 This is my job playing right here on rock 254 you know. We are the only rock show in East and Central Africa that plays rock music on TV, isn't that something? Well my name is Felene Jeanne Hanger with Max Jones right here and Made in the Night Jeanne is actually a song of our guest, our latest album is called Room 3 or 9. She'll be telling us all about it and if you didn't know she is not only amazing but she is also the queen of soft rock in Africa. She is a singer, songwriter, recording and performing artist all the way from Nigeria. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for Zaynab Suley. Hi Felene. Hi. How you doing? Hi Felene. Man, hi. How you doing? It's been a whole year. One full year. It's been a whole year but we're so glad to have you again. I mean Zaynab always comes to Kenya during my birthday that is in November. Every birthday. She has never missed my birthday ever since we knew each other. Isn't that something? She flies across how many countries just to get to Kenya? For her birthday it's not true. It's just coincidence. But you always come during my birthday though. I never get cake. No, we ate cake last three years. This year we haven't eaten cake yet. But last year we ate cake on a yacht. Last year we ate cake on a yacht. This year was too complicated. It was raining the whole day. I had a party but you couldn't make it. I couldn't make it. Unfortunately. But next year we'll see you again. Next year we'll do something. Remember we'll go to Dubai next year. We're going? Wow, we're going? Max? Max we're going somewhere? For my birthday next year? Yeah. Welcome to the show once again. Please tell us everything. How have you been since we saw you? That is one year ago. That is one year ago. One year ago we were talking about the album. Surprisingly this year we have the album. What we did the entire one year was work on the album. We came up with songs like this one. And then the Code Nights in Nairobi one. And then just different things. Just to try and do a different sound. I know there are so many tracks on that album that I love. But of course my favorite has to be Code Nights in Nairobi because she keeps complaining that Nairobi is cold. I'm wearing a jacket on set. For goodness sake. What else is the proof that Nairobi is cold? I'm wearing a complete harbor. We're probably used to it. I feel like it's too hot. I was even telling her off air. I'm like man it's too hot. She's like what are you talking about? It's not hot. You guys are lying. Anybody wearing t-shirts and jeans and sneakers. But yes. What we've been doing basically is just working on the album. And then we've been working all year. And then I was able to get my own studio at home. So I felt why not come around and just... Not just Nairobi. We actually have a lot of places I want to go to this year and maybe half of next year to promote the album. And then move on to other things. Right. Room 3 or 9. The last time we were here you had not actually decided on the name yet. You're like maybe I'll call it this. Maybe I'll call it that. Then we decided on Room 3 or 9. And I was like what is in this room? Room 3 or 9. Is it like that room? You know it sounds like a horror film. Right Matt? Room 2, 1, 3. Right. What happens in Room 3 or 9 stays in Room 3? I don't like that. Some people in Nigeria actually say it sounds like a hotel room. Yeah, it does actually sound like a hotel room. And then ironically there is a hotel in China called Room 3 or 9. No way. Honest. It's a full hotel. And it's coincidental. I've never known about it in my life. I just saw it. The idea is just that I want you to be able to find anything. So if you're happy, you should be able to listen to 3 or 9 and get something that makes you happy. So it's almost like come lock yourself in a room with me and let's get things down in a good way. That's the concept. So if you're happy, come find songs that will make you happy. If you're sad, if you're depressed, we'll give you the knife. Yeah, so we'll not give you the knife. We'll just encourage you not to kill yourself. But the whole point is just Room 3 or 9 is supposed to cut across everyone. I normally don't do Niger made kind of songs, but because I wanted to also do... It still boils down to the same fact that I want to do something for Nigerians as well. Something like an anthem. So we were made in Niger. Yeah. I'm made in Kenya. Did I say that? Yeah. You are literally a Kenyan right now. I'm part Kenyan. You're half Kenyan. We need to get you... What is it called? The certificate? No. The visa. What is it called? The one that shows that you're from a particular country. Passport? No, not a passport. No, you just get an allure dude and then... No. He's... Okay, so... Let me not talk about that. I almost said something, but we're not going to go there. Anyway, so Room 3 or 9 after it came out and you've been promoting it, tell us about it. How are the sales? How have people received it so far? Online, of course, in streams and both. Are people buying physical copies? We didn't do physical copies for album because based on the kind of era we are now, if I ask you where is your CD, you don't even have one, but you have your phone and then... So we did a lot of download cards so that people could just scan and then go to Spotify, Apple Music. And for the first time, my distributor, DistroKid, now sends to AudioMax. One of the things I've been missing for all my previous work is that I was never on AudioMax. So this is the first album that actually made AudioMax and I was really impressed. So I've met a lot of people who have done well. I think combined, I can't say the numbers on air before someone kills me, but combined I'm really encouraged because this has done better than any previous work I've done. Oh! Yes, yes. Congratulations! I saw happy for you. I'm happy for myself. I know, right? We're making progress. Yes, that's the whole idea of to keep doing albums. Yes, so the more you do it and then you find other