By Ian Ortega
Supposing you are a newbie to the Ugandan music industry, all wondering about what it takes to make a name in this field. Here are the main guidelines which BigEye.ug is sure can work for you if you can follow them with a 99% effort.
1. Come Up With Something New
The greatest mistake many upcoming artistes make it to try to copy and paste another artiste’s style and make it their own. It never works that way.
You may get inspiration from an already successful musician but it won’t take you for long trying to do it their way. Soon the music fraternity will detect that you are sounding like someone and they won’t hesitate to write you off the scene.
Clever J tried the same thing, to sing like Chameleone, it took him for some time but could not sustain him. Do it like Rabadaba, come up with a Ugaragga style, do it like Maurice Kirya, come up with Mwoyo music, do it like GNL and come up with Lugaflow.
And in case you are a rapper, then as a must, discover your style, Mun-G could not rap as GNL and vice versa. Babaluku also has his own style.
2. Brand Yourself
What is that one thing that fans will look or listen to and make them realize that is G-Snake, which is Bebe Cool, which is Chameleone? It is branding, so fundamental for any upcoming artiste who wishes to make them stand out.
For example, at the start of his music career in Uganda, Bebe Cool used to stand and sing on top of tables (forgive him when he took it too far and stepped onto Nabagereka’s table.)
Bobi Wine on the other hand identified himself as the ghetto president, Chameleone had a name that stood out. It was just so surprising to many that someone would choose to call themselves that. Before we had last heard of Red Rat and he was not Ugandan. We had Job Paulo Kafeero, Herman Basudde all using their real names, so by Chameleone using such a name, he managed to brand himself.
However branding is not a onetime event, it is continuous. That is why, Bebe Cool changed from stepping on tables and calling himself bragadoccios names like Big Is Big (Munene Munene), Bobi wine on the other hand became the kabaka’s gangster (Omubanda Wa kabaka).
Branding is compulsory. When I mention G-Snake, everyone will know, that is the lady who sings with live snakes. When I talk of Diamond Oscar, everyone will mention Bling bling master. So as an upcoming artiste, always brand yourself and do it in a positive way. Get known for the good reasons even though the bad reasons may also sell you.
3. Go Professional
Maurice Kirya’s music might not be understood by many of the common Ugandans but he does it in a way that makes him able to sing on any world platform. He used to do the RnB style together with his brother Vamposs but he realized, he could take it to another level.
He decided to master the guitar, and venture into a music style that never fades. Soul music reaches out deeply to any listener. It never loses its taste. Today you will listen to the Missubaawa song and ten years later you will still find it new.
As an upcoming artiste, it would be best you learn a music instrument and perfect it. It would be advisable to also bring out the best of vocals, improve your diction and try to do more of live performances. Lip-synching and miming to cds won’t take you so far. Soon it will catch up with you.
4. Do it for the passion and Not for the money
It is beyond reasonable doubt that Mega Dee is one of the many artistes that have had consecutive concert flops. But he never loses the hope. If it was another artiste, they would soon be off into other businesses.
Before you go ahead with music, ask yourself; ‘Is this what I would want to be doing even if I had another alternative?’ Ask yourself whether if this was your last day on earth, you would rather spend it singing till you meet your creator.
Many upcoming artistes make a mistake of joining the industry to live the lavish life they see in music videos, to have the money flaunted by the already successful artistes.
Truth be told, there will come a time in your music career when the only thing you are left with is your passion for the music. There will come a time when a concert flops and you feel you are at a breaking point. Bebe Cool struggled, Chameleone struggled, the Goodlyfe struggled, Cindy struggled, Juliana kanyomozi struggled.
Have you ever taken time to find out that special thing that kept them moving. Though many don’t say it, it is the passion, the love for what you do. As an upcoming musician, aim at giving value and the money will chase you. Don’t chase the money, chase your passion. Money is simply a reward for a work well done.
5. Run Your Own race
I meet many musicians trying to judge what they should do basing on what another artiste has done. Many get it wrong here. A while ago I was jogging in the evening when I saw another man jogging in front of me. I ran so fast and even overtook him. But in overtaking him, I forgot that I was supposed to turn off from a certain point that led to my home. I had forgotten my own targets and tried to run another person’s race.
