I recently had the chance to meet and have a conversation with the multi-talented music artist and producer Kagwe Mungai, known for his hits, Supa Seena, Kama Kawaida and Till the end. We talked about his musical journey, his future plans and everything in between.KenyaBuzz: How is the music industry doing in terms of copyright and protecting the art of its artists?Kagwe Mungai: I think we still have a long way to go mainly because many musicians are not educated about copyright and so people are willing to jump into anything without understanding what is there. There are many record labels and music deals that are being thrown around that are going to leave a lot of artists in debt. It may look like it is going to make you a lot of money but if you don't understand the fine print then that is a problem.KenyaBuzz: How did you find out how to navigate copyright? Was it information that went out and looked for by yourself or did you have a lawyer to help you with that?Kagwe Mungai: In the beginning, you have to be your own producer, your own graphics guy, your accountant, your lawyer, you have to be everything. You have to learn all those things to a certain extent just so that you don't get played. And the more that I networked and met people, the more I understood a lot of things. I wouldn't sign anything before asking what it meant, regardless of how long it took or how irritating it might have been for the other person. I had to know what I was getting myself into.KenyaBuzz: I have been on the KECOBO website and it seems easy to get a copyright. Is it as easy as they make it out to be?Kagwe Mungai: I do not know how it is now but I know when I was starting out, it was difficult because you had to have a CD and you have to turn in a hand written letter and there were some backward systems that we were using when you could have just done everything via email. I do not know if the systems have adapted but back then, the process was very slow. Then for whatever reason, someone did not like the songs that were on there, you might not get one.KenyaBuzz: How do you think the availability of local streaming apps has helped the music industry? Are they drawing more Kenyans to legitimately listen to music or has very little changed in terms of music piracy?Kagwe Mungai: I think it makes it easier to access the music now. People are still going to pirate music anyway but if you give it to them on an easy platform where they can stream and it costs them almost nothing, then it's good because it is working towards developing that revenue streams for the artists and they not going home with nothing in their pockets. It also reflects where we are in the world with Apple Music and Spotify, because the reason that they exist is the reason that ours exist because the world is adapting more to streaming.KenyaBuzz: How do you get ready for a performance?Kagwe Mungai: I always try to compete with my previous show. After each show, I try to analyse the performance to find out how it can be better than the last one. I dream big and then we figure out how we can make it happen. There is a lot rehearsal, visualisation and strategy - to know what is the intended feeling at each section of the performance. But the one thing that I do before every performance is I listen to Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny's Child.KenyaBuzz:Really? How come?Kagwe Mungai: It is the best song ever.KenyaBuzz: How do you switch personas from Kagwe, just chilling and writing music to Kagwe on stage performing in front of all these people? Because you are definitely not the same person on and off the stage.Kagwe Mungai: To be honest it is like an out of body experience; sometimes it feels like I am watching myself and be like 'You did that? That was cool. Do that again next time.'KenyaBuzz: We have had a sort of influx of concerts this year featuring international artists. Why do you think that is the case? Why are they being drawn to Kenya?Kagwe Mungai: Someone has proven that it can be done. I have a theory that I call the banana mentality where you would find Njeri is selling bananas near the highway and she is making a lot of money. The rest of us will start selling bananas because of how much profit she is making. Meanwhile, she has opened another shop on the side of the road where she is selling apples. Therefore, she is growing. If somebody proves that it is possible, then we all jump in and want to do it. It's a prototype that works so to speak, that is why we are going to have a weekend or a month where there will be like seven shows back to back if not on the same night because everyone now is doing it. I think they have also realised that the public want to see these things. We see these people on YouTube or on TV and we would love to interact with them on a stage. At this last show (The Terminal), it was awesome to watch WRSTN perform, some of my favourite shows and for Big Shaq to shout me out on stage was cool.KenyaBuzz: Aside from entertainment, does it benefit our local industry when these international artists come? Do the local artists get a chance to interact with them, share, and collaborate?Kagwe Mungai: It depends on the individual; whether they intend to do something like that or not. It could be they are not interested in the Kenyan music scene and that is fine. I think the way in which we truly benefit- and is not in the most direct way; is in the little moments. If a kid comes and sees Big Shaq on stage and they believe, they can do it to. They are in a position where they can inspire others. However, I don't think they are obligated to give us anything, and we don't need anything either; it is great that they can come and appreciate us and we can appreciate them back If we work together amongst ourselves, we can be bigger and better.KenyaBuzz: Do you think we will get to a point where record labels will not be so big? Because there is a good number of mainstream indie artists nowKagwe Mungai: Probably, because right now you can be a huge artist with just an internet connection. So long as whatever you make is what works, it feels good, and people enjoy it, then it can work.KenyaBuzz: Why are you signed then? What is the benefit of being part of a record label?Kagwe Mungai: For me, the benefit is in the value of the team. It gives me the space to do what I want without being caught up in all the other aspects of being an artist and building a brand.KenyaBuzz: What inspires your music?Kagwe Mungai: What impact I am going to leave. And impact doesn't have to be on a grand scale like Mother Theresa. If I make a song and it puts someone in a good mood or it made them feel understood or brightened their day, that for me is impact and that has always been goal.KenyaBuzz: How do you deal with doubt?Kagwe Mungai: I keep very strong people around me. I am very selective about the thoughts and conversations that happen around me because those can really influence the moves you make. If you surround yourself with people that are better than you are, then you can only grow. Whenever I am in those spaces where there is self-doubt, then those people are around me to remind me that what I am doing is good.
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