Bryan K: My new album has something for everyone

Born Bryan Kadengu, Bryan K credits Ringo Madlingozi, Mtukudzi, Jabu Khanyile and Hugh Masekela for inspiring him throughout his music career. The ‘Heavy Machine’ hitmaker has now released three albums, including his debut offering Nyaya DzeRudo (2015), followed by Evolution K (2018) and his latest eight-track project Bibo Worldwide, which features fellow local artists Crooger, Nutty O, Junior Brown, Tamy Moyo , Anita Jaxson, Simba Tagz and Mi Casa's Mo-T.

The new album’s title draws from noble notions of peace and harmony and speaks about his relentless desire to get his music heard around the world. Bibo Worldwide is a platform to “send a message of unity and love," Bryan K told Music In Africa. "Bibo is my childhood nickname and it’s my story as a Zimbabwean – a story that a lot of Zimbabweans and other Africans can relate to. ‘Worldwide’ represents me taking that story to the world.”

The album boasts songs such as ‘Shaina’, ‘Kure Kure’, ‘Hupenyu’, ‘Simudza Msoro’, ‘Ita’ and ‘Dzemabwe’, among others. Persistence is the constant message that unfolds throughout the offering and the music is multilayered and weaved into themes.

“I touch on social issues, things that I see people go through every day. There’s a lot of songs encouraging people to keep pressing on, to keep working hard. I also talk about love on side B of the album. This album has got something for everyone. I want to change people’s lives in whatever way I can and I love singing.” 

He’s also known for his remarkable skill of captivating audiences emotionally with his vocal dexterity. Bibo Worldwide, too, serves a heavy dose of Afro-soul, which the musician wants everyone to experience. And like his previous albums, the bilingual singer delivers the songs in Shona and English. “It’s music that people can vibe to anywhere in the world regardless of the sound.”

The album also featured different contributions from a number of artists around the world, and makes for a more globally appealing piece. “I’ve got Brian Soko, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, who did production on some of the songs. I also had different people from different countries around the world that I worked with when I was picking the songs for the album and they all had different songs that were their favorites so that was a good sign.”

Asked about what inspired his bilingual approach to music, Bryan K said: “My life experiences. I grew up listening to a lot of R&B and soul music which was sung in English but I process my thoughts in Shona so I expressed myself in either language depending on the subject matter.”

Like most artists, the singer says part of his music business plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s been really difficult because I survived on live performance like many other artists out there, but it also gave me time to go back to the drawing board and really think about the music I want to make and how I’m going to push as an independent artist.”

He adds: “I’ve been in the studio working from home and I’m blessed to have a supportive family that made sure I was comfortable enough to create. My advice to other artists is stay in your lane and do you, believe in yourself and be open to learn.”

Listen to Bryan K’s Bibo Worldwide here.