Nepman’s got the vibe
Nepman will arguably be mentioned before number five on your list of finest urban musicians of the moment. It is not surprising the artist has been awarded best song of the year 2014 by Times Television.
His song Na Lero is one of the most played songs on most radio stations’ playlists. Clubs, minibuses, homes and parties would look unfamiliar without the song being played.
But those who have followed the artist from his humble beginnings will remember that from the release of his song Malipe Dance in 2006 from his debut Kumvuma which enjoyed airplay on local radios and TV, the artist displayed potential that he would top the charts one day. But then he went AWOL.
Nepman (real name Napier Lungu) says the music industry has not been easy to penetrate since his initiation in the business with his three-year stint with Young Generation Band since 1997 when he was in Form Three.
The artist admits that his love for music dates back to primary school days when he joined a choir.
When he started secondary school at Soche Hill, his passion for the art grew but his parents were concerned about his future.
“My parents thought I will not complete education. They thought they had lost me. But they reached a point where they understood me and just advised me to behave well and take it easy on the ladies because they argued most musicians’ lives are cut-short by their lust,” he said.
The artist was a back-up singer in Young Generations Band from 1997 to 1999 and went on a break before releasing his 13-track debut Kumvuma in 2006.
After his debut, he witnessed the ills of piracy and he decided to quit the industry and start something that would be profitable to his life; hence, he started working in a clothing shop in Limbe.
But life was not easy for Nepman. He then kept on composing tunes in his head. His heart thirsted for a song and in 2010 he released Atelala Mundilinge ndi Maso which he featured Diwa Khwiliro.
Other artists noticed his unique talent and that is when he started landing himself collaborations with the likes of Diktator in Chilibe Season, and Amayi among others. After appearances in a few shows, he quit his job to pursue a career in music.
From the collaborations he had done, one thing was clear. Any artist that wants to collaborate with Nepman needs to have the right stuff otherwise he will be outshined in his own song.
The craze about the rusty-voiced artists went bananas when he released NaLero his second single after Atelala Mundilinge ndi Maso from his upcoming 12-track album Kunzambwe.
The artist, who admits idolising Don Carlos, says gets his inspiration to write music when he is in a tranquil place alone.
“I do not plan to write a song they just come in my head when I am alone,” said Nepman.
The artist ingeniously blends Malipenga and dancehall; hence, he adopted the name Malipenga Music. .
So far the artist has already recorded Thako Limenya Mtondo, Na Lero,Banja, Peace in Africa, Maningi and Sindidzaiwala. The album is due April this year.
Na Lero and Maningi are odes to a woman while Banja is a song that talks about the good and the bad of marriage and counsels those who want to tie a knot. Sindidzaiwala is a gospel song that talks about God’s unconditional love and Thako Limenya Mtondo is a song that admires and praise women.
Nepman, who also holds a catering certificate sees himself owning a studio, band, recording company and a restaurant.
