Last Year was Complicated

It definitely was. And Nick Jonas knows this too well. After all, it's the title of his third solo album released earlier this year. Heard Close, featuring Tove Lo? Well that song is from this album.

As Jonas released a new album, he brought something else to the plate. This is a documentary series on YouTube focusing his life back in the spotlight. It has three episodes so far, documenting the album release to the promotion and reception. In these 7 minute videos he gets candid about his personal life like we've never seen before. He reveals more about his new album and what inspired it. Takes us behind the scenes of the bruising video shoot Close with Tove Lo, and getting the album cover photo up there. And yes, it involved real glass. That must have hurt.

What is most admirable is how honest he is with us about himself. He shows us his imperfections as a human being, and the stress it takes to be a famous artiste like him. In episode three, we see him show up for countless interviews and performances for many consecutive days. We also witness a mishap that gets him left by a train where his crew is in. Even celebrities are not spared from these worldly unfortunate incidents.
Through all these celebrity challenges, Nick manages to look good in his expensive leather jackets. He also commands a huge fan (girl) following in Europe. And sings like a demigod. But last year still remains complicated.

In Common

Have you ever heard a song that completely explained how you felt at that moment? Like it was made for you? And you were meant to come across it? For me it's magic. Like finding your soul mate. You thank the heavens for making that artiste create that song. Because it becomes a temporary soundtrack for your life. You listen to it every day. Hum it on your way to school or work. It becomes your song. And no one can take it away from you.

There's one song that has done that for me. I know you know it. In Common by Alicia Keys. This song always comes to mind whenever I meet someone I have way too much in common. And I feel, yeah this is normal. If Alicia experienced it, so should I. Sometimes I get tempted to sing the song to that person. But I keep it to myself. They already know how the song goes.

Music is for everyone

There is a song for everything. There is music for happiness and for sadness. You will not miss a song, or millions, talking about the situation you are currently going through. Break up, loss, celebration, encouragement. There are even songs that talk about drugs and enhance the feeling. Songs for the club and songs for the church. Basically, music exists for almost every theme. Every single human experience. Of course some themes are more saturated than others; like partying, sex, and money which we hear every single day on TV and radio. But if you look carefully, you will find any kind of music you desire. There is no need to suffer alone. Or hate on a particular kind of music, as it was made for a certain crowd for a particular situation.

Enough of YouTube audios

So many new songs are being released everyday on YouTube, I can't keep up. Maybe I should stop trying. And just wait to hear them on radio. But it is likely that most of them won't make it to radio. They aren't mainstream enough. They don't fit into the guidelines. They fail to talk about sex, or naked girls, or lots of money. Instead they focus on real life emotions and experiences. But nobody cares about those. It if isn't sexy, it won't sell. To media that is.

I guess that's why they are first released on YouTube.

But let's talk about the high number of daily music releases. What are these artistes trying to do, overpower us with their music? Make them the thing we talk about most? Or are they just competing to see who'll release the most new songs? But what happened to that norm of releasing a new song together with it's video? Don't we enjoy it more that way? Isn't that the point of YouTube?

YouTube is not a music site. It's a video sharing website. So artistes, please stop it with the millions of new audios every week. I'm not going to listen to any other new audio on YouTube. We want videos!

The new experimentation

There's a new trend going on in the music industry. Musicians are doing things differently. They are getting out of their comfort zone. They are experimenting. With lots of things. No, I'm not talking about drugs. This is about music. Which can be considered as a drug.
So maybe I am.
Nowadays, it is not strange to hear your favorite musician singing on top of a dancehall beat. Or collaborating with a musician from the Caribbean. It is not news for Beyonce to release a rock song. Or country. Things are changing. Artistes are no longer afraid to try out new sounds that are away from their forte. They are slowly exploring new genres one by one, making them work. And most of them have succeeded in making hits. It all comes to show that music is music. Whether it is reggae, pop, blues, funk or rock, we will enjoy it. As long as the music is by our favorite artistes.

