Bkay and Kazz: the next South Coast Idols?

Bkay and Kazz: the next South Coast Idols?

BKAY and Kazz during the audition earlier this month

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By Rita Madanhi

TWO Zimbabwean brothers are in the finals of Live and Unsigned – South Coast Idol, a UK music talent contest for bands and solo artists.

Bkay and Kazz, who collaborated with urban grooves star Decibel in their debut album, In the Beginning, released in 2005, qualified for the grand finals after impressing judges during auditions in High Wycombe early this month.

Bkay and Kazz won over the judges with a rendition of the classic hit, My Girl, to break into the last group of 18 bands and solo artists picked from over 10 000 contestants across Britain.

Now the boys from Masvingo must go to the Portsmouth Guildhall on May 26 and convince judges who include former Steps star Lee Latchford-Evans and Craig David's producer, Mark Hill, that they deserve a record contract worth £20 000 with Future Music.

Chris Grayston, from Live & Unsigned, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity and being picked from 10,000 contestants is a fantastic achievement in itself."

Bkay was born Seiraj Khan in Malawi 26 years ago. Khazz, 22, was born in Zimbabwe after the family settled in Masvingo.

The brothers got their education at Prince Edward in Harare, where Kazz would exchange musical notes with Sam Mtukudzi, son of the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi.

The two brothers now live in Milton Keynes, where, they told our correspondent, it feels just like home.

“MK is our version of Masvingo,” says Bkay. “Vanhu hobho in MK (there are a lot of our people in MK).”

In 2005, the brothers released their debut album, In the Beginning, out of which dropped the monster hit, Ndikati Hello. The song which received massive airplay on Zimbabwe’s airwaves, was a collaboration with Decibel. The video is also screened on South Africa’s Channel O.

Although the brothers say their music is mainly soul and reggae, they have also tried a hand at singing R&B and Hip Hop.

WATCH BKAY AND KAZZ'S COLLABORATION WITH DECIBEL:

You can follow the progress of the finals and get details of how to vote on the day on website: www.liveandunsigned.uk.com or visit their page at www.myspace.com/bkaykazz. Tickets for the final are available at www.portsmouthguildhall.co.uk. If you wish to hire Bkay and Kazz for parties and functions, you may contact their manager, Salma Khan salma.khan@hotmail.com
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