AUG 2020
Since 2000
Issue
No. 235
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TETU S H A N I Pb: INTRODUCE YOURSELF TS: My Name is Tetu Shani. A Singer, Song Writer and Performing Artist from Nairobi, Kenya. Pb: THINKING BACK TO EARLY CHILDHOOD WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MUSIC? TS: My earliest experience with music was at six months old, when my mom gave me a shaker, just a basic sort of baby rattler, and I started shaking it rhythmically much to my mom and my auntie, shock after that. I also used to sing in church with my mom and my sister like a trio, we did Acapella music and of course, at school where I participated in some of the Christmas productions and the plays and stuff like that. Pb: WHAT MUSICAL INFLUENCES DID YOU HAVE A CHILD AND WHAT ARE YOUR INFLUENCES NOW? TS: My musical influences as a child were basically the people that my parents were listening to. My dad was listening to a lot of Simon & Garfunkel and James Taylor, a lot of the Seventies song, singer song writer, sort of folk. My mom on the other hand was listening to Ron Canolli who’s a African-American gospel artists. My influences now are hard to define just because I’m not really sure what has influenced me, but I do know that Jack Johnson is a big influence on my music, so is Asha from Nigeria, Milkychan from Germany, and Just a Band, our very own local artists. They’ve broken up now, but they were a big influence on my music. Pb: TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR NEW EP TS: The new EP is called: Just Because We Fight It Doesn’t Mean We’re Broken. It literally was, born when I wrote a song called Don’t Know Me At All on, on my Instagram show on Thursdays, which is called writer’s block. This is where basically I, invite my audience, my fan based into my song writing process.
@TetuShaniMusic @tetushani @tetushanimusic Tetu Shani
This song perfectly described what I felt I was going through in this Corona period that I realized, I had much more to say about how I feel in this season and the impact that this pandemic has had on my relationships and mental health. It’s a six track EP. It is indie rock or alternative rock or a fusion. Pb: HOW ARE YOU COPING DURING THIS PANDEMIC? TS: Taking things one day at a time. Literally, I am not stressing about tomorrow because today has its own problems. As the Bible says, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has its own issues. Literally, when things go haywire like this year, you literally must break your life down into bite sized pieces. And that’s exactly what I’ve done Pb: WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNT DURING THESE TIMES ? TS: Probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned during this period is, to keep moving even if you have to craw or drag yourself on your stomach. You do that, but you never stop moving. Pb: JUST BECAUSE WE FIGHT DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE BROKEN SOUNDS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OTHER SOUND, WHAT HAS COME ABOUT THIS CHANGE? TS: This EP is a new sound and a new style that I’m introducing to my fan base. I’ve had a reputation of kind of being very experimental, but actually with this EAP, I’m going back to my roots. A lot of people don’t know this, but like my roots are in sort of alternative rock.That’s the music that I probably was most obsessed with most passionate about when starting out. Pb: ANY LAST WORDS? TS: Make sure that you check out the music. It’s going challenge you. It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be amazing.
Interview by Njeri Kimani | Photo courtesy of Tetu Shani
@muthonidrummerqueen @muthoniDQ @muthonidrummerqueen Muthoni Drummer Queen
M
uthoni was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya in a lower middle class home. While she knew she wanted to be a performer in the footsteps of Michael Jackson, her family strongly discouraged her from her intended musical forays. In retrospect, she supposes this might have been because there was simply no example/clear path for what a music career could be/produce. She believes the concern came from her parents desire for her and her siblings to truly fulfill their potential and have a better life than theirs. So, Muthoni learned to be smart about her dreams, doing very well in school while nurturing her interests through the school choir, and the theatre/drama/ debate/public speaking clubs without much objection from her parents. This trade-off worked well till 2004 when she decided to fully go for her music career while also pursuing her degree in International Relations and Philosophy at the United States International University (USIU-A) where she graduated Cum Laude in 2007 . It was while organising her first concert in 2004 that she realised that she was good at producing shows and this experience would prove to be pivotal for the dual career she has since forged; as a recording/performing artist on the one hand, and as a founder & creative director of two Music festivals (Blankets & Wine and Africa Nouveau) In 2013, Muthoni started working with two Swiss beat makers Jean “Hook” Geissbuhler and Greg “GR!” Escoffey who are both activists in the hip hop movement, having notably produced for IAM (France), Stress (Switzerland) and A-Lee (Norway). Introduced by a mutual friend who was working in Nairobi, Muthoni, Hook and GR found immediate chemistry with GR (The Jedi master of the crew) bringing the samples and sonic ideas and Hook transforming these “raw materials” into ultra-fresh, genre defying sounds. The synergy around a common love of traditional hiphop, African drum patterns, reggae/dancehall vibration and pop-music sensibility accelerated the creation of their first project -The Self-titled album “MDQ” - which was produced, written and recorded in 16 days. The project was released in December 2014 and features the hit singles “Nai ni Ya Who” and “This One”, the latter winning the best song in the urban category of the M4Music demo tape clinic in 2014. In 2015, Hook, GR & Muthoni went on their first summer tour in Switzerland, performing most notably at Paleo Festival. In 2016, the trio started work on their next project in between shows in Switzerland and Kenya. The result of this phase of collaboration is their second 12 track album titled “SHE” Muthoni continues to be a maverick as an artist and as a creative entrepreneur. As an artist, she continues to blur the genre-rules and expectations of music from Kenya. She makes radio and club-friendly music without losing the essence of who she is, which is, a bringer of light; one who elevates consciousness, an activist for a better human coexistence.
DJ
Mantixx Pb: INTRODUCE YOURSELF DEEJAY MANTIXX: I am Barnabas Otieno aka DJ Mantixx. I have been in the entertainment industry for 10 years doing good music and promoting new and upcoming artist. Pb: YOU HAVE A NEW SINGLE OUT, TELL US MOR ABOUT IT DEEJAY MANTIXX: My new project called Ganda is out featuring Maila and Nimo Ke. Pb: WHAT ARE YOUR MOST DEFINING MOMENTS AS A DJ? DEEJAY MANTIXX: In 2010 my mixes were watched by more than 10,000 people in matatus which made me win various Awards. Pb: AWAY FROM DEEJAYING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO? DEEJAY MANTIXX: I am a businessman. My friends and I sell computers and accessories. Pb: HOW DO YOU BALANCE OUT WORK AND YOUR PERSONAL LIFE? DEEJAY MANTIXX: It’s hard but I had to adjust as a Deejay we work weekends and spend time with my family and other businesses on the weekends. Pb: ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR ALL LOOKING TO BE A DEEJAY? DEEJAY MANTIXX: Deejaying is a job as any other job if you take it seriously and invest your time and money it will definitely workout for you. Discipline and hard work are the key to success. Pb: ANY LAST WORDS? DEEJAY MANTIXX: I am a deejay not by choice, but it is a calling.
Deejay Mantixx
@deejaymantixx
@deejaymantixx1
Interview by Njeri Kimani | Photo courtesy of DJ Mantixx