CHISHIMBA BWALYA
Lusaka
FROM a quick YouTube, Spotify or Apple Music search, Solomon Plate’s old music like Donki, Nge Mpaanga and Way You Are, seemingly outperforms his latest album – at least where numbers are concerned.
But success for a gospel artiste, can often dictate more than just numbers and digital pie charts.
Reflecting on the 2024 album Over and Over, released in August, Solomon (real name Solomon Moyo) revealed that his biggest reward from the album has been the testimonies shared from listeners.
“It’s been amazing, the response has been very, very amazing. I think for me the biggest thing is not even about the charts, the numbers, even though it did well, I think the biggest thing for me were the testimonies I was getting,” he told Weekend Mail this week.
“And I am still getting up to now, I think that is what blows me about that album. I think musically, it is my best work yet, I can confidently say that.”
Beyond the testimonies, Over and Over, the 14-track album which features the likes of Magg44 (scratch that, Mr Mando) and Ephraim, has enjoyed notable success, including out-topping the charts in its first release on Apple Music.
The project also features the hit track Cibe Cibe, featuring Esther Chungu, which has been one of the most-streamed songs by Solomon on YouTube.
The producer-cum artiste believes the album is a reflection of his growth since his first album in 2019.
“I am more mature now and also what I have been through, from the time I dropped my first album, to the second one, you can hear the growth in the music and content.”
But the 28-year-old’s growth has meant more than just releasing mature music.
He also reveals his revealed his decision to stop working with secular artistes, adding that he has developed “mixed feelings”. Reflecting on the decision, he said, “That ship has sailed.”
“I don’t know if I will be doing that anymore. I think the last thing I did with a secular artist was my own song with Chef 187.
He added: “I just feel there are just so many things that I went through that made me (make the decision), it’s a personal thing. If the song is not going against my beliefs, I could produce it, but featuring, I don’t know.”
New direction
Following the success enjoyed in the last album, Solomon is building on with two new singles, Neka and Muntu Wanga, released in August. But unlike his usual gospel tracks, his new projects address themes of love and commitment.
Commenting on the tracks and why he sang about love, the artist said;
“The real reason why I did is, we need to have love songs that have a Christian point of view.
The market is saturated with love songs that are not necessarily Godly. It’s a very clean song, nothing about fornication.”
Dropping ‘new school’ tag
Since 2017, when he debuted as a musician, Solomon Plate has often described himself as a new school artist whose music resonated with young listeners and the urban community.
But after nearly a decade on, the artist feels it is now time to shed the tag.
“I usually like to call myself new school because I like to call Chaka and Magnus (Magg44) as old people, I like making that joke to their faces. But I don’t know if I’m still new school because I’ve been here for a while now. I don’t think I can still call myself new school.
“I think the reason why I’d still be considered as new school is because there’s not a lot in our genre.”
