EShowe singer hits the big time
FORMER eShowe singer Qwade Dunn, who is currently conquering the overseas market and living abroad, will be returning to South Africa in November for the official release of his latest hit, Girlfriend.
The track was co-written by Dunn, Jazz Purple and ManCub (who recently collaborated with Ray J and Rich The Kid), and is a feelgood pop song that fuses Dunn’s signature South African sound with international flair.
Qwade grew up in eShowe, but moved to New Zealand to study.
With a passion and desire to make it in the music industry, he selffunded his first music demo and video, which caught the attention of British manager Jay Jules.
After being scouted by Sony Music, Dunn released his debut single We Are, produced by British producer James Reynolds in 2012.
It featured as song of the week on New Zealand’s ZM Radio, making Dunn the first African artist to achieve that status in Australasia, quite an achievement for a developing act.
In 2013, Dunn returned to South Africa where he continued to pursue music, albeit in a different way.
‘It was at this point that Jules and I founded Jabba, a music company with a difference.
‘It provided a solution for international music companies seeking to establish a footprint in Africa, one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
‘We not only wanted to bring products into Africa for African music lovers, but also wanted to create a vehicle for exporting African music beyond our borders.’
While the business became his primary focus, Dunn continued to release music on an ad hoc basis from late 2015 to 2017.
‘During this time I did a radio/ television tour of east Africa. It just so happened that our company was label partners to an Idols-type show in Zambia.
‘I loved touring east Africa because the people were so warm and the vibe I got was incredible.
‘It made me fall in love with our continent all over again.’
Dunn was invited to be a campaign ambassador for UNICEF in Africa in 2015, campaigning against child marriages.
‘You’ve got to set unobtainable goals and keep working,’ is Dunn’s motivational motto.
These are indeed wise words from a kid who started out as a DJ at school events and now, not only runs his own successful company, but also writes and produces his own music.