 So Nioh, alright, so like I told you guys before, we are gonna be graced by greatness Yes, we're gonna be graced by greatness and we are right here. We actually have an incredible Guest in studio. He's one of the pioneers of the rock music scene in Kenya He definitely, he was actually a frontmine. I don't know if you guys know this But he was a frontmine to a rock band called Rocco Fages and lead guitarist also, don't forget And I need guitarist. I told you greatness and he goes by Venom, Maki Yes, Maki, like rockers already know who he is But for the guys at home who don't have an idea, I'm gonna give you a chance to go ahead and reintroduce yourself So they call me Maki, my name is Maki Monyega and as you put it in past tense, though I really don't think we went on retire With a group of high-class teams Oh, alright, alright, alright, now let me just correct the guys They've been on a high-class, they are not done. They are on a high-class Alright, can you carry on? So anyway, yes, I belong to the rock group Rocco Fages We've been around for, yes, quite some time, the band started all the way back in 2001 And I guess probably maybe I could say, though I know it's subject to dispute and a lot of maybe criticism or hope not But for that time, I believe we were the only mainstream rock band then Because other bands were just bringing out the cover bands playing all kinds of music and throwing in a talk and rock song But so we started that back in the day and we're still there till today, though we took a hiatus because of so many things A long hiatus But we still do meet, just the other day we hooked up for some practice and some fun It was quite some fun It was fun And we want to see more music, now we have a platform, we can play rock music right here Yes, alright, now welcome to the show, first of all, thank you so much for making time to come through You know, these are hard times, people are just like, people are very skeptical, like, yeah, I'm going to stay at home You know, this COVID thing, but you pulling through, thank you so much for that Alright, so you're also a member of Rock Society of Kenya and actually the founding member Yes, one of the founders, so tell us about that, when was RSK formed and with who? Who else? Yes, the Rock Society of Kenya was actually the brainchild of a fine gentleman by the name Amos Kiptoon Right Who's also a rocker, fellow rocker, he's a great guitarist actually and he belongs to the group Seismic Right So he found, he came up with the idea back in the early 2009, he shared it with the rest of the bands that were there then Ask Inclusive, Rock of Ages there And it sounded like a very noble idea and we decided to just flow along with that Because it was something that was dealing so much with a lot of welfare and inspiring the next generation Well, at the same time mentoring the current generation of rockers, even becoming even better rockers Right So yeah, that's pretty much more about its history So it was just about like giving rockers, like a safe place for rockers where they can come with their issues It was just more like a platform for them Yeah, we almost call it like home, the rock home Because all we do is, we do mentor each other, we hook up, we get together, we talk about stuff We also do find out actually what's happening in your life, you know, what's happening with you, you're okay, you're good More so in the final times like now And physically as well But the main drive was towards improving the style of rock music in Kenya The technical aspects, the music production, the talking about singing, sing well If it's a guitarist, play well So we share techniques, tactics, guitar strategies, concepts and all that kind of thing Dramas also, they're able to interact Any kind of musician who's actually in the rock music is able to interact with a fellow musician Or through forums that we actually were able to come up with which were very useful Because we've been able to run them over the period of about Let's say, especially for almost five years, four or five years or so And they've had a really positive effect on music production up until at least last year Up until last year Alright, so since inception, how can you say the society has helped the Kenyan artists in this scene How have you guys helped the upcoming artists and even those who've been in this scene since then So the society, just even as I mentioned, the society came up with these strategies and initiatives of mentorship We all know that actually you cannot consider yourself a leader if you actually have no offspring We'll call you a successful leader once we see, you were able to say this was the workings of a certain individual This was the working of this person so we can say that yes, you did a good job So we tried to actually just mentor each other We mentor each other through forums, through seminars, instructional seminars Where we talk about the guitar, today we're going to have guitarists sit together So we choose a place, we all come together And we talk about technical aspects of rock guitar particular Because rock also has its own sub-genres, we have soft rock We have metal, metal has its own sub-genres Metal, progressive metal and everything, metal core And all those are styles Some to the common person maybe they may sound a little bit aggressive and edgy But they are actually music styles that demand recognition and respect Because they're actually studied and they can also be written musically just like any other form of music And one thing I love about rock is the fact that when you go to rock events Most of them you can't do playback Exactly That's one thing that mainstream media doesn't have because sometimes they just go And there is a song already playing in the background So they just sing over it But in rock you have to play live at all events So yeah, I think rock artists are just like simply amazing And I think they understand music actually Yeah, sure thing Right, now