House musician Mashudu Badzhi, better known as Shudu Gal Gusheshe, released her eighth album, Vienna, about a month ago. Her latest offering already seems to be doing very well on the market. The 10-track album contains songs such as Award, Love, Mama, Baby Mama, and Service.
Badzhi hails from the dusty village of Elim. She is very excited about her latest release. "I actually wanted to take a rest, but pressure from my fans forced me to get back into the studio to record this album. This is my best album ever, and that it is the reason why I dedicated it to the Lord, to give thanks for all He has done for me. The road thus far has not always been smooth, but the Lord has helped me soldier on and on."
She says she has been fortunate as she is able to make a living from her music, being booked most of the time to perform at small venues around the country. "Big promoters overlook us for the big gigs, but some of us are lucky enough to make a living from the shows we get all over the country. And with the support we get, we will not tire of giving our fans good music."
However, she says that producing an album every year is nearly impossible as composing and recording quality music take a lot of time. When Badzhi is not working on her own music, she invests her time by helping aspiring young musicians mould their careers.
She thanks her fans for their loyal support, as well as her manager, family and friends, without whom, she says, she could never have done what she has done so far.
To the young and hopeless out there she shares a message: "Just remember that with God in our lives, we don't need to use artificial sources like drugs or alcohol to feel happy. Stay goal-driven and productive, and put your education first, so you have something to build a good future on," she says.