The Wizkid global effect

25-year old pop prince from Nigeria, Wizkid is rocking the world. First, he wowed and entertained Africans with his catchy dance and Afrobeat jams. His 2014 album Ayo churned hits like Caro, In My Bed and Show You The Money. With these, he proved to be one of the best male artistes not only in Nigeria but all around the Africa. You could constantly hear his hits all the way in Nairobi clubs as well as Soweto pubs.

It seems that Wizkid not only wants to conquer Afirca, but the world too. He has spread his wings and flown out of the coup to other fields. After winning and being nominated for several international awards, he has caught the attention of global artistes. This was first witnessed on social media when American artist Alicia Keys posted a video of her dancing to "Caro". After this phenomenon, he has been seen with other famous artistes and even worked with them. Last year, appeared in Major Lazer's album Peace is the Mission, featuring in the dancehall jam "Boom" together with Ty Dollar Sign, Kranium and MOTi. As if that wasn't enough, he surprised us earlier this year with a Drake collaboration.One Dance is one of 2016's hottest summer jams, no doubt. His latest mega collaboration that can be witnessed is "Shabba", a hiphop jam that features American megastars French Montana and Chris Brown. And Trey Songz! The Star Boy is now part of the global entertainment elite, a mere boy from the crowded Nigerian city of Lagos. But he is not done yet, he still has a couple of songs up on his sleeve that he will hopefully release this year.

We celebrate Wizkid as he continues to fly high our African flag on the global stage. One YouTube user said something about Wizkid going international will make his music become mediocre. Let's just hope that these collaborations will not strip him off his star quality that made us fall in love with him in the first place.

What next after a big break

Every musician gets one chance. A chance to prove themselves to the world. To show off their individual talent or skill. It all starts with their first hit song. Yes. Right now, an artiste whose name we don't know yet is producing a song that will be sang worldwide. This will be their big break. Everyone will get to hear their new song and many will love it. It could be their debut track, or their fifteenth song. But in that one moment, they become famous.

Almost every artiste I know started out like this. It all began with one song that put them in the spotlight. But what happens after it? Well, they usually take different routes. Three to be specific. The first is one I call 'abracadabra'. The hit maker basks in the global attention for a while. Soon, they run away from the stage with their new found millions. They disappear as if they never existed. Nobody knows where they went and why. And they just become somebody that we used to know. We call these, one hit wonders.

The second group works harder than the first. After one successful single, they use it to launch their music career. This means that they release song after another in order to stay relevant. They put a lot of effort to promote their new music before they are forgotten. If they keep up with more great songs, they become stars known all around the world.

And then there's the third. This one includes artistes who neither vanish nor try too hard. They enjoy the limelight for as long as it lasts. Once it's gone they don't chase it like group two. Instead, they continue making their own kind of music. Even though they don't remain famous doesn't mean they are forgotten. During their hit moment, they attract new fans who look for more of their music even when it's not so mainstream. And they continue making and performing underground music to their few loyal fans. I think this is my favorite.

If you were an musician, which among the three paths would you pick?

Music, the antidote to chores

Don't you just hate doing chores. Washing your dirty linen, or cleaning the dishes after a hearty meal. I do. But it's not something we can avoid. Few of us can, and that is only when we have helps at our beck and call. Like rich people, and socialites. Away from material wealth, how can we deal with doing annoying jobs for most of our lives? Well there's only one thing that helps me in these difficult moments.

That's music.

There's just something about music that makes chores feel much easier. And less boring. Maybe its the sounds distract you from the task at hand. And you can happily scrub that dirty sweatshirt. Or music is that secret motivator that can get you do almost anything. Like working out in the gym. Or even rake the fallen leaves on a hot afternoon. It has a certain power that is quite unexplained. It enables you to do some of the most mundane things and feel good about it. Music even helps people to workout using those heavy machines in the gym. So whenever you have to do something tiring or that you don't particularly like doing, remember one thing. It's not what job you're doing, but what music you're listening to.

