 Welcome back to the East Side, the only way to turn up here, we came down my guitar. You can find me at Mika underscore Kenya everywhere. And of course, digital Russian is waiting for your request at its digital Russian on every social media platform. In the morning, we had an interesting discussion about the sports situation and sports gambling in Kenya in general. And we asked the question, do you think sports gambling should be banned in Kenya? You can let us know on East Side and Y244. Until then, our next interview is Abby Miki, she's a gospel artist, 23 years of age, very young. But not young at heart, because the message within the songs, you can actually tell there's something she's, you know, it's spiritual in its own way. Like the latest song we're about to premiere today, it's called Nyota Yangu. And so then, would you please introduce yourself? Sure. So my name is Abby Miki, I'm born again. I love the Lord Jesus as my personal savior. And as he said, I'm 23 years of age. But I thank God so far. I started singing last year. I released Lifta and Bila Wewe. And right now I have Nyota Yangu, it's on YouTube. And literally, I am a journalist by profession. And yeah, that's all. If I may ask you, what attracts you to the gospel music industry? Because right now, as we can see what's going on, people are skeptical about our gospel artists in Kenya. Are you scared of that situation? I can say I'm scared because really, when you want to sing gospel, it just doesn't come like that. You just have, you have a call. Gospel music is like a call. You don't just wake up and decide to sing gospel. But I see in between, there's a lot of things that happen that draw people away from God. And you know, being money-minded in the gospel industry will kill your ministry. But if you're doing it for God and you're really sure that in your heart you mean gospel. And you have that passion for people. You won't allow yourself to mess up the picture of Christ. Do you feel like that's the situation within the gospel industry in Kenya? Is it being money-minded? Or is it being swayed by the world and the way the scripture says? Well, I can say there's a lot of pressure. There are people who want to perform in clubs to get money. There's a lot of things that gospel music, gospel artists want to do just because they want to get some money. They say that ministry has no money. So they'll go to where there's money. So that causes the shift all of a sudden. So I won't say they are money-minded. I'll say that it's pressure. Most of the people are going through depression but most of these gospel artists, they have depression. You won't just ignore the fact that somebody is behaving in such a manner and feel that they are okay. There's something definitely wrong. There's something deep inside that is hurting them. Probably they are struggling with funds. You want to maintain your image and you don't have money so you'll have to go the extra way. I think that's a slippery slope because even from our earlier interview with KS, he's been in the music industry from 2004. He admitted that image and brand is a very essential part of being an artist or an entertainer in any industry, in any country. So trying to put up that image, you have to do it. But you're also telling me having to do it gives you pressure. So do you know how you will be able to navigate so that you don't feel that pressure? I said first, you're talking about gospel music, right? When you're talking about gospel music and you're doing purely ministry, there is no pressure. There is no pressure? No, no, no. You won't tell me that you're having pressure and there is no one you're trying to please? Okay, literally keeping your image and everything requires money, yes. But all this you can get if truly you're in the ministry. I don't think you can serve God and lack money. I don't think so. So let's say this, I won't call it gospel music, gospel, gospel and contemporary music. I'll say there's a lot of pressure in that circle. There is really a lot of pressure. And that is why you feel like gospel is being deviated from this to this. No, if you mean ministry, you cannot deviate because there is nothing you're afraid of. But if you mean keeping your image and avoiding frustrations, protecting your image, that will mean a lot of investment. Just the image part. How you appear before your peers. Now in terms of all that, navigating the music industry, not just as a ministry, being able to navigate because it's work and you need profit out of it, basically. You can just do it for free or for fun, right? So is there someone you're looking up to in the industry at the moment? I want to be like this person or I want to emulate this person in my career path. Well, I look up to many people. I personally admire Andenye and I really love Masika. Masika, Masi Masika? Yeah. What's about her? I love her music and she is flexible in genres. She can do almost all genres comfortably. About Andenye, I love how she sings. I love the way she projects her voice. She's simple. Since last year when you joined the