Many upcoming artistes do the same mistake. I understand even some successful musicians ran others races. Just because he released a hit song does not mean you should also rush to the studio with half-baked songs to try and counteract his success. Just because he is launching does not mean you should also launch with an album of just four songs. Stick to your goals and targets and follow them to the core, don’t base your success on what he or she is doing.
6. Have a Vibrant Marketing Team
Weeks back, I was covering a teenage event when a certain dancer and musician approached me, introduced himself as Eddie Wizzy and asked me to have him in mind. His other colleagues did not take action. For starters, Eddie Wizzy is a dancer who is skilled at what he does, he can’t disappoint. What makes him a winner in this case, knows how to market himself. Grabbing opportunities, and establishing networks.
As an upcoming artiste, get connections to the artistes who have already done it, submit your songs to music stations, get in touch with Deejays, know the entertainment writers and the editors. By doing this, you can always be sure that in case of a concert, it is just a phone call away before an editor talks about your concert in the newspapers. Perhaps it is a new song which an online writer like me can review on a website.
7. Have a manager
Many artistes have tried to do the managing part but failed. Have someone who will help do the dirty work for you, someone who will always speak on your behalf when some controversy arises. As an upcoming artiste, you need to have a person to remind you of shows that you are supposed to be on, someone to help get you music collaborations.
You need someone that can be your accountant and your auditor. Bargain how much you will perform at a show, get you a fashion designer, help align you to get media interviews and keep track of your time and rehearsals.
8. Get a close friend to confide in
To some people, the manager can play this role. But you need someone like a family member who will be there for you when a concert flops, someone who will understand you when you get addicted to drugs, when you are depressed and stressed out. Jackie Chandiru confesses she once got so depressed that she spent weeks on anti-depressants.
You will also need an understanding family. Those people whom regardless of what happens, you still have their love. Many artistes have their wives to back them up, Bebe Cool has Zuena, Ronald Mayinja has Aisha and so on and so forth.
9. Keep beef to a musical level and never make it personal
Though it works for Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine, it does not mean it will work for you too. Another thing, try and avoid fighting battles that are not your own. Butcherman used to fight Bobi Wine’s wars, the Kiwokos (Eighton and Rain) fought Bebe Cool’s wars but it never helps. In the music industry, you need to take a neutral stand and focus on your music.
If there be beef, keep it at a musical level, and never take it personal.
Chameleone almost had his life ended. RabaDaba almost ended someone’s life and to date, he has struggled to shine again after that regrettable incident. Musical beef is good but don’t let it take up much of what you sing about, perhaps once in a while you can release a beef song but having an album full of beef songs just coerces the fans to throw you to the gutters.
10. Don’t be moved by Pressure and Avoid Drugs
It is true for many artistes; they would desire to pull off that gangster look and try to look fierce, others have even made it a point that every musician should have plaited hair. But avoid drugs and if need be, avoid slipping into the addiction levels. Drugs will make you lose your voice, (ask madoxx Ssematimba or Dizzy Nuts), drugs will make you do the most awkward things you will regret when you are sober.
Many artistes resort to drugs when the pressure from the fans takes a toll on them. Don’t be moved by the heat to heat up. Many upcoming artistes for fear of becoming one hit wonders end up becoming stressed up, depressed and turn to drugs as a last resort. Truth be told, drugs won’t help the situation. In the end, live your life, don’t live the life that the fans and the media force you to live. If you can’t buy a hummer, don’t go running for loans when just like Jamal you can jump on a Boda Boda.
These are some of the few guidelines which we at BigEye.ug think can help you breakthrough the music industry. Perhaps for your case, you may think of the Illuminati (does it even exist?), or black magic. Whatever it is, believe in yourself, no one can believe in you more than you do.
Just trust in a supernatural, trust that the dots will connect and continue to give people value for the ears they give you. We all hate wacky music, we hate gamblers, if music is not your thing, then you better move into your field otherwise fans know good music, good beats won’t do the magic. Even if they do, it won’t be for long. It all comes back to you. Great success of hitting musical stardom.
To follow Ian Ortega
Twitter: @OrtegaUganda
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