Shungudzo - Wikipedia

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Zimbabwean-American singer
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Shungudzo
Background information
Born
Alexandra Shungudzo Govere
1987-05-12
May 12, 1987
(age 38)
Laie, Hawaii
, U.S.
Origin
Bikita
, Zimbabwe
Genres
Pop
folk
rock
alternative
Occupation
Singer
Years active
2010–present
Label
Independent
Musical artist
Alexandra Shungudzo Govere
, better known as
Shungudzo
, is a
Zimbabwean-American
singer and former reality television personality. She first attracted media attention by being the first black female gymnast to represent Zimbabwe in artistic gymnastics at the
1999 All-Africa Games
, and later by co-founding the Kijana Project, which provides relief for AIDS orphans. She later gained wide media attention as a cast member on the 2011 season of
The Real World: San Diego
Early life
edit
Alexandra Govere was born in the United States and grew up in a rural village in
Zimbabwe
that was home to straw-covered mud huts, and did not have electricity or running water.
She is of
Zimbabwean
, French, and
Amerindian
descent. As of the 1990’s, she was living in
Oregon
Career
edit
Ballet, gymnastics and education
edit
Govere practiced dancing and ballet, and according to her, became the first female of color to be on the Zimbabwe National Gymnastics Team at age 9. Her parents, both of whom are college graduates, encouraged her in her studies as well. She studied calculus at age 10, and finished high school by 14. She later attended
Stanford University
, where she studied civil engineering.
Govere was the first black female artistic gymnast to represent Zimbabwe at the
1999 All-Africa Games
in
Johannesburg
She was also the youngest member of the 162-member team.
Charity work
edit
In 1997, Govere began collecting clothing for orphans who lost their parents to AIDS.
By 2002, the Kijana Project,
as it came to be called, had expanded to an international organization run by then-15-year-old Govere and her sister Saunsuray, consisting of 50 members who aided orphans in six different countries, raising money for clothing, toys and school supplies, as well as paying for the education of some AIDS orphans.
Govere was spurred to this work after witnessing many of her childhood classmates affected by AIDS, and seeing the rising number of orphans living on the streets of Harare.
In 2000, she worked with her sister in collecting money for Red Cross flood relief in Mozambique.
For breaking the color barrier in artistic gymnastics, and for her humanitarian work, Govere was designated a Disney-UNESCO Millennium Dreamers Ambassador.
Music and television
edit
Shungudzo performing on a public beach in Malibu, California
While attending Stanford University, Govere was discovered by
Alicia Keys
' Grammy Award-winning producer, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, who had heard some songs Govere placed on
MySpace
for her mother to hear. Although she initially met with Brothers with the intent to be a songwriter, he made her sing vocals, and recognized her talent.
With him, she released a mixtape, "
Love is 4 Suckaz/I'm a Sucka 4 Love
", some songs from which are available on YouTube.
Brass
magazine describes the mixtape as "a high-wattage soup of synthetic beats and heavy post-production mixing", whose lyrics focus on the themes of love, jealousy, revenge and anti-consumerism.
Describing Govere's voice, Brandon Goldner of
Brass
says, "[Her voice] can range from bright and flute-like to a rougher, almost smoky honesty" Although Govere planned to debut a 2011 album with Krucial,
10
11
She announced in October 2011 that she left Krucial to take the independent route.
12
13
She has co-written a number of hit songs such as
Little Mix
's "
Touch
" and
Louisa Johnson
's "
Best Behaviour
",
14
and has released a song on the
Fifty Shades Freed
soundtrack.
15
In 2018, she released her latest single, "Paper".
16
Govere was a cast member on
MTV
's
The Real World: San Diego
, which aired in 2011.
17
Govere was also a writer, host, and correspondent for both
MTV
Act and MTV Voices.
18
19
"I'm not a mother, but I have children"
edit
Shungudzo released "It's a good day (to fight the system)", the first single from her debut album by Svikiro Records/Young Forever/BMG on October 30, 2020, as part of her three-track manifesto "I (motsi)". According to American Songwriter, "good day" is "a bold genre-defying anthem that balances passionate proclamations with sunny guitar and horn arrangements and stacked harmonies."
20
Shungudzo followed up "good day" with the singles "To be me", which premiered on Paper video on February 2, 2021;
21
) "There's only so much a soul can take" (song premiere on
Zane Lowe
's
Apple Music 1
radio show and video premiere on FLOOD
22
), "White parents" (premiere on Consequence of Sound on April 14, 2021
23
), and the title track "I'm not a mother, but I have children." For "it's a good day" and "There's only so much a soul can take", Shungudzo was recognized as an "emerging artist to watch for in 2021" by
People
24
Hailed by
Zane Lowe
as "completely unique and individual" and as an artist to "match up with asap" by
Essence
25
"Shungudzo isn't putting up with the bullshit anymore" (Refinery29).
26
Shungudzo performed "There's only so much a soul can take" on the June 9, 2021, episode of
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
27
Personal life
edit
As of 2011, Govere was living in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, Byron, whom she began seeing eight months prior to filming
The Real World
28
Their relationship was depicted in episode 4 of
that season
when he visited her at the season residence.
