 The first lyrics are that song. You say that you are in love with painting women. You are the kind of people who come to you. But I stay during the interview. At the studio you say that you are very single and not ready to, you are not searching, but you are just looking for money right now. So I decided to know what happened to this woman. Did she fall out of love? Or was she inspired? Hi, my name is Shiko. I just wanted to ask a question, actually two questions to Rena. What's the inspiration behind this song, because most people don't understand that song. What do you love about Kenya? Every time you come here. What are the three things that you love about Kenya? It was good everybody. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. And thank you for taking out your time to speak with me today. Wow. Okay, so I made that song on Valentine's Day 2021. I made it on Valentine's Day. So everybody pretty much knows what happened on Valentine's Day. Your lover, I guess. Yes, I'm old enough to talk about that on 22. So yeah, literally I just took my experience for that day to the song. And if you read through the lyrics, it's quite clear. I don't think I should decide for it right now. But yeah, it's just about love. And the one-on-one time you have to be a lover. That's it. And about Kenya, this is my second time. I was here in 2019. So far, all I can say is that first off, I love the people. I love the energy, I love the frequency. After I came here for the first time, I looked forward to come back again and actually come with my pack and my producer to actually make music here because I really enjoy the energy, the weather, the food, you know. Yeah, yeah. That's it. Awesome. Does anyone else have another question? Kind of identify yourself. Hi everyone, my name is Faith from Enanti-Regual. So I have a question for you right now. Your song, The Woman, the fast lyrics on that song. You say that you are in love with plenty of women and you are the kind to go there. But Mario, the guy back then during the interview at the studio, you say that you are very single and you're not searching, but you're just looking for money right now. So I just wanted to know what's happened to these women. Did they fall out of love or what is your inspiration or do you know what that's like? So woman, that line where I said, I'm in love with plenty of women and no one in my real life, it actually means I have a crush on different type of women, all sizes, different sizes, different shapes, different colors. And my intuition was in the, the workplace of my centers or the workplace of our parents was in a way that if I had a chance to marry all of them, I would. You feel me? Yeah, that's it. That's my intuition. That was what I meant, you feel me? If I had a chance, if I was able to marry all of the different sizes, different colors, you know, because everywhere I go I see beautiful women. King has beautiful women, just like Zambia, Zambia has beautiful women, you know, but I just can't, you know, it's too much, but if I had a chance, if I had the strength as well, I would. We love it, we love it. Go ahead, King Bee. Hi, Rima. My name is King Bee. I'm from country, I'm from Waukega, Jira. The song Bounce is one of my favorite songs. Yeah, we're coming for you. And I really love the video. You took it all the way down with the video. It's so risky, and so you probably say, I don't know, the videos you've done before. What was the creative direction behind the video? That video was really, really inspired by the movie Mad Max, you know, I didn't really want it to be super cliche and just be in a beautiful background, colorful place, you know, oil club setting with girls just, you know, dancing. You feel me, I know the song is so direct and, you know, cliche with booty bounce and everything, but I actually wanted to add a twist of creativity to it. I didn't just want it to be plain, and that's why we got inspiration from Mad Max and I worked with Director K to bring that vision up. Yeah, I'm proud of you. Excellent questions, let's keep it going. I know there's a question here. Hi everyone, my name is Betty from SPM Valley. So my question goes to you, Reva. You're doing a world tour right now and Kenya is among the countries that you're pivoting, which, you know, we feel very privileged to be, you know, to have you there. But I would like to know, according to you, the entertainment industry in Nigeria and Kenya, what do you think is the difference? And, you know, if that's something that we could learn from your industry here in Kenya. You know, I know I'm new to the game and I won't say or act like I know everything or, you know, be in a place of, you know, judging any industry. You feel me? I've not actually taken out time to observe the Kenyan industry 100%. I will be honest with you. But if there's something, generally, you know, that I look out for, it's just, if there's something, generally, that keeps us