‘I don’t Feel Famous’ Says Tehn Diamond
How is Tehn in 2015?
Better than 2014 I’ll tell you that much. It’s been a very busy year, set a goal of doing atleast 1 show a week and so far we on track.
Who did you look up to growing up?
Jay-Z is my musical hero. He is that rapper who has a very great command of the business side to things and I have sorta followed that line of thinking.
How did you get the name Tehn Diamond?
It happen while I was in Australia thats where I started my music career. My stage name was just Diamond, people then started calling me ‘Tendai Diamond, Tendai Diamond’ and I just ended up putting the Tehn there which brought the name closer to my actual name.
When did Tehn Diamond realise he wanted to be a full time musician?
I decided to make it a career in 2007 when I started making my first mixtape which came out in 2008. Even then I don’t think I was all the way in, if you ask me I think I would say that this year is my first year as a professional musician, this is the year were I am really breaking it down, putting structures in place and really treating it like a business.
How did the people around you react when you told them what you wanted to do with your life?
My parents were worried scared, they still are but it’s getting better now. A career in the arts is very risky because you can be hot this year and then the next year the tables totally turn, so it’s almost like a gamble.
What was the most valuable lesson you learnt from making your Student of the game mixtapes?
Doing those mixtapes gave me a real sense of how to package a project in this error of singles.
When and how did you and Junior Brown meet?
We met in 2011.
We have received several hit tracks from you guys but rumor has it that you are parting ways now?
At the moment I am working on my solo derbute release, his working on his solo derbute release, Few Kings is still intact but we just working on our solo projects.
When can we expect the album to be released?
The album will be released around mid year.
What can we expect from the album?
The main goal for me with the album is to make inroads to the regional market but mainly S.A. Expect an album that can break into new markets.
In an industry were they say you got to use vernacular as an artist in-order to gain popularity! How did you manage to balance that pressure and the need to remain true to Tehn Diamond?
I am not a language professor or someone selling language, I am in the business of selling emotion! I don’t think language is a barier because music is a language of it’s own! I have done shows in Australia, Zambia, South Africa and the U.K and even when I per
What do you dislike about fame?
Thats tough because I don’t feel famous, but ummm, I don’t like the assumptions people make about you because they assume you are famous or whatever. I treat people the way I way to be treated particularly the people who have supported. They say to me ‘wow you are so humble’ but I don’t even think its humility, it’s jus a very serious understanding of why I am were I am! I try not to hold myself higher than anyone so I don’t like when people try to make me out to be that or make those type of assumptions.
Is Tehn Diamond dating?
We will not get into that because thats between her and I.
If money wasn’t an object which car would you be driving and why?
If I had a billion dollars I would have a Jeep.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself performing at the main U.N event.
Any words of wisdom for the youth of Zimbabwe?
If you look up to me please don’t, whatever you see of me is only a result of a vision I had trying to look beyond or at someone else. You can do far much better than were I am.
Where can your fans reach you?
Twitter: @TehnDiamond
Facebook: Tehn Diamond
Website: Iamtehndiamond.com