ways of promoting it and then learn more stuff because you don't know everything. The more you keep doing something like that, you find out that, okay, you're going to grow and then you're going to meet people who would help you and want to grow because of that. Right. And then we did merch, which you have. Yes. I'll tell you. I'll wear it next Saturday. I have a Zainab Sule T-shirt. It was not even done in Kenya. It was done in Nepal and there, bro. It was on the plane. It played a ticket. It did, actually. It got here. It's so special. It was the first time, so thank you. There's no one else who actually got it. No, nobody. I'm the only one. When I tell you guys, you don't listen. I'm telling you. She pre-ordered. She pre-ordered. It's so sweet. No one else. Like for real, even though you were in Kenya and you had a concert here, no one literally actually got any merch. No, I didn't bring any merch. I was so privileged. I didn't bring any merch. Look at that. Yeah. And speaking of the concert, you played at Rooking Riot, which happened just two weeks ago. It was amazing, of course. But unfortunately, I got there after your performance. But tell us everything. Unfortunately, I couldn't get there on time. Yeah, the show was good. It was hosted by Heaven and the Beast, who are known for supporting work bands. So it was good. The first time I met physically, Moffitt's Flo. Yes. And they are really dope. I didn't get to watch L.Y. to perform because one of them had COVID, I think. Yeah. But outside that, it's not my first time performing in Nairobi, but it was a really dope, really dope event. And we were there till like 1 a.m. I know. But previously, when you come to Kenya, you always have a Zenab Tule life. Zenab Tule life. What happened? Last year, we didn't have it because we had a lot. Last year. We were going to Mombasa, obviously. No. You were just all about fun. This year, you performed at Rocking Briarwood. So you're still in Nairobi. Are you going to perform somewhere else? Or will you wait until next year? The thing, the whole idea for the Zenab Tule life was actually to come to Radio Tanzania, was to come to Kenya, do it once. But then I fell in love with you guys, and then I did twice. So it's not supposed to be an every year thing. I'm supposed to go somewhere else in the Zenab Tule. So it's like a touring concert kind of. So last year, I felt, okay, I'm always coming to do this show. So why don't I just come hang with the guys? That was the whole idea, to kind of build that friendship. So last year, we went to go do all those cake things. That was last year. So this year, it was more like, we wanted to do, we actually considered doing, but we suggested that. No, just come for the show instead. And so we just came for the show. And it was a good decision because I got to make everybody perform. And then outside hosting a show, you got to be one of the bands. It's a different kind of feeling. It's a different kind of feeling. You see how other people perform, and you see how other people... You see the whole scene, not from an outsider standpoint. You see it from an insider standpoint now. I think that was something I wanted to know. So yeah, so that was plus. Ah, nice. We like it. Even if you go to Tanzania next year, you can still come here. No, I'm not going that way. Then you can go to Tanzania. I'm not going that way. Maybe Uganda. The whole thing, East Africa was just three countries. Tanzania was not... I think I was invited. So then this one, and then maybe Uganda. Uganda is good. And the rock scene in Uganda is actually growing. And you have a few friends. There's five. There's... I'm forgetting. What is their name? I have no idea. Like, I'm lost. You're serious? I have no idea. The guy, how am I even forgetting them? They're super awesome. The one with the locks, they do metal. Do metal. Oh, oh, oh. They were here. They were Kenyans. Yeah. They were even in Kenya. Duma. Not Duma. Duma are Kenyans. They're Kenyans doing rock in Uganda. But they haven't... They were in Uganda, but they haven't been in Uganda for such a long time. They are touring. They've been in Europe and all these countries. They're Western countries. They've been on tour for like a whole year. They've just been touring like this. Touring helps you as an artist. You don't stay where you are. Yeah. You stay where you are most of the time. You just stagnate and just be there. Yeah. But when you take yourself out, even on your own funds, or take yourself out, just try. Even if it's the nearest really, just go. Yeah. When you come back home, you would have learned something to bring to your craft and that's going to really help you. Yeah. And speaking of that, how about Nejai? How is the rock scene back home? Is it growing? Is it like... I think it's... When I came to Nairobi in 2017, we actually even had October 1st. We had a very strong rock festival. But now, in 2020, I think alternative has taken over. And it's now something they call Aote or something. Rock is... You can literally count now how many rockers are left behind. So it's not as it was in 2017, 2018. Oh, they are now eating rock for alternative. They are now because you have to really have money or just have a good support system for you to push the brand. Yeah. Or you're just going to just stagnate. We're actually performing in various places. So how does that happen? Because I'm a soft rock, I think. So soft rock can pass as alternative. So they can call you. But if I was doing metal... Metal. If you were a last year strategist... You'll pay my rent like that. But if you were a last year strategist in Nigeria, you would have to find a creative way to promote it and make yourself attractive to them. And then they will call you if you are. But if you're not and then maybe you have feelings of money or you have Max's money, you can just... Look at that. Good. I claim it. That money people think I have. God, please. I want it. You know. But anyway, now that you're in Nairobi, are