays a mix of rhumba and sungura.

“With the coming on board of Shiga Shiga and Innocent Mijintu we decided to form our own band. Real Sounds has now resumed shows without me, but I will engage them as and when I feel a need to do so.”  Mutodi Stars comprise of Mutodi as the frontman, nine core members and nine dancers. 

A businessman involved in real estate and currently studying for his MBA, Mutodi said he has learnt to manage the pressure. “Pressure is there because we want to cover all the areas of business, music, studies and personal life. I have managed because of a strict schedule and has engaged good managers. It is very essential to employ a good manager because that lessens the pressure.” 

Former Utaka taka chanter, Shiga is currently the manager of Mutodi Stars. “We have built on a good band and we will be presenting something special at Holly’s Hotel. We are no longer only playing rhumba, but sungura as well. 

“Catch us and see how we are performing. We are doing quite well as an outfit and our energies are combining very well,” said Shiga. The group is always immaculately dressed and Mutodi said this was their trademark. “Our band has six sets of uniforms and we are looking at acquiring some more.

We dress our band with the best because that says a lot about a band. Image is very important; people remember you based on your presentation. Dressing is critical; it often stays in people’s minds.”  The National Arts Merits Awards, Nama nominee said his band receive support in terms of uniforms from businessman, Phillip Chiyangwa. 

Mutodi said his outfit is launching its third album on April 6 at Jazz 105. The Chigorodanda hitmaker said this time they are launching a sungura album. “We want to alternate our albums. We will release one rhumba and sungura album per year. We want to aim at two albums each year.”

On upcoming events, Mutodi said: “I am aware of this Holly’s performance tonight and Shiga Shiga will know which other performances are lined up. We have fans all over the country so we will try to cater for them.” A manager at Holly’s Hotel said they were ready and geared to give space to popular musicians as demanded by their patrons. Culled from Dailynews