For the past few years, Tatenda Kamera has been bossing it up on the international music scene.
The South Africa based producer/songwriter who at one time was listed by MTV Base as one of the most talented producers on the continent is proving just that.
Even the coronavirus fiasco has not disturbed him as he has been working on numerous high profile projects.
Earlier this year he made his mark in film, with his production genius giving life to the theme song on Netflix’s Blood and Water.
Having worked with numerous heavy hitters on the continent, his portfolio has been spreading to as far as Asia, having been part of a K-pop production.
These past few months, he has also been working his magic on Patoranking’s forthcoming album, Three which is set to launch this Friday.
Mr Kamera produced three songs on the project, Black Girl Magic, Love is the Answer, and Matter which features Tiwa Savage.
In an exclusive interview with 263Culture Kamera said while business has been slower than normal in the past few months, he has not stopped working.
“As a producer I’ve been fortunate that artists have been in the studio during this time so we have been able to work. The only problem has been that we haven’t been able to do studio sessions in person. So in that sense business has been a bit slower than the usual.
“I’m always in studio. I’ve always been in studio even before the virus, so not much has changed for me. Only that I’m not able to travel, which I what I do a lot.
“I cannot begin to imagine what performing artists are going through right now because imagine doing going from doing five shows a weekend to doing absolutely nothing.”
He highlighted that all the projects he has been working on this year have not been affected by the virus.
“All the projects had been ongoing so no plans were ruined. In actual fact, I managed to do a new project during the pandemic.
“When the lockdown started I was in Nigeria working with Patoranking on his new project. I got back to SA two days before the lockdown started.
“His new project is out on the 28th of August and I produced three records on it.”
Besides his work on the Patoranking album, there are numerous other productions he has put work in.
“On Blood and Water I produced the theme song with Frya as the vocalist. I also did all the score which is all the mood music. So when it’s a sad scene, I composed the music that brings out that emotion.
“Blood and Water surpassed my expectations by becoming the first African show to be number one on Netflix United States and also in Jamaica, Kenya, Barbados, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa and more. Season 2 is on the way.
“I also produced for a Korean group. Its pop music but I infused my African vibes to it to give it a difference. Another producer that co-produced with me is Geekboy from the UK and the song writer is called Kyler Niko who has written so many hits. The experience was interesting because that kind of music is very technical and everything is by the book.”
Mr Kamera is also set to release a new EP with Frya, an artiste he described as amazing.