you know like rock is not mainstream in Kenya Is there anything as RSK being a representative of rockers in Kenya Is there anything you're doing maybe probably with the government or the people The people consigned so that you actually make sure maybe The artists in Kenya, the rock artists actually get They get something out of what the government is offering Because I worry about the president said they had like over like around 100 million To distribute to musicians in Kenya Are rock artists included in that? Are you guys in talks with anyone to make sure that this money gets to them? Okay, what I could say is the RSK is actually a very I could say call it an almost like a very humble institution Very humble Kozok also like the membership is also quite a little bit minimal Though we cannot actually really ignore the leisure still people But we'd always love anybody would come on board to actually support us in any way We would love it if we'd have any input even from government Or very able government would actually do With any help that may come our way Because we do know like for the rocks in Kenya It's more like a niche market or a niche category of music That appeals to maybe a lesser population Though less is relative Though it's growing Because it is actually quite big After being in this thing for actually almost 20 years Trust me it's not two or three people we're talking about here We're talking about a lot of people here by the thousands Because the demand is actually there So anyway so we would actually appreciate if we could get any form of support From any person or any other well-wisher Whatever kind of assistance would get especially at a time like now So actually this is almost like a request to anybody who's able to require to help Because we don't have guys, some people just think rock music is for the rich society Yeah, for the cool kids But actually it's not the case I know many many fellow rockers, guitarists and instrumentals Actually even just live from all over the place And even right here when we saw You'll find someone in 90 watching Someone in Kisumo, in Kisi, everywhere Because music is a universal language Music knows no boundaries, knows no bounds Music cuts across You can actually, even some of us who love some music from some bands That may not even understand the language they're saying Because maybe they're from Denmark, they're from Sweden, they're from Germany But the music, the instrumentation has been put in such a way that Even though I don't understand what they're saying But the thing is, it's gelling so well It's reaching out and it feels so good about it Because it's music, that's the power of music Of course before we get into the message of the music And everything, that's another different story But that's the thing with music So that's why you find we have rockers all over the country At least to the major towns that we know Wherever we're able to move around with our music back in the days We've found support Even in Nanyuki, there's a great following of rockers in Nanyuki actually That's true Alright, now you mentioned membership You said that it's to a minimal So as an RSK, Rock Society of Kenya You're not taking any new members And if you are, what's the criteria? Is there any registration fee? Or what do I have to do to be a member? To be a member, it's actually quite simple All you have to do is just be a prospective artist Because when you talk to rock artists, we're not just talking about bands We have individual singers who actually produce their own music And then they can always look for a band and do a live show So we have bands, proper bands And then we also have artists, individual artists Ladies singers, we have gentlemen, gents singers You guys were able to sing So all they do is just write a request, a letter of request To RSK, and the membership of RSK is actually just The band members themselves It's actually so down to earth It's so laid back, it's so simple We don't have any kind of bureaucracies And structures and everything It's very simple and very humble actually Entity And so we just write a request ourselves Just to get to find out more about you I'm going to write that later And then we just get a written response Telling you maybe this is what we require You know, I'm on it I'm going to write that later And even you guys at home If you're watching, you're going to be a member Write that later It's not at all, it's something Write that later I mean, you mentioned COVID And the hard economic times we're living in So as RSK, now I keep asking Because you are representation Of the rock scene in Kenya Is there anything you are doing To help the artists as a society Or what could you advise them I'm sure a lot of people are tuned in They were excited that you were coming through So what would you advise them For someone who's struggling right now We don't have events, they're not good So is there anything you're doing And what would be your advice to the guys Yes, actually at the moment right now As a society, because we actually don't have any resources At our disposal, what you could say A situation where maybe we command The mega resources, the size of all the amount Of resources that we could actually Bust and distribute to our own membership But all we can do, we do offer Support, moral support Maybe giving just a call How are you doing bro? You okay? Then somebody tells me That goes a long way So we just go and see What can I do as an individual What am I able to do to my brother To my sister if at all anything Then I sought the brothers The best of my ability, whatever I'm able to So that's how we're actually doing it right now Because it's just a On that little recommendation also When my dad passed on From them Not only just even by what even financially Their few came up Supported me some Mula And they really folded up on me All the way Pakauko and Karodi So that's basically That's something that I can attest It's really