The art of music videos

Every week, new music videos are released on YouTube. Scratch that, make it everyday. It's an ongoing business that never stops or dies throughout the year. Videos are always been conceived, produced, directed, and released to the public. Some of them are simple, focusing on only one or a few subjects. And others are complex, intricate - you can easily tell that they took a lot of time, money, and energy. Usually these are the ones that stand out from the huge pool of video clips swimming on the Internet. But they are not always the best.
See, you don't need necessarily a lot of resources to make a great video. Sometimes all you need is a deep message in a simple setting. A video that clearly reflects the lyrics. A video with an interesting twist. Full of colour and weird things. Or black and white, sublime. It is the different types of styles that make videos so interesting. Makes them beautiful. So that they become art by themselves.

Fena ngoma zako ni kali

No, this is not the title of a song. It is part of one. A lyric from a song called Jabulani by Kenyan female artiste Fena Gitu. The word jabulani simply means jubilation. It is a slow reggae like jam filled with lots of inspiration. In the hook, Fena sings that we should rejoice in the struggle, rejoice in the pain. She talks about how she rose to success from only talent and determination. And now she is one of the best and revered musicians in Kenya. This jam is made to encourage those of us who are working hard to live their dreams. Telling us that if she could make it, so can we.
I think it's the perfect song for anyone who is losing hope in themselves or their ambitions. Thinking that because it's difficult to see positive results, it's not meant to be. But the pain and hardship is only the journey you need to pass to get to the top. Just like a mountaineer's job. But once you can see where you came from, you will truly feel proud and satisfied. When people tell you how they look up to you, when at one point you couldn't look at yourself in the mirror. Fena knows she has made it when she walks in the streets and children shout "Fena, your songs are hot!" Don't you want to be there too? So don't give up. Just rejoice. Because your future is coming soon.

To listen to the full song, click here.

The proper remix

You know what pisses me off when it comes to music? It has to be most remixes. There are fake and real remixes. The type that annoys me is the former. What is a fake remix you ask? Well it happens when an artiste makes a really good song that becomes a hit. Then this artiste is approached by another big artiste who says they want to collaborate on that song because they love the it and believe they can add something new to it. So they go to studio and record. A few days pr weeks later, they release it. Only that the song feels nothing like a remix. It sounds exactly like the original song, just with an added verse at the beginning or the end. That is it. That's what you were busy cooking up in the studio for days. Heck, anyone can make that kind of remix at home with good software and two different audios.
Dear artistes, a remix does not mean leaving the song the same way you found it. When you say you are going to make a remix, actually remix the song.  If you really wanted to be part of the song, then create it all over again. Make it sound fresh, and different from original. Create a new song worth buying and listening. And in case you need you need examples, just listen to Love In This Club, and Back To Sleep remixes.
Now that you know, you better not disappoint me next time.

Being true to yourself

Being an artiste means that you get to share your life and experience with people. Whether you're a painter, a singer, a poet, or even a writer. You fill your art with something you can relate with. Something unique to you, and only you. At least that's what some artistes do. The rest, well I guess you can say they pretend. They create art to please others, not themselves. They are still works of art, but not the mesmerizing kind. Not the kind you would hang in your living room, or in the reception. They are those you like for a while because they were made to impress you. But you eventually lose interest, and move on. If you think about the art of music, they are lots of musicians who do that. They sing songs about the latest fad, what is cool and hip right now. For some artistes, that is their true expression. But for most, they are just going with the flow. Not listening to their heart. That is why I'd like to applaud those who go against the grain and do something different. Artistes who are not making popular music just because they will make more money from it. But those who sing in their own style, and bring something unique to the plate. They are the ones who truly stand out on the worldwide stage. Artistes like Fena Gitu, Mayonde, Just A Band from Kenya. Those are the guys aspiring musicians should look up to. People to remind them that it is great to be yourself.