you working on anything with anyone? You know everyone in the scene basically. So are we maybe going to see something? I actually did say that last year. In fact, I'm calling out Eukenians. I don't know why it's so long to do a collaboration. Last year in the album. Okay. I did have George Gashiri. Yeah. George Gashiri made it to Room 309. Yeah. He played the guitar in Bad Alibi. So there were some cool guys that were really dope. But then for the other guys, they tell you, yes, yes, I sent the song. And then maybe you went to one somewhere and then we spoke to someone. Oh, that someone didn't send the song? That someone didn't send the song. Even if I tell you that I'm in Nairobi and I'm going to do a collaboration, 99% of the time, like I came to Nairobi with my studio equipment. It's in my apartment. And then I have a pending song with someone on the scene. But I can't say on what if they wake up and they don't do it. So that's how it goes. I don't know why. I would say Kenyan Rocks is just slow. It's not busy. It's more like taking the initiative to like do something and do it well. You know, I think it's more like out of sight, out of mind. If you are here, then you can easily push it. You can go to the studio together. But then it's just them. I think that's where you need that. I literally came with the whole studio. But that's just the idea. It's just, I think it's worldwide. But I also think it depends on if the person wants to work. So like in Nigeria, I can just reach out to someone in another state. Here, bro, let's do it. They already know that you are the one that will do it. They send in their vocals. Five weeks, your song is out. But here, it's probably going to the one in Nairobi. He said, hey, Zena, we don't work in December. Maybe January. And in January, hey, Zena, can we buzz you February? I'm like, okay. But let me tell you something. Now that you've mentioned Kenya, I don't even think it's the Rocks in the long. Because I have this, he's a big week in the hip-hop scene. And I have a friend from Sierra Leone who, they had to send money for a collab. They're like, oh, for me to give you advice, you have to send money. So they're like, how much? So they paid like 300K. And then the guy got the money, but he hasn't signed the song yet. He's like, oh, so I have a couple of projects. I have to release them first as soon as I'm done. And then they're like, oh, so this year won't be possible. You have to wait until next year. And they already got the money. So it's not a Rock thing. Don't hold it against them. It's a Kenyan thing now that I'm thinking about it. That one, the one for the first one I even had, he really is one of the scene actually. So he was like, yeah, I sent the voice, not sent the contract. And then he comes and says, so Zina, I'm under new management now. So I'm not sure when I'll be able to give you the vocals. But he wasn't under new management when we met and discussed about the song. So I just think it's just that initial reluctance to just come out and do stuff. But I'll say that, perfect, 100 over 100. This is my only complaint. So if I don't do a collab with any Kenyan, you know why. Okay. Now we know. Now we know. But we'll keep trying. We'll keep pushing. Keep pushing. Keep bullying them. Keep bullying them. I know. All right. And unfortunately, time, I don't know how long it takes to go. Time is up. It's almost two hours, but I'm literally 10 minutes into the show and it's almost that time to go. So as we wind up, like, what next? Now we have Room 309. It's an album we've both been looking forward to. Now that it's here, what else for Zina? What next? Videos, actually. Oh, yeah. We need visuals. Especially for rock tour. Yeah. For TV. So because I actually took a complete break from videos because of how you have to, it's a useless venture as far as I'm concerned because you pay as much as 200K feelings to do one video. And after two months, it has expired. Yeah. So you do another one. So if you, unless you have endless source, so we did up to a point and then we're like, okay, let's stop for a while. So now we're resuming back videos within the album. So it stopped when the last album, Hypersonic, that was when we stopped. And just we did single, single, single. So now we're doing videos and maybe an EP to push it out. Videos and EP. Huh. Nice. I'll hold you on that one. I'm holding myself to it. I keep reminding you, right? Yeah, I'm holding myself to it. Especially thanks very much for doing things. But we love that. We love the consistency. And thank you so much for loving Kenya. Thank you. And always visiting us all the time. Thank you. And bringing presents. Last year she brought me a little Kitange. How do you call what she brought me? The thingy? I don't know Swahili. I don't know what she's talking about. Ankara. Okay, yeah. Yeah. It's Ankara. That's what we call it. Ankara in the Nigerian term is Ankara. Ankara. Yeah, you can call it Ankara, I think something. But yeah, you brought that. Here you have this. Like you always bringing gifts. So keep coming to Kenya. No. No. We love that. We love that. Thank you for stopping by. And if you have any shout outs, you have anything you want to tell the guys before we call it. Okay, so hi guys. My name is Niaje. My name is Zaynab Suley. And I'm always, always considering myself as part Kenyan. So keep streaming the album on, I think, AudioMark, DistroKid, Spotify, Apple Music, Alexa, I think. And then follow me on Twitter at Zaynab Suley or check out my website on ZaynabSuley.com And keep being safe. Ah, thank you. Thank you for doing that. So Max, I'm sure you have something by Zaynab. Oh yeah, she goes, yeah. Bad alibi. All right. Oh, you wanted to buy an alibi. That's dope. That's dope. Yeah, that's dope. That's dope. That's dope. All right guys, we're still here. We have rock post. If you want to be in there now with what's happening around us in the world of rock, keep it here. We'll be letting you know in a few, all right?