OCTOPIZZO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW-TECNO SPARK 9 BRAND AMBASSADOR

OCTOPIZZO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW-TECNO SPARK 9 BRAND AMBASSADOR

BY WANJIKU THUKU

What is your full name?

My name is octopizzo Tell me more about your brand and how you became a brand ambassador for Tecno?(How you fused them so well)?

This is my 13th year in the game under my brand,of evolving and growing and switching like styles and everything then merging with me.Its more about my story Spark the dream,like im a person who chased everything I believed in,im a person whom noboddy betted on except Dj Pinye,everybody else didn’t bet on me.I betted on myself and ive always wanted to be a face of possibility like you know ‘We can do this’?And I think ive embodied it.I was just ambitious in the beginning ,but I think for the last say three or four years ,everything has been hitting the knot/note that I wanted.Then coming with the spark 9 and also being the hashtag,the theme is spark 9 and also being the hashtag,the theme is spark your dream,I think for me,it really spoke to me in every way that I wanted,it took me back to kibera if somebody came and told me that ‘you know you’re going to be arapper some day,it was just a dream to be whoever I am today and nobody ever thought I will even if you have haters or people who don’t see that you can make it..you have to be yourself.That’s what I learnt after being in the music industry ive heard me I have one song over the years,I don’t have anything to validate anymore.I think that’s where people don’t understand ,I reached a point where I don’t need to prove anything,people know I can rap really dope,people know I can sing ,people know I can make a number one song.What else can I do,you know like nothing what is stopping me,like what else can I do if I don’t do anything else new ,im not growing,if I keep doing the same thing.

If beyonce made the same number number one songs every day it will be boring,it should be boring but i see now the answer is in fashion,she has adidas,she has this and this and those are the people i look upto in a business mind not even musically,they are just busy,what is this,you are doing this and this,he doesnt have to release a song to be relevant,i want to be able to be octo without doing songs,i want to be able to sign these deals without having like a number one song on radio,because its bigger than music.Thats what spark is to me,it's like we're not going to spark musicians in these neighborhoods.We're going to look for people who are innovators,crypto guys,these are the people who are in these societies,that i dont reach them,I dont need to reach artists anymore ,ive reached them through my music,like we have a lady in kibera who teaches coding people dont even know about her.Now the schools are closed and she's collecting kids in kibera to teach them coding,she's collecting kids in kibera to teach them coding ,because kids will not be busy but she doesnt have funds to do it ,like you know what go get 39 kids and ill pay because thats what i would like somebody to do for me,if i was there is to attend that class of coding,you dont know who will come there and create the next Tecno,or create the next idea and those are the things that for me worked really well with the brand and I was like yeah this is something.

So your humble beginnings are what have kept you grounded?

Until today.Its all about that,if its that,why are we doing this?It was the fact that we were those people whom nobody ever betted on.There were people who would discourage me to go to school.We had to change the narrative because there are so many 'me's' in kibera that you dont hear about..make it a dream and work at it to make it a reality otherwise its just a dream.

What inspires your fashion sense especially now i see you wearing alot of suites?

I style myself but ive never been styled in my life i dont have a fashion designer...This is my guy actually...he's in town..he's the one who made this suite,this is made in Kenya,so i go choosing and buying my own material and tell them to design it.I sketch my style.People dont know this but i usedto design for H&M for a year...and i have a clothing line which will be in corporated with the tecno spark called 'see-saw''...meaning juu chini...up and down,not just trousers or tops,its full menswear and womenswear(unisex),we have seasons you see how like kanye has yeezy one and yeezy two and bottega,we have season three now...so we drop every 3 months....we sell out and we get it out of stock.

What is your price range?

Our price ranges because of our audience is 30 dollars to 100 dollars...both local and international market...its for everyone...that is about 3000kshs..so our cheapest stuff is 3000kshs.So with that you can get a full outfitup and down(not just trousers alone) and then there are those that go high end.

So tell me three things that stand out about you as octopizzo the brand?

