Tanzanian ‘My Number One’ hitmaker Diamond Platinumz made an appearance
on Coke Studio Africa this past weekend. We had the chance to catch up
with him and talk to him about his music and his style.
Here’s what he had to share:
What inspired the name Diamond?
The name Diamond really started as a joke while I was singing in Wasafi
before I became famous. In the beginning, I didn’t like the name and I
would get annoyed every time I was referred to as Diamond. As a musician
it can be a bit difficult to change your name last minute. Getting
people used to your new name is an uphill task that I wasn’t ready to
undertake. Since the name had stuck and I already had a large fan base
that knew me as Diamond, I decided to maintain it.
How would you describe your music?
I describe my music as Bongo Flava. It’s a mixture of Afro Pop, R&B, hip hop and Arabic flavor.
What inspires your music?
I get my inspiration from the society and through my own life experiences.
Which musician inspires you and why?
I am inspired by Usher Raymond because of his undeniable vocal prowess
and his breathtaking performances. Usher started singing at a tender age
and despite the changing times, he has managed to retain his place as
one of the greatest R&B musicians of all time. Usher is one guy I
would like to collaborate with in the near future.
You are an award winning musician, how does that feel?
It feels great! I mean it shows that my fans appreciate what I am doing.
I spend a lot of time in the studio with the hope of producing hit
songs. The more I get awarded, the more pressure I get to remain
relevant in the ever changing music industry. You know music is very
dynamic, what was cool or hot last year is obviously not this year. I
always ensure I stay abreast with the new music trends. Perhaps that is
the reason I always scoop various awards.
What’s your biggest achievement?
I have achieved a lot! I thank God for my success so far, it wasn’t
easy. Despite the fact that my mother can take care of herself, just
being able to cater for her expenses on her behalf brings me great joy. I
consider that as my biggest achievement. A lot of people make it and
forget where they came from but not me, the place my mother holds can
never be taken over by fame, money or my music career in general.
Tell me a bit more about your mother
Singing is one of the most fulfilling ways I express myself, and my
mother had the necessary starting tools to help me. I started singing at
tender age like Usher (laughs), and if my memory serves me right I
remember I was in class five and by then. I couldn’t write my own lyrics
therefore I would do an impression of some songs and practice
repeatedly until I got the lyrics right. However my mother saw the
talent in me and eventually she started writing lyrics for me. She
always encouraged me to open my mouth in front of others and sing. It
seems obvious but it takes a lot of courage, enormous desire and passion
to sing in public. My mother instilled all the necessary requirements I
needed to succeed in the music industry in Tanzania. She has played a
very huge role in my life; she was and still is my mentor to date. Once I
got to high school, my mother asked me to focus more on my studies and
to put music aside. Nonetheless I continued writing and singing secretly
because I felt as though music was my destiny. As soon as I was done
with secondary school, I remember I had to sell a ring my mother had
given me to enable me to get a recording deal. Making it wasn’t as easy
as it seems now. Then I had to lie to her that the ring had dropped into
the pit hoping and praying that the songs I had recorded hit.
Unfortunately selling the ring bore no fruits because those songs didn’t
make it to the corridors of any radio station. Luckily, I met Papa
Misifa who had heard my songs and from there, my music took a turn for
the better. We released my first hit Nenda Kamwambie in 2009 and the
rest is history.
What are your future plans?
Music is my main source of income currently but you never know what
tomorrow holds for you. I have ventured into various businesses on the
side to ensure I remain financially stable just in case I am unable to
sing or dance in future (God forbid). I own a recording label called WCB
where I manage and mentor a couple of upcoming artists. My main aim is
to take the Tanzanian music industry into further heights.
How is the Tanzanian music industry?
The Tanzanian music industry is just like any other industry. There’s
cut-throat competition among artists, a lot of imitation also, so you
really have to strive to excel. However I think the competition is
healthy as it keeps us (musicians) on our toes and also enables us to
produce enjoyable and entertaining music.
What does music mean to you?
Music means a lot to me! Apart from earning me a living, music also
gives me some sort of fulfillment. Money is secondary to me and has
never been my main motivation to sing. Though nowadays the pursuit of
money is almost directly linked to the pursuit of happiness. Many people
argue that money is equal to happiness. However this mindset has led
many people down a path that doesn’t suit them leaving them frustrated
at their work places. The secret is to follow your dream, or pursue
something you are good at and you will definitely succeed.
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