industry, have you faced any challenge thus far? Oh, and I love size eight. And size eight. I'm afraid to get into that because you know, those are shifts. I'm afraid to get into that. Let's talk about me. Because there's a shift and that's another whole conversation. I know. But before that, you know, we were talking about your inspirations and who you aspire to be. Who you would like to emulate. And now in terms of content, you're telling me, if you view it as a ministry, then you never lack. But now content creation, you know, what inspires you? What inspires your music? Your lyrics? The Word of God. The Word of God. Experiences and inspirations from the Holy Spirit. Come on. In your Tyango. Yeah. In your Tyango, what exactly do you have in mind? I used to live with some girl. My friend, she is a net. And then I was telling her, you know, there'll come a time and then you will shine, you know. So my inspiration came from this chick. I was looking at her life. She was always complaining, you know, when will the time of God, you know, reach to me? And then I was telling her, there'll come a time and then you'll shine. Don't just look at me as some super icon. Look at yourself as somebody who is going to, you know, burst in the future. You're going to explode. And then I was telling her, stop telling yourself that you cannot make it because she had that in her tongue. I was telling her, don't keep on saying that I cannot do this. I cannot do this. Try and confess positive. Tell yourself that your star is going to shine one day. And that is how things went. I wrote this song. Is this from a conversation? Yeah, yeah. That's how you came up with the lyrics. We used to talk a lot about that. Yeah. And then I had some tune playing and I wrote the song. Nice. Before we play it, DJ Ludrosian is about to cue it up. Do you mind, you know, giving us a key view of Nyatayango, your favorite part of the song. Okay. Roshan. No, not me. Are you feeling the vice? Nice. You really have a beautiful voice. Have you, you know, how did you foster that talent? Is it the same story that we always hear with gospel musicians? In Sunday school, then went to choir, then all of a sudden started recording somehow or? Mine is quite different. I woke up one day and I heard Chiba Lonza. Chiba Lonza, Angela? Yeah. Singing a certain song. I can't really remember it. And then I had this relationship with Goro. It was like a father to me that I really close. I would talk anything to him. So I told God, I want a voice like that. And if at least you can, you know, change it a little bit, add some, you know, some spice in it. I really appreciate it. Like I talked like a joke. I don't know how I went to school and the teacher, I went late to school. So I was given a punishment of singing. So I started singing and everybody was quiet. So in my mind, I was telling myself, you really sound too bad or too good. So from then I said I won't stop. But I was a little bit scared because I didn't know whether I'm singing good or bad. So when I went to high school, that is when everything changed. And all of a sudden my dad became a pianist. My mom sings so well. So I humiliated the two of them. What's your favorite instrument? His is the piano. My favorite is piano. Piano as well. Nice, nice. So what's next for you in the gospel music industry? Well, a lot is expected in terms of new releases and all that. And say, before the end of this year, I'll be releasing one song, not two, just one. Okay. Yeah. It's almost ready. Almost ready. Just a video and then it's out. Any collaborations? There are. You know you said earlier you want to, you know, you want to end it with masika. Yeah. What if you had an opportunity to work with her? Oh, that would really mean a lot to me. Yeah. I have collaborations but I can't talk about them right now. Why can't you talk about them right now? Because I just want them to be a surprise. What does every artist do about it? You want a surprise. You just want to surprise us. But you promise it's going to be? Yeah, it's going to be really soon. And it's going to be good. Nice. We're waiting for that. In anticipation, where can we subscribe and find you online? Well, I'll be Mickey on all social media platforms. A-B-D-E-Y-M-I-C-K-E-Y. And on Instagram, I'll be Mickey official. And on YouTube, all my songs are right there. You can find them there on some podcasts. So you want to subscribe. Nice. Thank you so much for coming through. We wish you nothing but the best. And I think, you know, there are some big sisters of yours in the gospel industry that could learn to think or to from you. And I think you know that. You know, she's viewing it as a ministry. They are viewing it as, you know... Business, money, go. Just something different. Just something different. Savin God is about Savin God. You don't expect much. When you fail to expect much. When you just relax, God meets you in a surprise. You don't need to keep anticipating for money every time. If you become money-minded, God gets out. Yeah. She's scared. Who said I'm money-minded? So this is Adi Nyotayangi.