FIRST EVER KENYAN GOSPEL ARTIST TO SIGN UNDER THE ICONIC OGOPA DEEJAYS

 

 

I remember one evening after school I went to the Ogopa deejays studios in South B where the studios were located,in search and need to meet the producers so I could see if they could sign me.

After I got there ,I met Nameless,Mustafa and Wahu having a conversation at the lobby waiting for their recording session.Its the time when nameless ‘ JuJu’song with Mr. Lenny was the biggest song in Kenya, Wahu ridding high with her ‘Sitishiki’ single and Amani ‘Missing my baby’.

They were very kind and warm and even asked if I needed help in any way ..and I said I was up and coming artiste who was seeking to be in the music industry and I’ve always admired all of them.

They were kind of excited and gave me some good random advice.It was humbling indeed..They told me to come the following day if I wanted to meet the producers since they were busy recording that day.

I did exactly the same,the following day after school I went to the Ogopa studios .

The traffic was a bit hectic on Mombasa road so I got to the studio a bit late and met two guys at the Ogopa deejays parking lot ready to get into their cars to leave. 

I greeted them and asked if I could see the producer of Ogopa, and the guy laughed asking why I wanted to see him. I explained my story as an artiste and he told me his name was Lucas and requested me to sing a demo song for him.

I sang a Swahili song and by the time I got in the middle of the song he just nodded and said ..good voice Silas! You also seem very marketable..we have never signed any gospel artiste here but I feel I deep confidence in giving you a chance.I believe in you’ Lucas said

I was literally amazed by the fact that they have never signed any other gospel artiste and he was ready to have me on Ogopa list.I was very excited as well.Lucas Bikendo was always a very friendly to me and always ready to support me in my journey.He pushed me to do and be better .

He requested me to come to the studio the following day to record the song and I did exactly that after school and the rest is history.

I was signed and given a five year free recording deal at Ogopa deejays.From the first time I met Licas,we really connected in a great way .I felt like I was meeting an old friend.

He also saw something in me that I dint see it myself.Lucas was one of the most talented music producer I’ve ever worked with in my life,he was literally a genius.He had this skill that he could turn a bad song into a great song.

He amazed me!Sometime he had a dry humor and always tried very unique ideas in studio which kinda made a lot of artiste feel like he was complicated.

He always fought for excellence even in the tiniest thing that he did and this in turn made Ogopa a house hold name.He could never go for mediocre.He always hid his face from the media /cameras.If you wanted Lucas to hate on you so fast ..take a picture of him haha

To start with,I released my debut single Nakuhitaji .Nakuhitaji was initially scheduled to be featured in Ogopa 2 compilation but the idea was dropped because Ogopa was pushing me to have my own album.

 I was still working on my album which to be honest was a bit hard time considering I was very young and not very good in songwriting or so….I was till growing and learning on how to do things.

It took me almost three years to release after the initial recording which upon release it did very well across radio and television stations in Kenya and beyond and this luckily landed me my first music award nomination ever at the Talanta Awards based in the USA in the best Up coming artiste non US based.

It was was unbelievable at first but it was true.I dint know anyone in the US nor have a family member living there so I wasn’t sure wether I was gonna travel to the award ceremony. 

I was invited at the award ceremony held in Seattle Washington and I won the award.It was the best night of my life. 

A dawn of a new season indeed.Am now based here in as an artiste ,Television commercial model and Actor signed to Wilhelmina USA.Am currently the brand ambassador for Duer.. a Canadian brand clothing line and Immersive Game Box USA.

Always grateful for the journey.