going, it's just the unity, the love, the support for each other. You feel me? The hard work, the ability to leave our comfort zone, which is our home, man, you know, relocate and be far away from home just to make sure that we unlock a different territory to be able to pass our message. You feel me? There's a lot of background work that happens that, you know, you don't get to see on the internet. There's a lot of sweat. There's a lot of blood. There's a lot of sacrifices. So yeah, I feel like that's what really pushed us this far. I know there's another question. Okay, I'll start right here. Yeah, hi. This is Joe from Standard Group. So I wanted to ask a question about you talking about unity in Nigerian artists coming together and having that unity going on. What is the advice you also make? I can tell the artists here in Kenya to have, like, how did you come up with the same unity as artists in Nigeria that the same Kenyan artists can also have here? Yeah, collaboration. That's it. Collaboration, and too, I feel like a lot of people, a lot of artists pay too much attention to fan base rivalry, you know? They just take it up to themselves and they take their fan base rivalry personal. You feel me? Some artists don't actually want to work together. Not because they're not cool, but because their fans just stare or something, you know? We should look past that, you know? Spend more time together, understand, you know, our different mindspace and just keep working together. And it's not, you know, always about oh, get a feature, oh, music. Like, pop up at the show, like, be on a music video, like, just be there, you know, be there for your brother. It's not all about music, you know? However you can support and create it as well. It's still a collaboration, you know? I actually also love the question, so I'm going to open it up to the other panelists. I'm really curious to hear Barry from your perspective as an entrepreneur, how you think people are working together. G-Money, I know that, you know, you've been in the game for a minute, maybe you could give us some insight on that and everyone else seated here. Just a line or two. Hi, finally a question for me. No, just to add on to Rema's sentiments about working together, it's good. Like, as a young event organizer, I mean, I'm 34 years, and you see that all this moving past behind the scenes is a lot of blood, certain tears needed to just execute something properly. There's a whole team of twins just set up this cross-company today, and you find that as young people, rather than it's easy for the outsiders to want to put you against one another, then the more we collaborate as Kenyans, as people in business, as Africans, the more altitude we have, and the most accessible for the world. Excellent point. Do you mind if I go there? Boy, I'm not used to this idea, you know, but I'll do it. First of all, I just wanna say the answer that Rema gave was for collaboration. I think that there's been, there's over the years, there's been so much separation in the industry that if we don't see this as a wake-up for the collaboration with one-on-one efforts, working with various different stakeholders to bring the effect together. Collaboration is the only way that we can grow and learn from each other. I mean, I'm sitting here, and at the end of the day, I'm lending my experience and my time to the project as well. It's all about collaboration, and if we don't collaborate, we can't grow as an industry, and I've been saying it for many, many years. Ben, is that my birth, you wanna hear? Do you want to hear? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, can I mean, in the same way, I feel like collaboration should be done not only with artists, but with everyone involved in the entertainment. That's from the media house, DJs, to if it's with local fans, with local fans, everyone. So, I think that's the only way we can grow. And first of all, I wanna pick a fan of yours. Big, big fan. Thank you. And yeah, I think that's the only way we can grow. Let's push together. I mean, that's a really good point, because when Ramon was explaining about the bounce video, he already shouted out a director that he really wanted to work with. So, you know what I mean? Everything is, I suppose, a collaboration. What's up, the only roles that you wanna tell us something? What's up, everybody? So, first of all, I totally agree with what Ramon said. I feel that though collaboration is so important, especially in our industry, we're just starting to realize now that we have so much in common, as entertainers in whatever craft we're in, for the craft we're in, as artists, and they special talent that people have that if you brought together, it would be just amazing. Especially like, not only for the industry, but even for our country. So, I think it's definitely something we need to be working on. Fantastic, fantastic responses. Thank you so much, Lady of Gents. I know there's