URBAN grooves star, Enock ‘ExQ’ Munhenga, has revealed he contemplated quitting music in 2015, after releasing the track Alleluyah, featuring Rockford “Roki” Josphat.
The musician said DJ Stavo was the one who rescued his career with his motivational words which kept him in the game.
Speaking to zimeyenews, ExQ said pressure in the music industry almost drained his energy to continue with his music industry.
“I was ready to quit, it’s like you have to keep releasing and, after releasing, fans would be already asking for more,” said ExQ.
“You need to keep impressing people.
“Music, like any other consumable product, does not stay fresh forever. You need to keep the fans entertained always with new projects.
“And, the criticism that comes from people is bad and discouraging. It can sometimes drive you to contemplate quitting.
“There was a time when I did the song Alleluyah, it was doing well but, at that moment, I was ready to quit music and commit to something else.
“However, DJ Stavo said you have just done one of the best songs in the country and why do you want to quit music?”
The singer narrated how he had to reinvent himself to stay relevant in showbiz.
“I had to change producers, most times, when you have a long relationship with some producers, they won’t tell you more about your weaknesses and you might reach stagnation.
“So, I needed someone who could criticise me, give me new ideas, new beats and also young producers to work with full-time.
“I also had to lock myself up, practising and experimenting, with new things.
“I had to do it privately because when you do it in front of other people, or artists, you might get shy or nervous since you won’t know what their reaction might be like.”
ExQ said it is not easy to stay relevant as an artist.
He also gave advice to his fellow urban grooves artists struggling to cope with the new sound and a new generation.
“I will keep saying this, keep on experimenting. I had to be by myself trying a lot like singing, remember I was a full-time rapper.
“My advice to urban grooves is to adjust. If it’s singing, talking or chanting, let’s embrace the new way of doing things in this generation.
“Urban grooves used to survive because it imitated what was trending in America those days but executing it in a Zimbabwean way.
“Let’s keep on doing it but we have to note that artists have changed the way they sing these days,” said ExQ.
He started his musical journey with the hit song MuSalad and since then he has never looked back His recent album is called Verified Milestone, carries the song Nezvangu which is a favourite of many.
