Where would the world be without change? Without change there would be no music as we know it for even that first African drummer had to go against some norm to introduce his new sound to his village who might have resisted it initially as foreign.
Oh how the world has changed! When you see artists such as Chameleone working their a$% off year after year to maintain their position at the top there is a reason for that. Just as in the West, the competition is becoming fierce if you don’t want to be a one hit wonder. There are newer, more refined artists springing up every day in Ugandan music. Where one artist gets laughed at for taking the music in a new direction, the next silences the critics by perfecting and fine tuning the new twist.
Myco Chris does both. The London based artist’s song Zino Enaku is probably more known than the artist himself. After years of sitting on the song, an unexpected collaboration on it saw its release in the last third of 2008 and sealed the deal… taking Myco Chris to the top. His latest Kabiito Wange is a signal to Ugandan music lovers that Myco is no one hit wonder. The song further defines the artist and his direction in music, and together with the following UGPulse.com interview we are now getting a clearer picture of who this artist really is.
It seems like only yesterday when some of us just heard your name yet at the same time you seem to be a veteran by most standards. Tell us where you have sprung from and how long you have been on the scene.
We are humbled to be on the scene. The reason why I say WE, is because of all the people behind the scenes who have made all of this possible to whom I owe respect and gratitude.
Musically my journey started at the age of six at St Paul’s Cathedral choir Namirembe, from where I ventured out into mainstream music at the age of 13 under the governance of my dear friend Shanks Gumaras who by then was called Shanks Vivi D. I have had the opportunity to work with almost everyone in the mainstream music industry of Uganda, and with some international stars on other projects. This is the backbone of by music.
I have been around for a great while and I will still be here in the years to come, not because I’m over confident in dreams that I have, but because of my deep trust in God.
Zino Enaku… This is the song that made us notice. Yourself and Radio represent yet another turning point in a rapidly changing Ugandan Music industry. Tell us about how you all came together with Kuklee and Weasel to get this song out. What is the history behind recording the song?
It’s not enough to prepare for moments of Genius for a long period of time, but maximising and exploring possibilities and opportunities in that moment of time when they present themselves is the key. When an opportunity presents itself, we do not shy away, but seize it. Having an open mind enables us to explore every dimension and as well as keep our music very dynamic and revolutionary in a sense.
Zino Enaku… The chorus was written about six years ago. But the whole song came together, when myself, Kuklee, O.J, Radio and Weasel met to do a totally different project, but on listening to Zino Enaku the chorus, which was pre-recorded, it felt the right song for the season. Because it felt right, and indeed it was the right song for that season, everything just fell into place and the product is a rather great track accompanied by a deep message, which has worked out right.
What is the song about? It seems almost like a love song in a few spots but the song is about hard times the hard times of the “Kyeyo” perhaps as the video seems to indicate?
Zino Enaku is basically, a real life experience or occurrence depending on who is listening, and different people relate to it whether in the Diaspora or in Uganda.
Zino Enaku – Myco Chris ft Moses Radio, Weasel, Kuklee
If I can take you back, to what I said earlier, no matter what the situation one is in, use that experience to uplift yourself. There’s always something we have learnt from any situation we have been in and here at Myco Chris records, that experience has been an opportunity and in most cases will soon be penned into a song and accompanied my our unique blend of music to make a hit record.
You know in the West we are definitely going through hard times with the financial meltdown and all. Some may think this is what you are singing about and maybe this is why many have connected with the song.
Actually our message is general, and bigger than the current credit crunch.
Zino Enaku applies to a myriad of situations in which we all may find ourselves in at one time or the other. For example, where someone is struggling against social or economic elements to make a buck or two so that their family can lead a relatively comfortable livelihood. Going back from the time of slavery, till today, if anyone was a foreigner in any country, they had to work their way to get at least a basic standard of living of the host country.
It’s predominantly known that, anyone that leaves their country and goes on “Kyeyo” (as is popularly called), he or she has to work as hard as a slave and later on live as a king. In that respect, Zino Enaku is in itself a timeless hit.
Kabitte Wange has not disappointed as a follow up, giving us something different but at the same time keeping that Myco Chris flavour. Those who might have not been able to filter out the Myco Chris sound in Zino Enaku now are able to know what to expect from you know after comparing the two songs. What does Kabitte mean?
First of all, thank you very much for your compliment, and we at Myco Chris Records are very humbled by the immense support and response that we continue to receive from all media houses and our great fan base.
Kabitte Wange – Myco Chris
Music at Myco Chris Records, originates, and is sung from the heart and soul. Because of that, our music will always speak to every heart which we always intend to achieve. This means, it will never be a disappointment because we speak to every individual’s heart, and our intention is to have that musical connection through speaking to you our fans… and that way we develop that unique relationship with our entire fan base. We at Myco Chris records set out to create music from our hearts and souls, with our main aim is to be a blessing to the world and to be blessed in return, and to keep our fans both entertained and nourished in the process.
The Ugandan musicians in Europe seem to be increasingly giving the Ugandans at home a run for their money. How true is this? Why this increasing 180 degree turn for a lot of musicians in the Diaspora you think?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that the Ugandan Musicians in Europe are increasingly giving their Ugandans counterparts a run for their money; but, in my view, the artists in Uganda and us in the Diaspora, compliment one another, which creates a healthy music environment, thus creating a new level of growth in the industry. A few years ago we barely had that many musicians or artists, but right now, the industry has exploded with very good talent, and together we can take Uganda to the next level on this musical journey. Ugandan musicians in the Diaspora have something to learn from their counterparts in Uganda and vice versa. We are all brothers and sisters.
So where are you heading with this? Concerts? Should we be expecting hit after hit from Myco Chris in 09?
I’m tempted to say the sky is the limit, but that would sound rather cliché.
2009 is going to be a mixture of both worlds at Myco Chris Records. Hits will be released, and concerts performed, which I think is the healthy way of doing music and giving back to our growing fan base. We intend to work on a variety of projects, some of which we have already started. These will include, without pre-empting ourselves, expansion, development, charity, and giving opportunity to the young and upcoming music talent, and in the process exploiting the great music potential that Uganda has, to mention but a few.
