Those arriving early – and stress-free – to any of Coldplay’s four concerts at Zayed Sports City Stadium are being treated to some striking Afro-pop sounds from the main stage.
The man of the hour, or at least for the 20 minutes allotted, is Shone Zw. The Zimbabwean singer has been winning over fans throughout his time supporting Coldplay in Abu Dhabi, as well as during their previous tours of Australia and New Zealand. Backed by a DJ, his sunny tracks not only set the mood for the euphoric tunes to come from the British band, but also hint at an artist with a sound and style all his own. Here are four things to know about Shone Zw.
1. He sings Afro-pop with a Zimbabwean twist
While Afro-pop, particularly led by artists from Nigeria and South Africa, is undeniably in vogue, Zw is adding a distinctive twist by infusing his native Zimbabwean elements into the mix. From the rhythms of the mbira – also known as the thumb piano, and a cornerstone of Zimbabwean traditional music – to the call-and-response style found in folk music, Zw's sound stands out. These influences shine through on his debut EP Love and Trap, which includes tracks such as Wee Woo and Matambudziko Bye Bye, offering a distinct blend of contemporary Afro-pop and Zimbabwean heritage.
2. Coldplay view him as an artist to watch
It shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise that Zw has featured on the Music of the Spheres tour, as Coldplay has long been fond of bringing emerging artists on the road. Past tours have included acts such as Dua Lipa and Alessia Cara, giving rising stars a platform on a global stage.
That said, Zw is not simply there to warm up the crowd. As evidenced during Thursday’s opening show at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium, he is an engaging and irrepressibly smiley presence with a powerful voice. Backed by his DJ, he bounded across the stage, encouraging everyone to revel in the moment at this monumental event, all while delivering anthems of his own, such as the pulsating Afro-RnB fusion Betsie.
3. Go to his social media accounts for backstage shots of the tour
With about 80 thousand combined followers on Instagram and TikTok, Zw’s presence on the platform has been steadily growing, boosted by his role supporting Coldplay on last year’s tour of Australia and New Zealand.
It’s also a great place to catch intimate behind-the-scenes glimpses of the tour, including Zw’s perspective performing on massive stages to packed stadiums, backstage shots of dressing rooms, and a particularly heart-warming image of him chatting with Chris Martin, captioned: “Your encouragement fuels my dreams".
4. He has his own music festival in Zimbabwe
Perhaps inspired by Coldplay’s collaborative approach with fellow artists, Zw is already working to spotlight talent from his homeland. In December, he launched his own event, the Shone Inspire Music Festival, in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. The festival featured performances by promising local artists, including singers Nutty O, Delroy Shewe and Poptain.
Coldplay perform at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Sunday and Tuesday. All tickets are sold out. Doors open at 5pm and Shone performs from 6pm.