working It's actually true That you can check up on Artists and the members Alright That's really good Just being your brother's keeper Pretty much that's what We're able to do right now Yeah Alright, so another thing Like right here Like we've mentioned Since you got here The industry is still growing We still have We're not mainstream yet So what do you think As artists Or as even finds of rock music What are we supposed to do To make sure that That the scene grows Okay For the scene to grow A couple of things need to happen First and foremost Like the music Okay, let me talk about the artists Yeah It has to start with the artists first Exactly The artists must be on their A-game The musicians must be on their A-game Right So what we're talking about The singers need to sing well The guitarists must play well The drummers must play well Then the band must play well The synergy must be Spick and spark That's good Because when that happens The product The production becomes attractive Exactly And right now There's nothing about rock being loud music No, we have all other There are many different kinds of music That can be loud And actually even just Unpleasing to the ear But even when rock has been well done For all who have been able to attend A good life show That has been well done Planned well A good band Good sound And everything is just Being done in a professional way The outcome is actually professional The sound is actually awesome So the output is beautiful And that is attractive Since when they say It's a much-adjusted user It's a much-adjusted user Because it's not about This is rock It has to be rough No, rock can actually sound Two things I will say two things Can only sound good Or very bad Especially the more aggressive styles of rock The more technical And proficient guys need to be So that it actually sounds good Because I remember when We were working with bands Like L, Y, T Last year's Tragedy Those guys play metal Metalcore is heavy You mentioned L, Y, T They have an album coming up So I'm excited for that So when that happens An aggressive band like that But they do it so well Even the guys who are managing The sound work on their stuff The result is actually awesome It sounds like the way You always can pick up Many music from Let's say any other Foreign band So to say And it sounds professional Professional on a life context Now that's something So the thing is We artists We include it We need to have Our best foot forward We need to be on the top Of our games We need to do To practice That goes for more practice sessions We need to practice As a guitarist I'm a guitarist I need to practice all the more The drummers need to drum People practice all the more Interactive The drummers get to know more stuff One how you can actually Take yourself to the next level Because there's never a limit You can always just grow You can always just grow And keep on growing And keep on growing As you're growing As an individual The other individual The band is growing We as a band end up growing As we grow But also it ends up improving And sounding better and better When that happens The fan on the other side Will request that you support us You support the music When you hear They'll be having some concerts And attend events And attend events Especially when they come back When you hear the events happening Just show up Support these bands Because there's some awesome talent That maybe you may not have known But you being probably a fan And you're just Probably even at home But whenever you Put some small shout outs In there Whenever the events happening Just come and support the bands Right So we're going to go for a break But before we do Maybe as we wind up What would you tell your last remarks What would you tell someone Who's watching out there Who's a rock fan And maybe an artist They are watching you They've been looking up to you Because like we said You are one of the people Who made sure We actually have a scene In Kenya So what would you advise them? What I could advise them And just tell them is Do not be in a hurry To go on the stage Yeah Spend your hours in the dark room In the places where you are unseen Practice Yeah Practice Stay with your instrument Learn Right now When I was doing my thing Back in the day There was nothing like YouTube We had to buy books Get video cassettes then That kind of stuff To learn or read But now We have YouTube We have YouTube It's making things so much easier There's lots of stuff Where you can actually Get instruction On your particular kind of instrument If it's your guitar We have lots and tons of You can not exhaust the information on YouTube I know it's like I'm making a shout out for YouTube Anyway, I don't know But anyway It's a platform It is a platform But many people have actually Really gained a form So get Sit also Be mentored Accept to be Instructed by somebody Above you Who's a little bit more Knowledgeable in that particular field Let him or her Instruct you Get to learn new techniques Skills, drumming Baselines and everything Keep on playing Go to somebody who's actually advanced You're going to go to the next level Once you make yourself Because the moment you Humble yourself You can only go up You can never go down You can only go up So humble yourself Humble yourself Sit down Alright, your social media Then we take that break Who I can people find you Yeah, so we actually found On our Facebook pages Rock Society of Kenya On Twitter And Instagram They are similar RSK At RSK Kenya On Twitter and Instagram And on Facebook At Rock Society of Kenya Your own handle My own handle My own handle Now Rock of Ages Rock of Ages dash Kenya We're a little bit silent for some time Got some cobwebs and dust on it Alright Thank you so much For coming through It's been an absolute pleasure Just having you in studio Well, he's still around So if you have any questions Make sure you send them to us The hashtag is rock to a two-fifth Now before we go on a