NewsDay (Zimbabwe)

Julian King gathers courage for an EP

- BY WINSTONE ANTONIO Follow Winstone on Twitter @widzoanto

UNITED STATES-BASED Zimbabwean rising contempora­ry singer, songwriter and performer Julian King (pictured) said working with different nationalit­ies had enhanced his diversity and creativity.

In an interview with NewsDay Life &Style, Julian King, born Julian Lennon Kanombirir­a, said his music carried a unique internatio­nal sound and could stretch from deep devotional worship songs to Afro-pop dance tunes.

“Through my compositio­ns, I want to inspire people to be the best version of themselves. This explains my approach to music, diverse yet always carrying a positive message grounded on biblical principles,” he said.

“While I was at Africa University I worked with Angolans, Congolese and Nigerians in music and I believe this enriched my diversity and creativity in the area.”

Julian King said there was not much difference being home or away.

“It takes grace and doing your part to make it work when doing music in a foreign land just like anywhere else. God is doing His part and I am doing the most I can,” he said.

Julian King released the single God Loves You as an appetiser to his forthcomin­g extended play (EP) titled You Make Me Strong that will be launched on November 26 in Dallas Texas.

He said his latest offering God Loves You reflects on the turbulent year.

“Our latest song God Loves You carries a timely message considerin­g how turbulent the year 2020 has been. This year has been turbulent, we lost loved ones, we faced a global pandemic and there was political violence and civil unrest all around the world, but God kept us and made us strong through it all,” he said.

“This song comes on the backdrop of our hit track Rwendo shot and recorded in Dallas Texas. The song Rwendo which is still in rotation is an undeniable jam and antidote for everyone facing depression or feeling discourage­d.”

Julian King said the dominant message in his forthcomin­g EP was about a call to God to make His people strong enough to endure hardships.

He said his business background had helped in the growth of his musical career as he applied the knowledge in music strategies.

He said among his role models are gospel stars Michael Mahendere, American singers Travis Greene and Jonathan McReynolds and Anselmo Ralph from Angola.

Off the stage, Julian King has toured South Carolina, Mississipp­i, Kansas and Texas, raising funds for scholarshi­ps for thousands of children from disadvanta­ged background­s at Africa University.

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