Former poet now belting out soulful tunes
Prisca Ojwang'. If you haven't heard of this soulful sister, you soon will. She's rising from star to higher star. PHOTO| COURTESY
What you need to know:
My favourite part is when the audience gets what you are trying to do. I take many risks (especially in the vulnerability and humour department) while performing and it's always refreshing to see an audience member either soak it in, laugh along...
Prisca Ojwang'. If you haven't heard of this soulful sister, you soon will. She's rising from star to higher star - starting with performances at Blankets & Wine, her prolific lyrics and infectious smile which have led her to become one of the next big things on Kenya's music scene.
Before she represents the +254 in South Africa later this year, you can catch her at her concert, Me Myself and I, this weekend (September 5) for a taste of glory. In the meantime, you can read a little bit about her right here.
Congratulations on your concert on South Africa. Tell me a little bit more about that.
Thank you so much! Yes South Africa. I am really stoked about that. I will be performing at the Mother City Live Festival alongside so many artists from around the continent. It's set to happen in November – the 27th to the 28th. Really exciting stuff. This is the first time I will be leaving Kenya to go 'represent' musically.
Your concert is on September 5th at the Michael Joseph Centre. What thrills you most about performing?
My favourite part is when the audience gets what you are trying to do. I take many risks (especially in the vulnerability and humour department) while performing and it's always refreshing to see an audience member either soak it in, laugh along...
Also just how different each performance is.
You know I have to ask if your music is based on real life...I've been wondering about it since the first time I watched you perform at Blankets and Wine...
Haha. So far yes. It always starts with a personal experience then an overwhelming thought to an overflowing thought process and I'm hit with conversations I've had or situations I've witnessed... combine that with my poetic background...and voilà!
What do you think is the way forward for collaboration on the Kenyan music scene - especially considering the recent ripples of dissent (the joining of the music bodies on copyright and royalties etc., musicians marching on the street) - so, collaboration between the bodies of music and musicians, and musicians themselves?
Well, yes the bodies and the musicians would definitely both win if they worked together. I find that these bodies still have quite a bit of corruption within them which beats their purpose and frustrates an already strained industry.
I think that many things in this country boil down to having our eyes on the greater good. If we (both musicians and the bodies) all focus on creating legit policies that cater for the benefit of all the involved parties, that's a good start. But if we stay here having two people benefiting, the industry will be the same 20 years later.
But, there is definitely a revolution happening right now and we, the new breed of artists, are the 'freedom fighters' of sorts. So let's see.
So you sing a lot about love...any love in your life?
Refer to 'Lies I Told Me'...no, seriously.
:) If you're asking if I'm single...I am. I'm just a mushy soul waiting to share my mush! ;)
