Rising Swedish-African act attracted to Pinay beauties

By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ

March 30, 2011, 2:28pm

Mohombi

MANILA, Philippines -- Afro-pop upstart Mohombi confessed to Bulletin Entertainment his weakness: The 23-year-old “Bumpy Ride” hitmaker thinks Pinays are amongst the most beautiful women in the world.

No wonder he finds singer Nicole Scherzinger, who has Filipino lineage and whom he just collaborated with, so alluring he realized it was kind of difficult working with her. “It’s hard to focus when you’re working with Nicole. She’s too stunning!” He remarked March 25 in a phoner with Bulletin.

The well-traveled Mohombi said he is aching to visit more Asian countries in the near future, having been to just one of the continent’s premier destinations: Japan. The Philippines is, of course, one of his must-go-to list as he joked he’d come here if given the chance even if meant he’d “have to fly out on such short notice.”

The first artist to be signed up in renowned producer Red One’s label 2101 Records, Mohombi calls his genre as Afro-viking which in essence is African rhythm merged with ’90s words and melodies.

“The ’90s was a period when pop music was at its peak,” he stated.

“There was a lot of positive energy and it was the time when I was growing up.”

Formerly a member of a duo called Avalon (the other half being his brother Djo), he recharted his career and is now doing good solo, collaborating with top acts Scherzinger, best known as lead figure of Pussycat Dolls, and R&B star Nelly.

He said of the two, “It’s amazing to have them acknowledge my music. They’re cool people and I’ve gotten close particularly with Nelly.”

Pursuing deeper the matter of collaboration, a common instance today especially among R&B and pop acts, Mohombi saw the trend as an industry plus, directly opposite of what, let’s say, Will I Am is accustomed to doing (Read: Being featured in various records outside of Black Eyed Peas that somewhat equals to having too many affairs outside of a music marriage).

But Mohombi pointed out, “Collaborating is helping music go forward and taking it to the next level. It’s a good message to the world with artists creating music together. And a vehicle to keep your identity intact which is the real gauge of a good artist.”

Mohombi, who came to Stockholm, Sweden from war-torn Congo in 1998, has also collaborated with the likes Far East Movement and Quincy Jones.

“Everyday is a pressure for me,” he assessed, “But that’s good because it pushes me. It’s important for me to do the past, the present, and the future which for me is doing research, analyzing things and always asking how can I take things to the next level.”

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