Wherever I go

Wherever I go I'll be looking for you. Ryan Tedder croons at the beginning of this fantastic song. Wherever I go is the first single of his band One Republic. Since when, 2014? Two long years they have been away, leaving us in the hands of new and old bands like DNCE, FallOut Boy, and Coldplay. By the way, what happened to Maroon 5?
Back to OneRepublic, and their grand return. I call it grand because I have never seen a comeback like this. Well, apart from Beyonce's of course. They released the new song on May 13th, and the video 4 days later. Did you know that it is the theme song for the 2016 movie XMen: Apocalpyse? More reason to watch it if you haven't. Yes, I'm talking to me.
There's so much to love about this song. The dance funk themes in it. Basically the way it makes you feel - like dancing the hell out of your body. And the video, is just the icing on the cake. If you haven't watched it, it follows a Korean business man whose life is transformed by the song. Well in his head that is. It features bright colors, dancing that resembles acrobatics, and basically sheer fun. I guess you could say OneRepublic have gone Gangnam Style.
I know it's only the sixth month, but I think that Wherever I go is is the song of the year. Or of the summer at least. Ryan Tedder and his boys have proved to me why they are one of my top bands. I simply cannot wait for what else they have in store in their upcoming album to be released this year. I really hope it's going to be as lit as Wherever I Go. Well, I doubt anything can be as good as it, but this is a great start.

Here is a live version of the song, which makes me love the song even more.

The Beyhive

Over the past weekend, I have been bullied. I've been bullied and ridiculed. People I know have made fun of me and laughed, as I sulked. Its no surprise that my weekend wasn't all that great. All this has happened to me for one reason.

I am part of the Beyhive.

Nope, I did not misspell the word beehive in case you were wondering. I only improved it. So who or what is the Beyhive? Well it is a community of workers that has been chosen for a special purpose. And that purpose is to adore our queen. And preach of her beauty and wonder to all. It is our job to speak highly of the majesty, and to tell the world what she has done for us. The blessings she pours upon us her loyal servants.  And most importantly, we are there to defend her at all costs. Attack her and be sure we shall sting.We are the Beyhive. And she is our Queen Bey.

In case you haven't caught the drift yet, I'm talking about Beyonce, Beyonce Knowles-Carter. Giselle is her maiden name. Only a member of the Beyhive would know that. And you know what, I am proud to be one. She is diligent and majestic. And she has the talent of five musicians combined. Yes, I said it. So taunt me all you want, but I will forever be loyal. All hail the Queen (of music).

Music for life

What do you do when you have to write, but don't know what to write about. Well, it's simple. You simply write. And hope your fingers will guide you to the right words. That's what I'm doing right now, letting my hands flow. I'm supposed to be writing about music, which is the focus of this blog. I live music. I love it. I listen to it every single day. I bathe in it. It is in my blood, flowing like the melodies. Makes my bones dance. It lights up my spirit within. The part which you cannot see. The one I can only feel.
My life is defined by music. How it makes me feel. It is the melody of life. The rhythm of days spent. The beginning and end of inspiration. My energy source. The life force. Because life would be boring without music, wouldn't it? Dull and gray. Almost meaningless. Without the juice, you cannot move. That is why we need music. I need it.

Being a music lover

Who is a music junkie? Does everyone love music? Or are there a special few who don't? The different ones. Is liking music encoded in our human DNA? Is it part of being a sonic being? Or is it just a common preference among people? I have been asking myself those questions throughout the day. Maybe the reason many of us adore music is that we have been exposed to it since we were kids. Like TV. Or comic books. Maybe it's something that other people purposefully chose to love. To add it to our highest interests, thus the term music junkie. Did you choose music, or did it choose you? If it didn't exist, would you have an emptiness in your soul? Or would you comfortably live without it? I want to know.

Makmende is back

It is a calm Sunday night. Everyone is asleep, except for the dogs barking from a distance. And me. It's been a long day. For me, not the dogs. Full the videos and Internet  memes. Muhammad Ali quotes. Instagram photos. I feel tired, but not sleepy. There are still a couple of things on my plate that I need to eat.

I enter youtube into my browser's address bar and wait. A few seconds later I'm home. A minute later, I am watching my first video. Ha-He, it's titled. Released in 2010 by Kenyan disco band Just A Band. One of my favorite bands I must mention. Watching it now almost feels the same as it six years ago. I laugh and cringe at the same time. And it's all because of one guy - Makmende.

Who is Makmende you ask? Well he is the star of the show. Makmende is actually a sheng word which means hero. In this video, he is represented by Kevin Maina aka K1, a Kenyan actor and DJ. He is the protagonist in an 80s inspired world, where bell bottoms and Afro were the in thing. And the result, it just hilarious.

