Rising artiste Nickson Chikadaya, popularly known in music circles as Fire Calaz, says the year will end spectacularly.
Working tirelessly in the studio to produce his maiden 12-track album titled Mabiribobi, Calaz, in an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, said he was leaving no stone unturned to educate and entertain his fans.
Inspired by the likes of renowned Jamaican reggae musician Bounty Killer and locally by Dadza Dee, the up-and-coming dancehall artiste is upbeat that 2025 will end in style.
"I call this the Waterloo in my career. I am optimistic and in high spirits. This album should compete among the best of the best in Zimbabwe and beyond. It's going to be a product of collaborations with various artistes. Some of the songs feature great musicians, including Dadza Dee and Mad Viper."
Having stated his career in 2011, Calaz said he had been nurturing brilliant connections that enabled him to finally work on his upcoming album, expected to be released by December 20.
"The journey wasn't easy, but because I have been resilient and patient, I managed to break the barriers we encounter in the musical industry to fulfil my dreams. Being selfless and working with others is the best way to go. I am impressed by the reception I get from fans. They make everything possible in this endeavour for me to produce music that not only entertains, but also educates, as well as resonates with daily lives," he said.
Calaz indicated that he will not restrict his music to dancehall, emphasising that he is open to working with artistes from different genres such as hip-hop and R&B.
Among the songs Calaz believes will thrill fans from his forthcoming album are Shamwari, Mabiribobi, Champion — featuring Dadza Dee, Mukati — featuring Mad Viper, Zvinondinetsa — and Vangu Vechidhaka.
On international tours, the artiste said: "The line-up is pregnant. I am scheduled to perform at multiple venues in Germany, London in the United Kingdom and wrap up with South Africa. I am perfecting my stagecraft as I yearn to leave a lasting impression after the foreign visits."
In this era, whereby most youths have become prone to drug abuse, Calaz said he was not turning a blind eye, adding that he would package his musical discourse to fight this scourge.
"As I indicated before, my music is not restricted to entertainment. It's dancehall laden with messages of hope. I try to uplift down-trodden souls. I want the youth to desist from indulging in drugs and rediscover themselves as cornerstones of national development. Hence, I am also educative."
