You're living in Manchester but you're from Zimbabwe. How did you end up here?
| Takura live | - Takura Tendayi plays at the Mint Lounge on Thurs 16 Nov
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"Well, my parents wanted me to study medicine and shipped me here in 2000, but I am the most squeamish person and didn't realise how sick hospitals made me, I decide to defer until I could fully decideÌý what to continue with. "I lived in London for sometime but between working and having a non-existent social life, I decided to live with my cousins in Swindon, where I began MCing and singing in the bars, but that didn't last long as talent breeds jealousy and the darker sides of black music forced me to relocate to Manchester in 2002. I've been performing at top urban music nights since then without a problem." Do your roots influence your music?
 | | Takura Tendayi |
"I grew up in Zimbabwe, yes, but my parents, who were well travelled and educated - my father educated in Liverpool - fed me with everything of the world, from Bob Marley to Smokey Robinson to Oliver Mtukudzi. "I would say I grew up pretty similar to any British child; the only difference is I also had the Shona culture to grow up in as well, so everything I do is influenced by my roots but maybe not in ways people would expect. "Bob Marley performed in Zimbabwe at our independence in 1980. I wasn't born, yet it had a permanent effect on my life." You're signed to Futurecut. How did that come about? | "I happened to walk into one studio – which happened to be Futurecut’s - and hustled my way onto the song they were recording." | | Takura on his straightforward approach to getting a record deal |
"Through the MCing on the club scene. A few artists invited me to be part of a mix-tape called Made in Manchester. The producers of the mix-tape thought I didn't sound British enough to be on it, so most of my vocals were cut out, but I happened to walk into one studio – which happened to be Futurecut’s - and hustled my way onto the song they were recording. "I was rapping but as we were going through some of their backing tracks, I began singing, so they called me to the side and asked me to return the next day. We then began writing new songs and they offered me a production deal a few weeks later!" There's a cover of Hey Joe on your MySpace. Why have you chosen to cover that song?
 | | Futurecut |
"That’s the first song Futurecut asked me to sing when they invited me back to their studio. I had never in my life thought before that moment I would cover a Jimi Hendrix song, but I guess they heard something and decided I was right to do it!" You worked with Lily Allen on her album… "The most I did was put some vocals on the beginning of one of her tracks, which Lily decided to cut at the last minute!" You're playing the Mint Lounge. Which do you prefer, playing live or producing, and why? "To be completely honest, I don't know! I gave myself goosebumps the first time I performed Hey Joe live and I love writing songs and building music. I'm a natural performer and a good storyteller at the same time - I'm pretty fortunate!" | 
