Freeda goes to Hollywood
Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day Freeda started her music career a long time ago and worked herself up to signing partnerships with USA media company Hollywood Unlocked. Here is her story.
If you are a close follower of songbird Freeda on social media you may have noticed that for some time now, she has been giving little hints about greater things coming her way in her posts. The singer has confirmed to tjil that indeed huge career-changing deals have come her way and soon the world will be her playground.
Beginnings
Freeda came to the music scene over a good 15 years ago when she was a member of pop group Gal Level with Oteya. The two have won multiple awards from Channel O, Kora and the NAMAs under Ogopa Butterfly from their hit songs like ‘Speel Ons Saam’ and ‘Shake it’ just to mention a few. Freeda however felt it was time to spread her wings and fly solo after being with Ogopa Butterfly and Gal Level for a good 10 years. Her solo career under Westcoast D.O.C. has seen her develop into a vibrant artist whose well-choreographed performances and sweet melodically cultured voice have won the hearts of her fan base. “When you have a team that is committed and wants you to achieve as much as you do, wonders happen and I’m grateful for Westcoast D.O.C. being by my side,” said Freeda.
Chronicles
Freeda released her hit album Chronicles in 2015 which broke many records in the country and abroad. She managed to make one of the first albums which have successfully shot music videos for every song on the album. Chronicles has been a resounding succeeds indeed as it has one of the widest distributed on channels in the world. “You can literally buy the album in any country in the world. The album is available in 15 000 brick and mortar stores globally and 1 500 online stores and the sales are remarkable,” said Freeda. To top it off, socialbakers.com, Freeda's YouTube channel, is the most viewed channel in Namibia with close 2.4 million viewers. In total, Freeda’s hit song Mutjaka has over 7.7 million views on the internet. As much as this is good there are those that try to cheat artists out of their hard work by not giving credit where its due. “You have to stand up and protect your work. If you use our video content with our song that's you helping us promote our work but if you take out our music and put your own then that's stealing our work,” she said.
Another millstone achieved by Freeda is when her music videos aired on American music channels like MTV, Jams and BET. This got her a profile on the MTV artist page where A-listers like Beyonce and Drake are featured.
Hollywood
With all these achievements it is only right that it must be put to use greatly. Westcoast D.O.C. signed a partnership with USA-based marketing and artist profiling company Hollywood Unlocked to be Freeda’s official marketing and brand ambassadors. This makes Freeda one of the first Namibian artists to have made it to the land of glitz and glamour. Hollywood Unlocked is a media company owned by Jason Lee (of the Love and Hip Hop fame) and the legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather. The partnership with Hollywood Unlocked is anticipated to open numerous opportunities for Freeda including recording her music and music videos in the USA, and to have collaborations with international artists from USA. “When my manager informed me about the deal with Hollywood Unlocked I was like ‘what and who? Isn’t Maywather a boxer? Why and what does he want… to be my brand ambassador?’ This is just God’s work. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I learned about the company and it is just what I needed in my career,” she said. Other than producing and marketing her music in Hollywood, Freeda will also feature as a television personality on a number of TV channels in USA. The singer will also have access to major USA based concert organisers like NuCom and Tranriq.
What’s next
The singer said the news is still sinking in and a lot of paperwork needs to be done. Asked whether she will be relocating anytime soon Freeda said all is yet to be confirmed. “I will have to see what will work for me financially but if it means I have to move then I will. Home will always be home but one needs to explore. There is very little offered for artists in Namibia. The world is our playground. We should never limit ourselves,” she said. Freeda added she will not change her style completely as that is what got her the deal in the first place. “Nowadays everyone sounds the same, my style is different and I’ll stick to it,” said Freeda.
June Shimuoshili
Beginnings
Freeda came to the music scene over a good 15 years ago when she was a member of pop group Gal Level with Oteya. The two have won multiple awards from Channel O, Kora and the NAMAs under Ogopa Butterfly from their hit songs like ‘Speel Ons Saam’ and ‘Shake it’ just to mention a few. Freeda however felt it was time to spread her wings and fly solo after being with Ogopa Butterfly and Gal Level for a good 10 years. Her solo career under Westcoast D.O.C. has seen her develop into a vibrant artist whose well-choreographed performances and sweet melodically cultured voice have won the hearts of her fan base. “When you have a team that is committed and wants you to achieve as much as you do, wonders happen and I’m grateful for Westcoast D.O.C. being by my side,” said Freeda.
Chronicles
Freeda released her hit album Chronicles in 2015 which broke many records in the country and abroad. She managed to make one of the first albums which have successfully shot music videos for every song on the album. Chronicles has been a resounding succeeds indeed as it has one of the widest distributed on channels in the world. “You can literally buy the album in any country in the world. The album is available in 15 000 brick and mortar stores globally and 1 500 online stores and the sales are remarkable,” said Freeda. To top it off, socialbakers.com, Freeda's YouTube channel, is the most viewed channel in Namibia with close 2.4 million viewers. In total, Freeda’s hit song Mutjaka has over 7.7 million views on the internet. As much as this is good there are those that try to cheat artists out of their hard work by not giving credit where its due. “You have to stand up and protect your work. If you use our video content with our song that's you helping us promote our work but if you take out our music and put your own then that's stealing our work,” she said.
Another millstone achieved by Freeda is when her music videos aired on American music channels like MTV, Jams and BET. This got her a profile on the MTV artist page where A-listers like Beyonce and Drake are featured.
Hollywood
With all these achievements it is only right that it must be put to use greatly. Westcoast D.O.C. signed a partnership with USA-based marketing and artist profiling company Hollywood Unlocked to be Freeda’s official marketing and brand ambassadors. This makes Freeda one of the first Namibian artists to have made it to the land of glitz and glamour. Hollywood Unlocked is a media company owned by Jason Lee (of the Love and Hip Hop fame) and the legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather. The partnership with Hollywood Unlocked is anticipated to open numerous opportunities for Freeda including recording her music and music videos in the USA, and to have collaborations with international artists from USA. “When my manager informed me about the deal with Hollywood Unlocked I was like ‘what and who? Isn’t Maywather a boxer? Why and what does he want… to be my brand ambassador?’ This is just God’s work. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I learned about the company and it is just what I needed in my career,” she said. Other than producing and marketing her music in Hollywood, Freeda will also feature as a television personality on a number of TV channels in USA. The singer will also have access to major USA based concert organisers like NuCom and Tranriq.
What’s next
The singer said the news is still sinking in and a lot of paperwork needs to be done. Asked whether she will be relocating anytime soon Freeda said all is yet to be confirmed. “I will have to see what will work for me financially but if it means I have to move then I will. Home will always be home but one needs to explore. There is very little offered for artists in Namibia. The world is our playground. We should never limit ourselves,” she said. Freeda added she will not change her style completely as that is what got her the deal in the first place. “Nowadays everyone sounds the same, my style is different and I’ll stick to it,” said Freeda.
June Shimuoshili
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