Firstly My hair(chuckles)...i realized hair gives you a personality,so if i put a certain sstyle,i feel a certain way..if i put this style ,i feel like this,you know.So my hair is a part of me that's what people dont know actually my hair defines me.When i shave it im a certain person,i feel a certain not when i have these wigs.Secondly,i dont think there's anyone who is as stylish as me in thos country or even style themselves,who doesnt have a stylist,they style themselves,and create themselves from scratch,I dont know one.Three,my brand is very specific,you dont see me every where you know,im very scarce,i like being scarce,and very low-key,i like like my work to make the noise.I feel like these days every artist is just making noise,they dont do very incompetent thats not advisable.They say now coz i dont make noise i left music,i stopped doing interviews coz rthey ask the same questions,they dont do their research on what ive been doing,they dont know ,they dont know anything about me like now since march,ive been doing a tour with the EU here in Kenya,they have to follow me to know but i dont need to go on interviews to say i have a new song,or go live on instagram like yoh yoh...no i dont need to .Infact if there was a way I could work without being on social media ,I would do it coz it

gives me so much peace.But now we are in this generation where we have to use it as a tool for my business but nothing else.

How do you manage to keep your private life private versus career life as an artists?

Because its private,i tell my family not to post anything on social media,i dont need them to follow me,i dont need them to comment on me,i dont need them to post me,i dont do the same.They're my family,and i want sothing that is mine.Anything that is online is not mine,its for everybody,my family is mine and they have their own social media,they can do their own social media,they can do their own thing,but they are my family and i have to protect them at all costs because our job comes with alot of problems and sacrifice when people realize that they cant attack you and when you acquire a thick skin.,they start attacking your family members.They know that i dont care,ill do anything i want ,theyll talk and speak my mind which many artists in kenya dont do,people know themselves.Ive met so many artists,the big ones in this country,i meet them in shows ,i meet them in even personal level and somebody is always trying to be this person all the time ,and they dont know that they are living a 'fake' life,i think as people in the middle ,you will never here a fan of mine saying ,i dont know if i like him or not.,I dont know if ill support him or i wont.

So what else stands out about you apart from music ,art,and fashion plus technology?

I think im big on community work thats bigger than all the things you've mentioned...I dont believe in charity,i believe in giving back to the community not charity...i do community service ,even whenever i dont have events or im not performing ,im going to do community service,even whenever i dont have events or im not performing,i do cleanups in kibera,i go to meet young people and discuss things that are affecting them and how i can ,and how i can help them change women who can advise me in things that I dont know not only Here,USA,Europe,I got to every formal or ghetto place and that's where i meet people that make me feel at home,and seeing kids who are destitute or disabled,that's what i do with our educational program i work with intergrated schools,which also take in deaf disabled kids plus normal kids.So for me its social impact as thw number goal ,if anything im doing is not making impact just the same way if in a collabo of any form,just for hype and to look like i got a deal,but this is about the people,its about sparking people's dream,its about going to pick those people and tell them like yes you can be this person,yes you can be an engineer,yes we can help ypu pay for school fees for this term so that you can get about more than music,this is what i want to remembered for ,not music.

There's too many musicians ,but not enough role models,enough people making change,and there are so many artists that have never changed nothing since i was born,we have entertainers in Kenya,we dont have artists,i consider myself an artists not one entertainer.You can buy an entertainer,you cant buy me,like everything you see i do,every deal ive ever been,every client that i have ,is on my terms because its about art..you cant buy me.A politician cant come and say come support me or use one of my songs to hype their campaigns ,ive been

called before but i cant allow it to happen..it doesnt get there ,because they dont even try to tarnish my brand.Ive copy written and patented all my book ,theyll be sued if they try,because i have one of the best attorneys in the world.

What else has changed about you as octopizzo in the last 10 to 20 years?

Im the same.The only thing that has changed is years,how is see myself now compared to when i started off,im more laid back nowadays ,with my kids growing up,i got married,so it changed,my siblings they are adults and call me out .They are people who keep it 100 with me we are in an industry of people who just hype others.My sister was even at the spark 9 launch she could stand in the middle of the event and say this is too much...so ive had people in my circle that have been with me from 100%,they know who i was before this,so they dont let me like slide and let me be like 'oh no octo...no no no no'.

What is your real name?

Ohanga...which means to create its my grandma who named me after after my grandpa meaning to create...thats where my creativity comes from passed down from generation to generation..ill pass it down to my kids.My daughter plays violin,piano,and he paints ,she has done her own exhibition,she stitches because her mother taught her how to stitch with thread.My dad is a painter,my mum is a salonist,i come from a family of artists,my family is made of art,my brother is the CEO of 'See-Saw',my sister is the most learned in our house studied statistics and economics,she's teh one who looks at my money and says no you are overspending on stupid stuff my younger sister,she tells me this is why she took me to

school,and for her she's coming from a place of love,its not wise for her...she'll tell me you're overspending and you need to chill.My life is tough..she doesnt let me be like down.