a question over here. Okay, hold on, I'll let it go back. Hello, my name is Kalundu. We'll see me from Radio Africa. How was your transition from church? That is to you, Rema. To the Rema that we see right now, because as you said it in a past interview, you were winning soon. Yes, I was. I was. I still am, actually. Well, no, maybe not through music, but, you know, I put my homies on. If you don't believe, you can't roll with me. Like, if you don't believe in something, you shouldn't at least. Yeah, I hold onto my belief because my mom brought me up that way, you know? And there's no way I'll get this far. This fast. Without grace or faith or for good, you can't believe. But yeah, everywhere you find yourself, every face you must serve, you can't believe. I served. I served. I gave my service in church, but it goes to a point where I needed to move differently. Not because I wanted to for my pleasure, but because I was pushed to. I was pressured to, you know, being the only man in my family and losing my father and my brother. I, the body was on me. You feel me? Coming from my city, many cities, there's not a lot of opportunities for women, you know? And I couldn't just sit down comfortably waiting for my mother to feed me or, you know, waiting for the day that the pastor would give me money. I thought that guy, you know, I'm praising God and I'm doing it for God. I'm not doing it to please any mind or anybody. So, you know, I took the stand, you know? I went for competitions. I won some, I lost some. I, you know, I stayed up late, you know? I performed at bars. I ran everywhere free-standing for people, just putting money together, you know, for my family to eat. And that's how, you know, I started making a different type of music that you all call the circular music. But, you know, inside of music, inside of music, I've had different phase of my life that I had to serve. I've done different, all things, different, all jobs that I just had to do my service in different phase of my life. And that has literally used me up to this person, you know, today. So, yeah. Very good one. Good afternoon, everyone. Yeah, no. Very welcome to Kenya. Barry, my question for you is, what was, what advice would you give to yourself when you started this? Did you think at any point you'd be able to achieve this or you had a lot of challenges and you had a point where you wanted to give up? Jimani, what advice would you give to a person who's starting into the media and media PR communication industry? What would be your best advice you'd give them? Alejandro, when you started, did you ever think by any point in life you would be able to be sitting in a panel with great minds and great heads? Thank you. Thank you for the question. And when I started 10 years ago, to be honest with you, it started as a joke. I never thought I'd ever been in events or in marketing. My background is in finance. So, what I'd be able to say is that, to be honest with you, over the last 10 years I've learnt way more from mistakes than from success. I know in the digital social media age you always look at the outcome. I don't see the walk behind the scenes, you know. Like, if you hear the fast-form of the album Divine, everyone has a backstory, you know. So, for me, what I'm going to tell you is that, you know, the genius thing that you do is just not to give up, you know. You just keep going, the goals keep changing. Right now, I could be just doing this festival. Maybe next time is the next live nation. Maybe next time is the media house. So, for me, it's just like, enjoy the process. The journey is actually the destination, whatever you think. Just enjoy the process. He's being modest. Talk about the t-shirts, bro. Talk about the t-shirts. Oh, oh. Honestly. So, the brand-new standard is the t-shirts. Make it for myself and a group of friends. For fun. And then somebody said like, let's make some t-shirts. And then, a few years later, we went to an event to sell t-shirts. But people like the event more than the t-shirts. That's the rain coming. And then, next thing is like, maybe let's try and do some events. So, we were doing like random events and quiz nights in the clubs. So, to be honest with you, I never thought that I'd be in this position. But for me, I look at it like, well, video game, just going. Level one, level two, level three, you know. Whether it's FIFA, whether it's Mortal Kombat, that's how I look at it. All right, all right. Okay, good stuff. All right. What I would say, advice to people starting in the industry. I use Barry as an example. Barry, you may or may not know, actually released a record about 10 years ago. And he emailed it to me at the radio station and I replied, 10 years later. Now, here's the thing. Many people would have given up. I was selling an iPhone on my IG page. You know when you buy an iPhone, it doesn't have FaceTime. Barry was like, I don't need FaceTime. I'm going to buy an iPhone from