Kerie in solo Effort

Dan Kerie has sprung from the shadows of renowned artists to pursue a solo career with a new twist –glorifying the Lord in his largely unknown voice.

The artist, who provided backing vocals to Symon and Kendal, Thoko Suya and Chitheka Family in Lilongwe about 10 years ago, has launched his steps with the release of Ndi Ambuye album.

According to Kerie, the debut, launched a fortnight ago, brings together the sounds of four studios.

First, Step-Up Records in Blantyre fashioned the R&B contributions Wawachiza Ndani and Mulowelelepo. Second, Mvahiwa Hanke’s New Dawn recorded afro-jazz single Chikondi cha Mulungu and reggae track Pemphero Langa. Third, Panganani Gosta’s Gosta Studios worked on Ndi Ambuye which brims with a noticeable South African touch. The rest of the numbers on the 10-track album were made and perfected by Petros Ching’oma at PKC Studios.

“I have been backing other artists since 2003, but I was not in a hurry to release an album because I wanted to learn,” says the silent name on the block: “When you want to learn, you sometimes have to hide what you already know for fear of putting off your mentors,” he says.

The result –the album is not just about praise and worship , but a relatively bearable effort to depart from the clichéd South African genres that plague the so-called Malawian gospel music. And the artist knows.

“Our gospel music is filled with newcomers trying to imitate old-timers. I tried something different. It is up to my listeners to buy the CD and see if I succeeded,” he said.

The low-key unveiling of the album was supported by Limbani Simenti, Yasin Jenala and Pastor Favour at Chilimba Assemblies of God.