29
Discography
edit
Albums
edit
Title
Year
"I'm not a mother, but I have children"
2021
Singles
edit
As lead artist
edit
Title
Year
Peak
chart
positions
Album
US
AAA
30
"Long Live the Billionaire"
2017
Non-album singles
"Paper"
2018
"Freedom for my People"
31
(with
Oliver Heldens
2020
"It's a good day (to fight the system)"
39
I'm not a mother, but I have children
"To be me"
2021
"There's only so much a soul can take"
"White parents"
"I'm not a mother, but I have children"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist
edit
Title
Year
Album
"Roll with Me"
(Bantu featuring Shungudzo)
2017
Non-album single
"Bicycle"
(BC Unidos featuring Shungudzo)
Bicycle EP
"Spare Gold"
Paul White
featuring Shungudzo)
2018
Rejuvenate
"Just a Little"
(Bantu featuring Shungudzo)
TBA
"Toast to Our Differences"
Rudimental
featuring Shungudzo,
Protoje
and Hak Baker)
Toast to Our Differences
"Roll with Me"
(Bantu and
Jonas Blue
featuring Shungudzo and
ZieZie
TBA
"Ice Cream Man"
Paul White
featuring Shungudzo)
Rejuvenate
Fire in My Soul
Oliver Heldens
featuring Shungudzo)
Non-album single
Weightless
Hayden James
featuring Shungudzo)
2019
Between Us
"Back to Life"
Chiiild
featuring Shungudzo)
Synthetic Soul
"How Could I Ever?"
(KUU featuring Shungudzo)
2020
Non-album single
"We'll Always Have This Dance "
(KUU featuring Shungudzo)
Non-album single
"How Could I Ever?"
(KUU featuring Shungudzo)
2021
Non-album single
"Gimme Your Love "
(KUU featuring Shungudzo)
Non-album single
"Choose Love"
Angélique Kidjo
featuring Shungudzo)
Mother Nature
"Meant for Me "
Angélique Kidjo
featuring Shungudzo)
Guest appearances
edit
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title
Year
Other artist(s)
Album
"Complicated"
2017
Bantu
Africa for the Summer EP
"Ougadougou"
BC Unidos
Bicycle EP
"Come on Back"
2018
Shungudzo
Fifty Shades Freed: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Songwriting credits
edit
Title
Year
Artist(s)
Album
Written with
Touch
2016
Little Mix
Glory Days
Hanni Ibrahim, Patrick Patrikios, Philip Plested
"Not That Girl"
2017
Girli
Feel Ok EP
Milly Toomey
Best Behaviour
Louisa
Non-album single
Thomas Barnes
Peter Kelleher
Benjamin Kohn
Daniel Parker
"It Won't Kill Ya"
(featuring
Louane
The Chainsmokers
Memories...Do Not Open
Andrew Taggart
Samuel Martin
"Stay Awake, Wait for Me"
Jessie Ware
Glasshouse
Jessica Ware
Ajay Bhattacharya
Daniel Parker
"Your Domino"
Jessica Ware
Ajay Bhattacharya
Daniel Parker
, Daniel Sinclair
"Love to Love"
Jessica Ware
Ajay Bhattacharya
Daniel Parker
"Wish I Never Met You"
2018
Victoria Monét
Life After Love, Pt 1
Victoria McCants
Maurice "Verse" Simmonds
"Way Down"
MØ
Forever Neverland
Karen Marie Ørsted
Ajay Bhattacharya
, Letter Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya
"Overtime"
Jessie Ware
Non-album single
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
, Andy Ferguson, Matthew McBriar
"Joan of Arc"
Little Mix
LM5
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Jade Thirlwall
, Hanni Ibrahim, Patrick Patrikios, Philip Plested
"Wasabi"
Jade Thirlwall
Uzoechi Emenike
, Mike Sabath
"Notice"
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Jade Thirlwall
, Mike Sabath
"Forevermore"
2019
Yuna
Rouge
Yuna Zara'ai
Robin Hannibal
"(Not) The Love of My Life"
Yuna Zara'ai
Robin Hannibal
"Forget About You"
Yuna Zara'ai
Robin Hannibal
"Back to Life"
Chiiild
Synthetic Soul
Yonatan Ayal
, Pierre-Luc Rioux,
Isabelle Dunn
"Hands Off Me"
2020
Yonatan Ayal
, Pierre-Luc Rioux,
Isabelle Dunn
, Lauren Malyon
"Do Me Wrong"
ASL
Love Center
Liza Owen,
John Ryan II
, Julian Bunetta, Andrew Haas, Ian Franzino
"Elevate"
Liza Owen,
John Ryan II
, Julian Bunetta, Andrew Haas, Ian Franzino
"Bite the Pillow"
Liza Owen,
John Ryan II
, Julian Bunetta, Andrew Haas, Ian Franzino
"Night Owl"
Liza Owen,
John Ryan II
, Julian Bunetta, Andrew Haas, Ian Franzino
"Boys Can Swim"
Liza Owen,
John Ryan II
, Julian Bunetta, Andrew Haas, Ian Franzino
Spotlight
Jessie Ware
What's Your Pleasure?