you. The point I'm making is this. He couldn't turn around and say, that cheap money guy, ah, the guy didn't even answer my email. Years later, I'm working with Barry. The point I'm trying to say is, you are your own industry and you get in and you get out what you put in. In this economy, in this digital economy, I'll be very honest. I work on the radio, but y'all know I do a lot of stuff off the radio in the digital space, creating platforms for other people to express themselves. Start where you are. If you want to do radio, start a podcast. If you, like, you can do a podcast using just your phone. Start where you are. Too many of us tend to look for that perfect moment. The perfect moment never comes. And this is the only one I'm telling you that. The perfect moment never comes. You have to just go out there and grind for it. No one's opening any doors. No one actually cares. It's a selfish woman we live in and I'm sorry to say that. What get your grind on? Don't be that person who hangs around the barbershop expecting to get a free haircut. It never worked like that. Put the work in and invest in yourself and keep pushing and knock those doors. Keep them off. When they say no, use that as your inspiration. Keep going. 10 years down the line, I didn't respond to his email. But he knows the sayings of my bank account and I wrote the sayings of his. It's a beautiful thing. For me, I would say when I started music, back in 2011, I think that 11 years ago, I started as an EDM DJ and house music producer. So I used to produce house music. And back in the days, we used to go to town with CDs. We print like 750 CDs. We go to town and then we start giving them out. It's in America. It's in America. It's in traffic. In traffic, in windscreens, cars and everything. Even we used to go up on the Matatu and then we sit in the front and we make sure the music which is being played is the CD over ED. So obviously for me, the journey has been long and it's taken a lot of improvisation and changing because I had to switch from producing to now singing and I think it worked out well with my brother, Daniel DeGoon, which I'm your family. For me, I knew I would sit here with him one day and I would say thank you to you, as well. So it's a good opportunity and everyone else was in this final. So I think it's been a long journey, but it's been a pleasure. I'm most good everybody. My name is Kalanzi Kajubi. I'm from Tunghasa magazine. And I was just wondering forever if there are any Kenyan artists that you hope to work with while you're here or creatives? Before I go to Kenya, I've heard a couple Kenyan music and it's a little sad that I don't know the name exactly. Yesterday I was at the hotel room with a couple dancers and they put me on to someone, Roddy. Where's Roddy at? I'm like, what's the name of the awesome musician with the dress that they put me on to? I know South Disso. I've been rocking with South Disso for a long while. Yes, there's just one girl. Karol? Karol. Yeah. Karol. Karol is super dope. They played one, I said, again, another one, again, another one, another one, another one. Yeah, I listened to a lot of Karol's talk last night. I've been rocking with South Disso. I know South Disso for sure. But Karol, I think she's really special. And someone told me yesterday that she's what I reshaded, you know? Is that true? Would you say so? But I feel like she's super talented and I feel like the whole world needs to hear her voice. The whole world needs to hear what she's doing. Her vibe is different. I've never heard such type of music before. It's different. I feel every frequency. And yeah, I told my producer to reach out because I actually don't want to work with her. She's special. That's what I'm saying. It is. Amazing. Any other questions? Hi, Irma. So this is Borne from Loix TV. And my question is you've been working with Johnson Wilde and Marvel Records since Martin Luther King from neutral. Maybe what have you been able to learn from them being that they have been with them for some time now? Is it a great opportunity to work with OGs? When I say OGs, people that have already experienced the industry, not just as business people but as artists themselves that moved into business, you feel me? You know, working with The Prince, working with Doug Jazzy, Ushon, Dara, Irma, the rest of the Jonesian and Navy team. It's been a special journey, you feel me? Because there's a lot of mistakes I feel like I would have made in doing that thing, you know? I don't feel like an artist. I feel like if they're a child, you know, I feel like I'm in the family, you feel me? So, and I don't take corrections for granted. I don't grumble. I just take it because I know that, you know, they need to experience some things for me to learn from in the future, unknowingly, unconsciously. So, yeah, it's a great journey and it's gonna be a beautiful one, yeah? Can we have some questions as well for the sponsors? Does