Big break in hip hop world beckons for Birkenhead Burger King manager Andy Sibanda

Feb 6 2013 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

AN ASPIRING hip hop producer from Bebington has been rubbing shoulders with some of the industry’s brightest stars.

Andy Sibanda, 25, works as a service manager at Burger King in Birkenhead’s Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre but his band, RealBallaz, is making big waves locally.

The three band members met with some of music’s top stars at a Mobo Awards after show party in Liverpool attended by big names like Rita Ora and Emeli Sandé.

Andy says that, although he loves working in Burger King, a career as a music industry producer beckons.

He said: “I have always wanted to be involved in music and probably more as a producer than an artist.

“I like the thought of getting music and developing it as well as guiding the artists. Getting music out to a wider audience is the challenge.

“RealBallaz was set up by two mates, LJ and Nigel, and myself. The name is a basketball term meaning ‘work hard, play hard’.

“We are currently working on new songs and are nearly ready to cut a master tape.

“I enjoy developing new ideas but as committed Christians we love to bring our love of Jesus into what we do.

“I’m also looking after my brother and younger sister, Aaron and Thandi, who perform under the name Swovo Gang.”

Andy believes that fifteen-year-old Thandi, who narrowly missed out on a place in the live finals of the television show Britain’s Got Talent, has a big future ahead of her.

The aspiring producer grew up listening to his dad’s jazz records and completed a diploma at Wirral Met College after arriving in the UK from Zimbabwe 10 years ago.

Despite his music ambitions, he says he enjoys working at Burger King.

He said: “It’s great to meet so many people and it really is a great place to work. I have to earn a living and it means I can work on new songs and ideas when I’m not on duty.”

“We really want to develop RealBallaz and get our songs and ideas out there. But I don’t see myself so much as an artist but more as a producer and that where I will be looking to make my biggest impact. Watch this space man!”

Derek Millar, commercial director for the Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre, said: “We have a wealth of talent in and amongst the people who work at the centre and Andy is a very good example of this.

“I wish him and his band every success with their music ambitions.”