Meeting Joram, the musician
Professional demands have often led to the demise of numerous promising careers as people have failed to juggle their passions with work. But this is the route Afro musician Joram, a practising medical doctor, is trying to avoid by keeping his music dreams afloat. Our Staff Reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with him to find out how he hits the balance between the two. Excerpts.
Q
: Who is Joram?
A
: I am a Malawian singer, song writer and a guitarist. I have been doing music since I was five years old. That is a little more than two decades ago. I am a medical doctor by profession. I graduated from University of Malawi, College of Medicine in 2016. I hold a master of medicine, bachelor of surgery.
Q
: How did you find yourself in music?
A
: I started doing music from church. I started learning an acoustic guitar from my father who also played in church [Assemblies of God] where he serves as a pastor.
Q
: How many albums do you have?
A
: I have three albums so far. The first is a gospel album titled Some Serious Decisions released in 2012. The second is titled 1987. It is rich in various stories and themes ranging from love to politics. The third is titled Proudly African which I launched at a sold out event at Adlib Art Gallery in Area 9 in Lilongwe recently.
Q
: How would you describe your music career so far?
A
: I have enjoyed my journey as an artist this far. I have mostly been releasing music without getting it out there too much as I have been too engaged with my professional life. I, however, intend to get my music everywhere now.
Q
: How do you combine your music pursuits and your professional life?
A
: I enjoy both worlds. I feel the most alive when I hold the guitar on stage to play the type of music I love to an audience that also love this music. I also love my professional work as I believe we are the arms of our Lord in a dark world. So, every time I see a patient getting better and walk out of the hospital because of my medical expertise, that brings a smile on my face. It’s tough to do both of these things as they both require time and dedication. But I love what I do so somehow it all just works out perfectly. When others leave their workplaces, they go to the movies or they watch television or stay on their phones until sleep, but I spend that time composing music, listening to my favourite artists and so that works out for me.
Q
: How has the Malawian audience responded to the type of music you do?
A
: Malawi has welcomed me totally. People love the sound we are bringing. We know this by the large numbers that showed up for my album launch. Others said it was as if there was a state visit. The car park was overflowing with cars that were even blocking the road and they all came to see us play good music.
Q
: What is your view of the country’s music industry?
A
: The music industry is growing rapidly. There is a lot of good artists coming up into the spotlight. And that’s great. I hope to see ongoing mentorship between the older and the new which doesn’t happen easily because of needless competition and jealousy.
Q
: What are your plans as an artist?
A
: I love doing music. I will continue to compose, and to jam. I will take my sound to the ends of the earth.