anyone have any questions for the sponsors? Why am I being with that? Why don't we look at it and smile at that? All right, let's continue. Let's keep that in mind, but let's continue. Any more questions? This one goes to Barry. You know, you see when I looked at the artist lineup, I was like, wow, this is different, you know? And I mean, they're necessary knowing the work I did, and they watch your group, and you know, you look like a very unexpected type of lead. I would like to know what was the thought that you're spouting to decide if these are the kind of artists that you want to perform for the M&E? Okay, that's a very, that's actually a very good question. And if you allow me, I'll take you through. So, as Reema just mentioned just now, it's like paying homage to the OGs. So I feel like at Tattics 4, I'm in the middle, whereby people usually execute this type of events that are usually way older, right? Or relatively older. And I felt that I've seen the struggle of opening doors and being connected, and I've seen now when it started to work on my favor. You know, from Mr. Jumani, email to now, Mr. Jumani playing at my gigs, you know? But then also, but then also more important is a good relationship to be able to build. So one thing I always say is that I want to be able to pay for it. So I gave, I chose Necessary Noise because of like, we've all missed them, we all grew up listening to them, you know? And then, you know, you have Wakari Nali, Wachungo family, I listen to that stuff. Those are my favorite people, you know? Gary Neng is playing all the time, you know? And so that was one of the combination of like, some old people are new because I want to be the person who I also open doors for the new guys and also like respect the people who've been. And then for Rema, my decision-making was like, you know, when somebody could be in touch with Sean in late January, this planning takes a long time. I looked at it and from COVID time, I remember first of all, Obama's lease 2019, and then COVID, we're all bumping into Remas with no album. And I, the album information wasn't out when I didn't have the conversation. But then I looked at him like he was an artist that cuts across different age groups. The 21-year-olds love him, the 35-year-olds love him. He's one of one. And I feel like you, when he tells you his age, he turned 22 on Sunday. So happy birthday to him, happy belated birthday. When you listen to his age, when you first find out his age and you see that the music that comes out from him, most people, like, what do you mean? They can't believe that it's like, yeah. So that is a bit of a decision-making of how I brought everything together. Thank you for the question. Any more questions? Is there a question over here? I'm from the Alfegrub group. My question goes to Rema. You have a very different type of music. You like mixing things up. You do not have one specific vibe. What's the reason behind that? And what would you like to say to people who think you should sound more, like you should have more Afro-beats into your music? Okay, so first of all, sorry, I was asking a friendship. So can you go on with that? My question was, you do not have one specific type of music. You like mixing things up. So I want to know like, what's the reason behind that? Don't you feel like, if you had one specific thing that people knew you both like it would be better? And the second question is, what would you like to say to people who feel that you should do more Afro-beats, like your songs should feel more Afro-beats-ish? Okay, I'm not trying to brag or trying to praise myself so much, but I like to stay creative. I don't like to stay in the box. You feel me? I've always been that guy. Even before I got signed, like the first set of songs I played for the Prince before he agreed to pull me on, it was very diverse. At that point, 2018, I never really used to go Afro-beat. I never knew how to, but he told me, your voice is so special, you can do anything. Because the set of music, the set of songs I played for him that day, he knew I was a massive style guy. And another thing, when I step into the studio, I never really planned things out. I just go there and just create music. Like I don't really ever plan on, oh, this is how I want my music to cut across this crowd, that crowd there. I just have it at the back of my mind unconsciously that I'm making music for the world, you feel me? And that confidence in my sound and everything just sparks something. And whenever I drop music, I'm always super confident. Like before my album, I've never actually announced any song. I just dropped it, you know? Yeah, because I feel like, you know, that's my stance, you know, that's where I stand, I'm special, and I believe that, you know, I'm making music for the world and I'm representing my generation in a whole different level. And one more thing is that, you know, in the movement of Applebee, year by year, decade