Music legend Andy Brown’s daughter, Ammara is now a major brand as she has risen from an amateur to be the most-sought-after female artist in the country.
By Kennedy Nyavaya
Just a year ago, one would not have managed to talk about the sassy singer without referring to her father, but that has since changed.
With no album to her name yet, she has been moving on a crest with successful feats in the recent past.
Her fans will, however, have to wait a little longer for her debut album, which is set for release early next year and according to the Watchu Want singer, it will change the game completely.
“I believe Ammartia [album title] is going to cement my name in Afro pop history, and change the face of Zimbabwean music because the album is not just about me, it’s part of rebranding our nation,” Brown told The Standard Style last week.
The album, named after her moniker Ammartians, was produced by a couple of producers, including Jusa Dementor, Oskid, Reverb7 and South Africa’s Mobi Dixon, among others.
How easy is it to achieve great things, including awards and regional recognition without an album in a field where others can only dream of mere airplay at a local radio station?
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“I invested more money, smarter strategies and on a better team,” she said.
Hard work has also done wonders for the 28-year-old mother of one, who concedes she is a workaholic and has compromised her social life in the process.
“I’ve always been an introvert and a workaholic, so I’m unfazed socially,” she said, adding that those close to her were all she needs to stay happy.
“My best friends are still the people who loved me before my fame while my family and I have become practically impenetrable, so I’m happier than ever,” she said.
Performing at most high-rated gigs, featuring in successful videos like Mukoko which made it to regional television channels and recently merging her act with South Africa’s Zinhle Ngidi and Sizwe Ngubane in a single titled Owami in the Coke Studio is not enough for she aims for more.
“I have only achieved about a quarter of what I’ve always intended and I’m looking forward to achieving the rest, because when I’m business-minded I’m unstoppable,” she said.
More international tours beckon for her, starting with across the Limpopo River next month where she will perform in Johannesburg, East London and Cape Town.
She is also shooting a television series called In the Name of the Father, where she plays a lead role alongside fellow musicians Mudiwa Hood and Jah Prayzah.
Like a sour-sweet love tale, the Queen of Ammartians’ blooming career, has so far been characterised by moments of bliss as well as a fair share of controversy. She say she has learnt a lot from both.
“Everything that I have experienced, good and bad, I’ve treated as a life lesson. Professionally speaking, I would only have trained myself earlier not to let perfectionism get in the way of progress,” she said.
“I’m aiming to be the best version of myself and if you need more definition as to what that means, watch this space.”
The talented pianist and mbira player hails from a family of musicians and recently she collaborated with her sister Chengeto, whom she referred to as a “gem” destined for greatness.
“It is such an incredible feeling to bear witness to her rapidly blossoming artistry. Her professional attitude is a marvel,” she said.
“At age 20, she is a Zimbabwean gem and Africa is going to fall in love with her too.”
She said it was an emotional affair whenever they performed together as they recently did at the Shoko Festival.
On Friday Ammara was a supporting act at South African artist Toya Delazy’s show at the Harare International Conference Centre.
