Audius Mtawarira Biography| Age, Music Career, Record Label, Clothing Label, Albums, Awards
Audius Mtawarira is a highly acclaimed multi-talented Zimbabwean singer, songwriter, and producer. With a career spanning over two decades, Audius Mtawarira has left an indelible mark on the music industry, both in his home country and internationally. As one of the pioneers of the Urban Grooves music genre, he has captivated audiences with his soulful vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and infectious melodies.
Age
He was born on Jan 1, 1977. As of 2023, he is 46 years old.
Background
Audius Tonderai Mtawarira was born in Chimbumu, Guruve District, Zimbabwe. His father, Augustine Mtawarira, was a farmer and property manager, but sadly, he passed away in 2012.
Mtawarira’s educational journey began at Ruzawi School, a private Anglican boarding primary school in Marondera. Notably, he was among the first Native African students to be enrolled there.
He continued his education at Peterhouse Boys’ School in Marondera, a prestigious private boarding secondary school. During his time at Peterhouse, Audius Mtawarira showcased his musical talents by singing in the school choir and playing the piano and drums. Additionally, he excelled in sports, representing his school and district in Cricket, Rugby, and Athletics.
After completing his secondary education, Audius attended Gateway High School in Harare, where he continued to participate in music programs and performed in the school choir. He also served as the captain of the Rugby, Cricket, and Athletics teams. In 1996, he left Zimbabwe to pursue higher education at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia.
Eventually, he transferred to Curtin University, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design.
The passing of Audius Mtawarira’s father in 2012 led to a significant turning point in his life. Moved by the loss, he made the decision to end his 14-year stay in Australia and permanently settle back in Zimbabwe. Audius is married and has two children, named Shona and Audius Jr.
Audius Mtawarira with Country Singer Adam Brand (Image Credit: Instagram @theonly_audius)
Music Career
Audius Mtawarira is a highly acclaimed artist known for his contributions to the Urban Grooves music genre. Hailing from Zimbabwe, he has garnered numerous awards for his exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter, and producer. His music career began during his high school years, where he showcased his skills by singing and playing drums in the Peterhouse Boys School choir. Audius’s passion for music was further nurtured by his father, who taught him how to play the guitar.
In 2002, Audius made a significant entrance into the music scene with the release of his debut album, titled ‘Audius’. The album featured the chart-topping hit ‘If Only You Knew‘, accompanied by a captivating music video shot in Australia. Despite his young age of 18, Audius had already begun recording his music, having migrated to Australia to pursue his studies.
His exceptional talents caught the attention of international music record producers as early as 1999. He secured a position at Sony Music headquarters, where he had the opportunity to write and produce music for renowned artists like Flo Rida and Ludacris. Audius Mtawarira held this prestigious role until 2007, after which he joined Sony ATV as a music director and artist developer. In 2011, he concluded his publishing contract with them. Although he is currently based in Zimbabwe, Adius remains signed to Universal Music Publishing (UMP) worldwide.
His prowess as a songwriter and producer has earned him international recognition, with his compositions being performed by celebrated artists such as Flo Rida, Ludacris, Stan Walker, and Jessica Mauboy.
In addition to his singing career, Adius Mtawarira is also a highly accomplished music producer. In 2002, he ventured into production and worked on Selwyn’s album ‘Meant To Be‘. The following year, he produced the single ‘Born to Try‘.
Audius’ prowess as a producer extended beyond his own projects. In 2008, he produced Jessica Mauboy’s highly anticipated album, ‘Been Waiting’, and co-wrote the hit single ‘Running Back‘. The song soared to number three on the Australian singles charts and earned them the prestigious ‘Highest Selling Single’ accolade at the 2009 ARIA Music Awards. Additionally, Audius produced Paulini’s debut album, titled ‘One Determined Heart‘, in 2004, and contributed to fellow Australian Idol contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter’s album, writing the track ‘Hell No!’ and serving as the majority producer.
Additionally, he contributed as a music producer for the Australian production of the movie musical ‘Goddess‘ in 2013, featuring Laura Michelle Kelly and Ronan Keating, with direction by Mark Lamprel.
In 2019, Audius showcased his songwriting and production skills by co-writing, producing, and mixing the song ‘To Myself‘ performed by Alfie Arcuri for the Eurovision ‘Australia Decides’ competition. Out of over 700 entries, the song emerged as one of the top 10 finalists and secured a fifth-place ranking in the live broadcast on SBS.
Record Label
Driven by his passion for nurturing talent, Adius established his own studio called The Sound Academy Studios. He also founded a record label named Blindfaith Entertainment. Through his academy, Adius played an instrumental role in developing numerous unsigned artists, sharing his knowledge, and kickstarting the careers of aspiring talents such as Iggy Azalea, Justice Crew, Anise K, and more.
Clothing Label
Beyond his production work, Adius delved into other creative ventures. In 2008, he launched his own fashion label, Shona Clothing, drawing inspiration from his Zimbabwean heritage.
Albums
Audius Mtawarira has released several albums throughout his career. His notable albums include:
- “Audius“- Released in 2002
- “Ever After“- Released in 2003
- “Music and Me“- Released in 2005
- “Day Like This” – Released in 2008
- House of Stones – Released in 2014
- “PREDESTINATION” – Released in 2016.
- “2020″ (twenty twenty) – Released in 2020.
Awards
Audius has received recognition for his remarkable talent and contributions to the music industry through various prestigious awards. In 2003, he was honored with the Best Urban Grooves award at the Zimbabwe Music Awards. Additionally, in 2014, Audius’s outstanding work was acknowledged once again as he secured the “Best R&B Urban Album” award for his highly acclaimed album titled “House of Stones.”