by decade, you know, we're unlocking different territories. I wanna make sure I make music that won't lock new territories as well for my generation and the generation after me. So that's it, yeah. Hi everyone, it's Faith, I came from Illidz Radio. So your career is picking up and you say that in an interview, so that you're having second thoughts of going back to school. So would you give the same advice too? I am a person whose careers are picking up or what would you advise them if academic and... Oh, actually, typically, it's because of the territory I decided to, you know, school at, you know, Nigeria is, you know, it's a great, amazing, it's a great country, beautiful music, awesome culture, but not so good of a government, you know. You feel me? All right. Yeah, yeah. You know, the schools are being affected, you know, by the government and their decisions, you know, most especially financial decisions and it's affecting, you know, the youths, not just me, but yeah. I really wanna go to school, or, you know, the strikes, the delays, while touring and trying to do part-time classes, you know, I just feel like I'm having way too much time to think about it, you know, I just want it to move. That's how I like to do it, just decide and move, wherever comes, comes, wherever goes, goes. But now I'm just thinking like, well, this track now, I don't know how long it's gonna take, so this day, any one of the tickets elsewhere, like, yeah, I can still decide to school, but maybe not in Nigeria anymore, but I still believe change will come, so yeah. Fantastic questions and answers. I'm gonna ask one question to Emanuel, actually, at the end, and perhaps you, Barry, can expound upon it as well when he's done. But I'm very curious as to the sponsorship, how people got... You know, it attacked me from my sleep to go perform, I'm always ready, but I'm working with a Kenyan-like band, and, you know, I'm yet to rock with them, fight with them, and, you know, just create that set list. Well, personally, I'm always ready to rave, you feel me? And whenever I travel out there, yes, I link up with a lot of great minds. For now, I can't really say, you know, because, you know, my team will allow me to give out any information about the collaboration, but at this point in time, I'm really, you know, optimistic to work with my African brothers and sisters, you know, I just want to make more music, and, you know, hold more grounds at home, in Africa, unite all the sound and stand by it, you feel me, yeah? What's your name again? Milimo. Milam? Milimo. Milimo. Thank you, Milimo, for the question. So, your question is, like, the choice of Nigerian artists for, as my headliner. I think, like, in this digital age, what's happening with people having access to all streaming services with primaires happening on YouTube, you know, like, as new videos coming out, you find that we have to, we also go with what the consumers want. If, let's say, using Apple Music as a metric, if you look at the top king of 100, you look at people listening, you'll see it come down at the top the last few months, you see finesse coming up there, you know? So, and then also, like, even him, like, with the album coming out now, you find that there's also, like, Wild White, Jack Hollow's album, Kendrick's album. So, all I'm saying is, like, music right now is universal, so our choice is people don't listen to it because this is the home, the number one song in Nigeria right now, if I'm not wrong, it's from a Ghanaian, right? The Kwaku, the... The Trouble. The Trouble. The Black Shirt. Yeah, so, like, the number one new song, you know? And then the number one album all over Africa right now is, like, Reginald Roses. So, you find that people like now they consume, especially like this generation, you Gen Z, you know, I'm a millennial there. So, Gen Z, anyone born after 95, 96, depends on who's asking, you find, like, we're all connected to just good sound. You find that, and that informs the choice of who are you able to book. So, when you book somebody, like, say, Rema is because people in Kenya, that's who they want to be able to listen to. And for me as an organizer of the business, and it leads to a lot of people buying the tickets, and so, so, so, for all the people who stay, like, for Kenyan artists and for other Kenyan people, it's like, we're able to, we should just be able to strive for excellence. You see Saudi souls when it shows. You see Niasheer's feeling it shows. There's room for growth, like, human beings right now, don't care where you're from as long. If it sounds good, it sounds good. That's, I hope, up until the question's sufficient. Okay. I would say, we didn't break up. We just had a commercial break. But, all you know, we've been working on an album, hopefully, which will drop in the next two months, June, I don't know June. So yeah, okay. I'm going to come to the venue. Escape, escape, escape, escape, escape, escape.