2023: Artists released successful albums

The local music industry has changed so much that because of less usage of CDs, artists for a number of years almost stopped releasing body of works through albums and concentrated on releasing singles so that the songs could make them popular and then help them make money through live shows.

But the narrative has been solely changing as artists have embraced the changes in technology and still found ways in which to sell their music despite CDs no longer selling.

On the urban brigade front, artists in 2023 embraced the modern methods of selling music and maximising their usage and therefore releasing music through albums because trendy again.

On August 14 2023, Driemo, who had already captured the minds of music lovers with his singles such as Weni Weni, Compesation, Mzanga, Insurance and Pano, launched his debut album Mzaliwa in a beautiful ceremony at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.

The album contains 22 tracks such as Topa, Popo Remix featuring Yo Maps, Zapamwamba, Lere, You, Centimetre, Reborn, Mad Over You, Out Of My League, Olungama, Pick It, Dikira, Fendela Fenduze, Imagine, Hulibe, Undilembere, Ndiwe, Same People, Zanga, Pena, Loyalty, Za Yahweh, among others.

The artist, in the album featured a long list of other artists from Zambia and Malawi. Topping the list from Zambia was Yo Maps who also came to perform during the event. So far the artist has been flourishing since the album was released.

On November 4, Jay Jay Cee, a dancehall reggae artist pulled a huge crowd for his album launch at Robins Park in Blantyre. This was he had to postpone the album the previous month due to clashes in date with the Blantyre Arts Festival.

When he launched his Pamodzi album, the artist was supported by many urban artists such as Black Nina, Sangie, Driemo and Eli Njuchi among others.

The 20-track album features artists such as Sangie, Guntolah, Saint, Hyphen and the late Tremour, among other artists.

After the launch, the artist has been busy selling the album online and on various major online stores.

Artist Saint, however did things differently by releasing the album without a launch. He released his latest album Ah Yami on September 25, but held listening parties afterwards. He held the first listening party in Lilongwe and later in Blantyre where at both events, the artist got rave reviews.

 Probably one of his most successful albums, Saint has been booked and busy since the album dropped with his last booking of the year set for December 31 at the Castel Party in Lilongwe.

In an interview, Saint said the album is a manifestation of his philosophy of always doing something new with each release.

“My fans can never guess what I am up to next. I always do something new to please them,” he said.

Gospel musician Lloyd Phiri and the Happiness Voices made a comeback after hibernating for 10 years with a new album in 2023 titled Pemphero Silinama.

Launched at Bremat Multipurpose Hall in Lilongwe, the album has 15 songs and was recorded at One Heart Studios in Lilongwe.

Phiri said he and his group had been inactive due to financial constraints.

And at the very end of the year, hip-hop artist Phyzix ended the year 2023 on a high note with his album Mountain Goat. The album, which many have described as a celebration of hip-hop, featured a long list of other hip hop greats such as the Dare Devils, Hyphen, Tuno, Bucci and many others.

The albums launch took place at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre with what a ceremony that turned into a celebration of hip-hop genre.

As the years comes to a close, we can just look forward to more comprehensive body works of music which can take the local music industry to greater heights.