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
"What's Your Pleasure?"
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
"Ooh La La"
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
"Soul Control"
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
Morgan Geist
"Save a Kiss"
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
"Remember Who You Are"
Jessica Ware
Daniel Parker
James Ford
"Kiss of Life"
2021
Kylie Minogue
and
Jessie Ware
Disco: Guest List Edition
Kylie Minogue
Jessica Ware
James Ford
Danny Parker
References
edit
Goldner, Brandon.
"Sing. Dance. Write. Andra Govere: The most amazing 20-something you haven't heard of. Yet…"
Archived
June 12, 2018, at the
Wayback Machine
Brass
magazine. May 2, 2011
"Ready for their world: Two teens with the right stuff join the global party"
BNET
dead link
"Real World: San Diego: Cast: Alexandra"
MTV
. 2011. Archived from
the original
on October 1, 2011
. Retrieved
September 30,
2011
Note: Sources conflict on whether she graduated. The
Brass
article
Archived
June 12, 2018, at the
Wayback Machine
indicates she graduated with a civil engineering degree, though her
MTV.com bio
indicates she dropped out eight weeks prior to graduation.
"Zim songstress causes a stir"
Archived
September 23, 2011, at the
Wayback Machine
The Zimbabwean
. July 30, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
Johnson, Steve.
"Zimbabwean Gymnast Makes History"
AllAfrica
.com. October 25, 1999
"Govere's worldwide program continues to assist AIDS orphans | The Paly Voice"
. September 29, 2011. Archived from
the original
on September 29, 2011
. Retrieved
August 27,
2018
Olson, Linnea.
"The Kids Are Alright"
Elle Girl
Sep–Oct 2003. page 141.
Google Books
. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
United Nations (March 20, 2000).
"NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS 'MILLENNIUM DREAMERS' DELEGATES TO BE ANNOUNCED"
. United Nations.
"Album: "Love is 4 Suckaz / I'm A Sucka 4 Love" by Andra"
. August 14, 2010
"Andra ft. Lupe Fiasco – White Swans"
Archived
August 15, 2011, at the
Wayback Machine
. Dubstep Source. July 6, 2010
Govere, Alexandra.
"Music & Things"
Archived
April 25, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
. Too Sweet To Be Bitter. October 7, 2011
Govere, Alexandra.
"Music & Things"
. Facebook. October 7, 2011
Big Deal Music (2018).
"Shungudzo"
Big DEal Music
. Archived from
the original
on April 4, 2018
. Retrieved
April 4,
2018
Hamada Mania Music.
"Shungudzo unleashes new promotional single 'Come On Back'
Hamada Mania Music
. Archived from
the original
on May 30, 2019
. Retrieved
April 4,
2018
Marotta, Michael (August 31, 2018).
"Shungudzo just dropped one of the catchiest songs of 2018 in 'Paper'
. Vanyaland.
"JUST IN: Zim artistic gymnast fight racism"
The Herald
. January 28, 2021
. Retrieved
May 31,
2022
"Alexandra Govere"
Archived
August 14, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
. MTV Act Blog. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
"Alexandra Govere"
Archived
May 7, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
. MTV Voices UK. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
"Bringin' It Backwards: Interview with Shungudzo"
American Songwriter
. December 25, 2020
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
Moran, Justin (February 2, 2021).
"Shungudzo Wants a World Where It's Safe to Be Black"
Paper
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
Farrell, Margaret.
"Shungudzo Warns to Protect our Energy on "There's Only so Much a Soul Can Take"
Flood Magazine
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
Kaye, Ben (April 14, 2021).
"Shungudzo Shares the Origins of New Single "White parents": Stream"
Consequence of Sound
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
Mier, Tomás.
"Meet the Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape in 2021"
People
. Meredith
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
Clark, Kevin (April 27, 2021).
"Houston's Own Peyton Is All About Black Women Excellence"
Essence
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
Komonibo, Ineye.
"New Music To Know: Doja Cat Heads Back To The "Streets" & Rosé Goes Solo"
Refinery29
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
"Shungudzo Performs 'There's only so much a soul can take'
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
. June 9, 2021.
Archived
from the original on December 14, 2021
. Retrieved
June 18,
2021
– via
"Real World San Diego | Ep. 1 | First Impressions | MTV"
MTV
. June 24, 2012. Archived from
the original
on June 24, 2012
. Retrieved
August 27,
2018
"Real World San Diego: Ep. 4: Hair-Razing Arguments And Sticky Situations"
MTV
. November 22, 2012. Archived from
the original
on November 22, 2012
. Retrieved
August 27,
2018
"Shungudzo Triple A Airplay Chart History"
Billboard
. Retrieved
October 27,
2021
Sweeney, Farrell (December 19, 2020).
"Oliver Heldens and Shungudzo reunite for euphoric release, 'Freedom for my People'
Dancing Astronaut
. Archived from
the original
on December 28, 2020
. Retrieved
December 28,
2020
External links
edit
Media related to
Alexandra Govere
at Wikimedia Commons
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