Simply put, Ha-He is a silly song. From Just a Band with their silly lyrics (tuko works mzeiya, evacuate the air). To the fake fighting scenes, even faker than those in Indian films... okay no, theirs are on whole new level. But the non convincing fights are compensated for by the portrait that periodically appears on your screen, reminding you that Makmende is back (Makmende Amerudi!). And let's not forget the time he ties that red tie on his head to resemble a Samurai warrior. Or when he (fake) fights the bad guys to save the girl, only to reject her the second time they meet.

A combination of all this ultimately made Ha-He a hit song. Not only that, it became the first viral Kenyan internet sensation in Kenya. Just A Band set a new standard for artistes and were even featured on CNN as a result. Paving the way for future Kenyan sensations such as Sauti Sol's Sura Yako that rocked the world in 2014-5. And even the POTUS Barrack Obama. 

I think the reason why Makmende was so influential is that he was our first ever local hero.
America has Batman - now that Superman is apparently dead. We have Makmende.

By Hech - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9813091

Back to basics (featuring Rihanna)

By now you must have already listened to Rihanna's eighth studio album ANTI. Or at least heard popular singles from it. Like Work featuring Drake, Kiss It Better and Needed Me, which all have videos on VEVO. The album released early this year had been in the works since 2014, and was thus a very highly anticipated one. But what we got on January was something none of us ever expected. At least not me.

Rihanna is known as the queen of pop and dance (remember We Found Love?) However this new album was quite a departure from her previous sound. And that is what shocked the world. She was singing about love and drugs in an R&B and soul style that we're not used to. And of course she also included some dance hall vibes as she is from Barbados, like in the hit song Work. And this begged a very important question in our heads... What was RiRi thinking?

After getting over the shock during my first listen, I finally began to understand it. What she was thinking. She was doing something new. Reinventing herself. Who would an artiste be if she always did the same thing year in and out? Boring and obsolete, that's what. So I applauded her. I applauded her for taking a risk. And for going back to her roots. You see, for a while now I had been complaining a bit about her music. Not that it's bad or anything, but I feel she forgot her voice. She focused on the hiphop and dance beats that she ignored the fact she can actually sing adlibs. The way she did in her first albums, in the 2006 ballad Unfaithful, Hate That I Love You, Take A Bow - the list is endless.

Recently I watched her performance of Love on The Brain (from ANTI) at the Billboard Music Awards 2016. And I was impressed. The old RiRi is truly back. She is taking her back her vocal talent and actually singing. There's nothing better than that to a music lover's ears.

Sauti Sol madness

Popular boy band Sauti Sol have set a whole new international standard for Kenya. They are the first Kenyan artistes to ever hold a solo tour around the country. We only hear about such tours in America, and Europe, but never locally. That was until these four guys showed us how it’s done. They kicked off their Live and Die in Afrika tour, named after their third highly acclaimed album, in the capital city of Nairobi. In the following five weeks they travelled through major towns like Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and Meru performing their popular hits and tracks from the new album. You can only imagine how wild these concerts must have been. And of course they had to pass by the coastal town of Mombasa, which was their final stop of the tour. Images and videos on social media are enough proof that it was a spectacular phenomenon for both fans and the band. It showed us how people can come together to create something new and extraordinary for us to enjoy.
After their successful countrywide tour, the band went to Southern Africa in May to perform at other concerts. Sauti Sol are truly on a mission to conquer the world, starting right here in their motherland.

When underrated is a good thing

Underrated artistes make the best music.

Sure, you might say popular artistes make some good music too. I agree. But it simply cannot be equalled to underrated music. Why do I say this? Well unlike popular artistes, underrated ones are not under pressure by record labels and society to make a certain kind of music. They are free, and independent. Therefore they create music that is true to who they are. That makes sense to them. And reflects their personal lives. They don't sing about what people want to hear. But what they want to say.

Even though many underrated artistes are known by less than half of the world, they have a deep impact on the people who listen to them. They have a small yet loyal following who appreciate their music. And keeps them going.

Their music is filled with deep messages that will never lose meaning or become obsolete. It remains relevant past the fads and current obsessions. It is the kind of music that speaks to the heart and soul. That touches people. And makes a difference in their lives.

Now that's what I call real music.