Urban Grooves divas transformation

Affectionately known as Diana in the Urban Grooves scene, her latest album, Kumagumo Erudo (The End Of Love), is nothing like her debut effort My First Diary, which was 100 per cent urban Grooves.

In an interview with The Zimbabwean, Diana said: I never planned to change my music or target market, but I have been forced to

accept the fact that people love my new sound.

She added: It was never really planned. Its just something that a friend suggested I take up and I think it has paid dividends because the response that the album has received is overwhelming.

In a commendable move that has shown her maturity in music, Diana went for vocal training where the vocal trainer taught her to use low pitch and sing in a relaxed manner.

That is what gave birth to Kumagumo Erudo and we had to use live instruments, said Samkange.

The nine-track album, which hit the market recently, has received enormous airplay both locally and outside the country.

The Kumagumo Erudo video has dominated music programmes on national television and has also caused a stir on the prestigious M-Net channel O and on MTV Base, where it has been played frequently over the last few weeks.

I think the video has received rave reviews because of the efforts that were put into it. On that video I worked with Charles Mawungwa, who happens to be a former employee of M-Net and therefore knows the requirements. He is the guy who did Alexio Kawaras Shaina, said Samkange.

This change has turned out to be a very good business opportunity. Music is my business, that is how I survive and so Im supposed to make it count. I have been in this industry for quite some time now but besides being a popular face I have noting else to show for it, she said.

The latest album features a myriad of producers including Russo, Jairos Hambahamba, Macdonald MacDee Chidavaenzi, Lyton Ngolani and Mono Mkundu, something she said was meant to put variety on the project.