What made you stop doing club appearances and all?

Im a very introverted person even from way back the only time i can be social because im a performer ,im an artists-But who wants to be with my kids,i have like 14 dogs,so its alot of work they keep me busy i can never be bored,i dont have to go look for friends,i dont need to go look for entertainment i dont have to drink to feel some way...no no no i need to play with my dogs...so thats basically it...everything is family ,mostly foundation work and music.I do albums,i stopped doing singlesi feel like im past that,so i onllt drop albums now.I have an album coming this year,a song that is dropping tomorrow.Actually,new song,new video..i have two directors here,and I have four directors that are abroad,here is mike loly P,I have another one from mombasa called king cassidy.

Are you planning to do a new music video inspired by this phone and the tecno team?

They are the sole executive producers of my album,they've given me a proper sound engineer amd everything plus my dollars.

I saw you perform with a live band at the spark 9 launch recently.What made you change from dj mixes to a live band?

Bob Collymore was a mentor to me when it comes to music but Bob used to come at 3 am to watch me rehearse ,doesnt eat,he was unwell but nobody knew,he was a CEO,he would tell me like still not yet,he was a perfectionist,if i wanted a hotel with a swimming pool,if thats how he wanted me to be uncomfrotable to perform,he would call to ensure i got a hotel with a swimming pool and he'll make sure that im comfortable.And since then i changed,i said no more deejays .I was even in Alliance Francaise Dar Es Salaam and i did full band ,even here i do all the bastille full band,i dont do anything thats not a band these days you know also in kibera full band,you know even this one i couldnt bring my full band,you know i told them i would bring two members ,i have five members but i couldnt bring all of them to the launch.I did two songs for free during the launch without pay because im an artist then i go home,i brought my own sound engineer because nowadays i go on tour i dont have to call mosound,if you call me now i go on tour,you tell me everything -full team,i think that was my favorite investment to have everything-full team,i think that was my favorite investment to have everything working properly especially the microphone and mixer and im thorough in my approach ,if its doesnt work properly we go home.

What advice would you give to youths since this is a Gen-Z Phone?

One be yourself ,i think people are trying to be other people alot,and people are so much invested in validation from another person,you dont need validation from like even i told my own parents 'You cant tell me i cant be something,you know parents ,friends ,like now you tell them i want to be president..stop your nonsense..stop drugs....

So if it werent for music,what would you have seen,always a doctor?

No i can be my thing i want...if i say i want to be the best engineer,i want to be the best pilot,ill be the best of both-No you cant'.I took myself to harvard to get a degree and paid for it.I have a degree in leadership,organizing and action,i went to Eupen and did social impact,all ivy league and i studied.Even i would never tell my kids thats my fear that's beacsue i couldnt do it,thats the time people project tehir fear on you like how could you do this ,thats like how could you do this,that's the time people project their fear on you like how could you do this ,thats their fear,they couldnt do it,i can do this stuff,you're not me,you dont know my drive.

Believe in yourself,if something is ringing in your head,you want to be this thing-dont ever let anybody tell you like no you cant ,donnt let anybody!!!If this is what is in your head you're like yoh i want to be the best foot -baller to play for liverppol,dont let anybody tell you that you are from the ghetto.That's why ill tell you that ill give you the side of us that you've never seen because they expect you to come there cooking drunk or street perception of us....not what they think (the stereotype).

Any last words?

Make sure you get your spark 9 gadget,its dope for me especially if you are a creative,its super dope for beats for my producer.Thats my favorite thing there using the beatmaker -there's hiphop,there's pop,there's rnb and you choose if you like trap.If you want jazz,if you want whatever than you can record a skeleton thing to your producer to start making a skeleton thing or i can record my melody and say what would you feel about this melody without going to the studio to waste time,you share he tells you if he like it or not but now when you go to the studio,its just recording because thats what i love about this phone the battery also stands out for me because i hate charging my phone and the space is good because i love content like my phone right now has 18,000 stuff and thats just pics and videos in a span of 3 months,so if i get a phone that isnt over 100GB I cant survive...No I cant ...i cant even buy it...128 GB and you can upgrade it on the phone and you just go press to add 4GB automatically.