MAY 2021
Issue: No. 244
Since 2000
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NOVO
Change PHAT!BUZZ:INTRODUCE YOURSELF NOVO CHANGE: My name is Dennis Change on set am Novo Change , A Kenyan musician ,Song Writer, Producer and Entrepreneur PHAT!BUZZ:WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO GET INTO MUSIC? NOVO CHANGE: PHAT!BUZZ:WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES? NOVO CHANGE: So many, but love 50 cent and what he has accomplished ,in Kenya KHALIGRAPH JONES PHAT!BUZZ:DO YOU HAVE A FORMAL TRAINING AS A MUSICIAN? NOVO CHANGE: Not really, I just loved music as a child. Everything I know, I have learnt with time. PHAT!BUZZ:HOW HAS LIFE BEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC? NOVO CHANGE: It’s hard times for every ,so we have to fight .fight by keeping safe, maintaining social distance among other measures put in place I know we shall conquer. PHAT!BUZZ:ANY LIFE LESSONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? ``NOVO CHANGE: Persistence ...a river cuts through a hill only through patience and persistence PHAT!BUZZ:TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AS AN ARTIST NOVO CHANGE: It’s been a relatively short journey ,I started in 2019 naive broke ,and without even a mentor but I thank God am here today I know I still have a lot to learn. PHAT!BUZZ:ANYTHING NEW WE SHOULD SHARE? NOVO CHANGE: I have loads of new tracks coming and then I’m looking forward to my first album later in the year.
Interview by Njeri Kimani | Photo courtesy of Novo Change
DAMIAN
SOUL
Damian Soul is one of the most popular Afro Soul / Afro Fusion musicians in Tanzania. Besides being a talented artist, Damian is also a singer, songwriter and composer. Damian Soul has produced and performed popular radio hits that remain cult classics to many music fans today. His hits “Hakuna Matata”, “Ni Penzi” featuring Joh Makini, which received a Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards Nomination for Best R’n’B Song, “Dua la Kuku” featuring Banana Zorro, “Baraka” teaming up again with Joh Makini, “Tudumishe” featuring G. Nako and currently “Kaumba” featuring Vanessa Mdee, have all received very favorable radio air play throughout East Africa. Damian Soul has also been involved with NGO’s (Save the Children) in social responsibility activities using his music to bring awareness to society aiding in child molestation in schools. Currently, Save the Children has a new focus on using music and the arts as a way of protecting the rights of children to living in safety, at school and in home primarily. The production of the song and video were sponsored by European Union. Damian’s evolution as a musician has seen him perform festivals such as Jahazi Jazz FestivalZanzibar with legendary artists like Salif Keita, Mussa Diallo(2012/2015), Zanzibar International Film Festival(2012/2015), Karibu Festival sharing the limelight with Papa Wemba (2016), Sauti Za Busara Music Festival- Zanzibar (2013) and popular East African shows such as Tusker Project Fame – Nairobi (2012) , and Maisha Super Star – Nairobi (2015). Damian Soul is more than a musician. He is largely involved in social and community development initiatives. He believes his music is more than just an avenue to make a living but also a way to reach out to society and inspire as many people as possible. His music is based on good news. He has been known to say that if his music were to touch or inspire at least one person during his performance, he has done a great job. Damian’s music engages people inner feelings and talks to them in as a spiritual way.
Damian-Soul
@damian_soul
@damiansoultz
www.damiansoul.com
damiansoultz
MONRHE A MY REAL NAME IS
Maureen Wanjiru. I GOT MY STAGE NAME FROM
High School. I came up with the name during a school trip, It means One Queen. I STUDIED AT
Daystar University. I did a course in Management of Information System. I USUALLY PLAY
Techno, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Deep & Afro House, Ambient & Alternative Music manly because I associate myself with the Underground Electronic music scene. I GOT INTO DEEJAYING
Professionally after I realized Music is the answer to Life. It helps heal our souls. It healed mine. I LEARNT DEEJAYING
By teaching myself. Started put with Virtual DJ, then used controllers and now CDJs. IT’S BEEN
One year now since I started Deejaying. MY MAJOR CHALLENGE WHEN STARTING OUT
Was getting opportunities to play. What I love as most of the audiences in Nairobi dwells on Mainstream Music while as a DJ, I’d like to bring something different to the table hence why I support the Underground music scene. It’s more open minded and experimental. MY MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Is Playing for TEMPLE NAIROBI!! You don’t know how much that meant to me. Also getting a Thursday residency at Igiza Lounge and playing for The Africa Nouveau Festivals’ Silent Disco. IF I WASN’T A DEEJAY I’D BE
Doing something IT related as that’s what I studied in School.
monrhea
@monrheacarter
monrhea_carter
Since 2000
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