Rina Mushonga

Dutch/Zimbabwean singer-songwriter Rina Mushonga has recently relocated from the hustle of her sunny and zany fatherland Zimbabwe to the bustle of rainy motherland Amsterdam, to share her music with the world. Her unique voice and intricate lyricism blend with soulful and folk-fierce melodies and a magnetic stage presence. Effortlessly fusing rock, folk, blues, reggae and country, Rina's music remains very much her own while simultaneously touched by an awareness of the musical traditions that have gone before and are now shaping the future. A successful crowdfunding project in her back pocket, appearances on Giel Beelen's Nachtegiel and in Paradiso, as well as her participation in the Grote Prijs van Nederland are all an indication of the overwhelming response her music provokes in people.

OR TRY THE FAIRY TALE VERSION!

Once upon a time there was a girl with a guitar. With this guitar packed in an old cracked flight case she traveled the whole wide world in search of people who wouldn’t mind listening to some songs she’d written. What kind of songs I hear you ask? Well, you see, her travels inspired this girl to write songs about people, all the colourful lives she experienced on the road,their loves and losses, heart ache and glory…and translate these often melancholy tales with a twist of hope into songs of innocence and experience. Hey…like William Blake? No, don’t be silly…he’s a frikkin’ genius.

But back to the girl, Rina Mushonga,who loves William Blake (but not exclusively), was hanging out in Zimbabwe (because that’s where she’s from), making music and recording her songs in a studio. One day, she got a call to come to Amsterdam where some nice people from Africa Unsigned knew of a way they could help her raise $5000 so that she would have some cash to continue traveling and spreading her music.

Lots of people heard about her music through friends and supporters and her playing on national radio in Holland like 3fm and radio 2 with famous DJs who all really liked her music very very much. People started phoning, but mostly e-mailing, to ask her whether she couldn’t come and play in their homes or in their famous clubs like Paradiso, or in London or Hamburg.

In a record time of 6 weeks all these friends and fans helped Rina raise the money to keep on sharing her music.
Now Rina is on the brink of conquering the world (her other mission…which is an essential part of the first mission…but not the same mission).

With her folk-fierce, bluesy, rock, reggae mix of incredible songs (labels are for cans) and her quirky band she will continue to traverse the world with the intention of releasing copious amounts of albums and selling out clubs and festivals.

The reason for this imminent success could very well be that her songs spread like a fairy tale and reflect the adventure, pain and also lashings of joy that draws people to Rina Mushonga; who loves William Blake, but not exclusively.