After putting a halt to his singing career, Paul Munandjala, best known as Paul da Prince, is ready to return to the music scene with a mixtape slated for release next year.
In an interview last week, the artist, who has been a DJ for more than a decade, talked about his music journey and upcoming projects.
Driven by his dedication to music, at the age of 25, Munandjala released his first full track album while conquering radio, television and being a DJ.
“’Papatele’ was the last song I worked on a few years ago. I took a short music break, but I am planning on releasing a mixtape in 2025. That will mark about 16 years since my first recording,” he said.
In 2022, Da Prince released a compilation project of his older songs titled ‘Memoir from The Past’, which included his debut songs ‘She’s My Lady’ and ‘Number One’.
He said he is blessed to have performed on international stages.
“I have been blessed to play in many places, such as Johannesburg, over the years. What I love to do is always include Namibian music, especially from talents like Mr Mooi Ngaro, Wolfpack Gang, Kaytee, Spuzza, Yeezir, Mega, DJ Vuyo, Ms Gideon, Reeziana and super groups like One Blood, just to mention a few,” he added.
Apart from enjoying genres such as Afrobeats, Da Prince also explores genres like hip hop and amapiano.
Touching on the recent motion announced by member of parliament Inna Hengari to fully promote local content on various platforms, Da Prince said it is a push in the right direction.
“Pushing for 100% local music has many pros and cons. I’ll start with the pros, which is of course more recognition of Namibia’s great talent in so many genres. There are some hidden gems that aren’t being given the chance of airplay. I know many stations that are always doing what they can to ensure local music is given a spotlight, and I salute them. Additionally, the royalties will give artists a better income to continue to create music and put food on the table.
“The cons are few, but one I can highlight is the option of choice for other listeners who enjoy certain international music. The listeners are integral to the income that radio stations generate,” he explained.
When the musician is not in studio or spinning the decks, he enjoys watching documentaries, football, reading and resting.
He emphasised the importance of creatives working together, saying the willingness of artists to work together could be a good recipe for the industry.
“It doesn’t just refer to features, but everything from fashion designers to make-up artists, to sound engineers and videographers,” he said.
Munandjala said there is power in collaboration as it makes the product much better for consumers and introduces new markets to creatives.
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