Mutinda comes of age

Emmanuel Mwendwa

He is regarded as a solo guitarists and vocalists to watch, yet his down to earth demeanour reveals little of the talent at strumming the guitar and belting out tunes. George Mutinda may not be a household name, but his debut 10-track CD, Matopeni (mud), points at a talented composer and performer.

Indeed, whenever performing at a live concert, the solo-guitarist projects an enthralling stage presence. In the past, he has made a name in the city’s entertainment circles only as a curtain raiser for leading musicians. Mutinda, however, is stepping out of the shadows to be his own man.

"Playing the guitar at a live concert is one of my strongest points. I am able to express stimulating messages or feelings through my songs," he points out.

He has been keen on merging African traditional instrumentation riffs played with nyatiti, djembe, maboom-boom drums and African flute with global elements like deft guitar work, keyboard, saxophone and violin strains. This experimentation is gradually paying off , as proved in Matopeni, which is already on sale.

It contains a serving of uniquely rendered soul-searching melodies and contagious rhythms such as Simama, Lala (mtoto lala), Osa Vinya, Ahsante, Umaala, Vala Vandu, Moyo, Swala Langu, Kusambaratika and the title track Matopeni. Some of the songs feature voices of artiste-turned producer Abbi Nyinza and songstress Barbara Guantai.

Singing mostly in Swahili, English and Kikamba (his mother tongue), Mutinda’s lyrics tell ordinary stories about myriad issues, which average individuals experience or relate with. Through these songs he encourages people to delve into unravelling life’s mysteries, asserting that it is possible to find grace and humility, even amidst tough circumstances or conditions.

"I believe music ought to ideally take the listener to a place where only uncertainty prevails, yet still manage to anchor one in the present," he says philosophically.

Besides consistently building upon developing his vocal prowess and song-writing abilities, he opines that learning to play an instrument goes a long way towards nurturing a professional, all-rounder artiste.

As we engage in this interview, his long fingers seem to instinctively flicker across the rhythm guitar strings. On frequent instances, he subconsciously strums a tune, rendered with innate passion, in a manner which draws out not just captivating melodies but conspicuously groovy chords.

"To make an impression as a capable musician, one has no choice but strive to be comfortable playing any genre, however complex, besides also being conversant in folk and pop rhythms from across the globe," says Mutinda.

Most of his compositions are rooted in typical Afro-folk traditions and influences. But it is the artiste’s somewhat uncanny ability to blend fluid harmonies with a progressive yet cosmopolitan touch that makes his songs stand out. The tracks he composes create an impression of being defiant of any clear-cut categorisation.

This has nonetheless hardly got in the way of Mutinda, earning a glowing reputation in the afro-fusion music circles as a startlingly original voice, the kind of player who gets others talking.

Distinctive identity

Perhaps this was prime reason why the fledgling Indigo Productions opted to sign on the artiste to their stable, although he is a relative ‘beginner’. The label may yet have hit the jackpot.

The guitarist joins ranks of musicians who, over recent years, have taken on a distinctive identity – incorporating folk-driven, indigenous rhythms with borrowed influences yet hardly tuning out their cultural roots.

"There’s an adventurous line of thought growing among serious musicians. By opting to chart a middle ground, creating cross-cultural songs. These artistes are likely to be more successful than their counterparts making music for the sake of it," he says.

As an aspiring guitarist, Mutinda recounts being voracious in feeding his musical tastes: "I really went out of my way to check out songs done by varied artistes from across Africa and rest of the world," he recalls.

Listening to cuts on his CD – already on sale at select outlets on local market but set for official launch next month, these assorted influences are obvious on numerous songs.

Although Mutinda’s music sounds unique, one can still pick out traces of his inspiration drawn from renowned international artistes like KaÔsa, Tracy Chapman, Oliver Mtukudzi, Wasis Diop, Diogal, Seal and Lokua Kanza.

Talking about his songs, he says: "Music is a medium for communication hence a universal language. I may have an indigenous accent, singing in different dialects. But the most crucial point for me is for listeners, irrespective of their cultural backgrounds – to be able to understand this language."

The new direction he takes opens up to influences accrued from other cultutres.

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