Controversy dogs Jah Love, Seh Calaz song

By Sharon Kavhu

The decision by Chill Spot Records to release a duet “Kurara Hope” by Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz as a way of mending sour relations between the two chanters has backfired for the stable.

Seh Calaz, who features on the track that was recorded in 2013 but only released a fortnight ago, has come out guns blazing accusing the record label of being unprofessional.

He argues that the song is incomplete and plans to release it had long been shelved.

Sources indicate “Kurara Hope” was recorded when Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz were still buddies, bonded by their shared Mbare background.

However, relations between the two artistes have since turned ugly resulting in Seh Calaz saying Chill Spot Records should never have released the track.

The height of their feud led to massive chaos that abruptly ended the “Sting 2014” in November.

“The Chill Spot family has shown a high level of unprofessionalism by releasing a song that we agreed should never get out of the studio, in fact, our understanding was that it had been deleted. The record label appears to have a sinister agenda, which unfortunately is only known to them,” says Seh Calaz.

The last official collaboration between the two artistes was in 2013 on a track titled “Ma One Atanga”.

And with the release of “Kurara Hope”, Seh Calaz claims his reputation has been damaged.

“The move by Chill Spot (Records) has sent a wrong signal to my fans; they have actually destroyed my reputation because under normal circumstances I would never do a song with Soul Jah Love,” he said.

Officials from Chill Spot Records say there is no sinister motive behind the release.

Producer Arnold “Fantan” Kamudyariwa says the intention was meant to facilitate a thawing of ties in an industry suffering from negative publicity and violent animosity between artistes and fans.

“Releasing that song was a strategy to bring together Zim dancehall fans that have been divided by the feud between Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz. We are now fed up with the feud between the two because it is affecting the smooth flow of business within the genre,” he explains.

“As producers we know the kind of thing that works for the genre and I know very well that their talents can blend very well on a Zim dancehall song and releasing ‘Kurara Hope’ was an exhibit of good musical products by the two despite their feud.”

Fantan further justifies the decision to release the track without the artistes’ consent because the record label holds the rights to the song.

“In 2013 we recorded two complete songs, which were jointly composed by Calaz and Soul Jah Love. Of the two songs we decided to release one and reserve the other as a marketing strategy. Unfortunately the artistes started having differences, but that cannot affect our business since we had already invested in the recording of the song.”

The two chanters will both be eyeing honours at 2014 Zim Dancehall Awards on March 6. The Sunday Mail