The Rocker – I Bid Thee Farewell

Blinky Bill of Just A Band rock band. Their "Makmende" video was fresh and creative. Most of the time, that is all it takes. But with many rock acts just getting started with their first music videos, we can say that we are on the right path. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • First, I hope that more artistes will take the time to explore new ways of exposing their music. Gone are the days when becoming a successful musician was determined by an exact formula.
  • I believe discriminating against rock because of preconceived ideas on its spiritual influence is as retrogressive as racism.

This is the last article I am writing for this column. It has been a great two years discussing rock music in Kenya and abroad. I now feel the time has come for me to step aside and let you see what the future of this music will be on your own.

I am not drawing the column to its conclusion because Kenyan rock music is no longer buzzing with new developments. On the contrary, I think it is growing into something more meaningful and sustainable now than it ever has.

The positive growth is the exact reason why I feel the need to end my discussion on it and allow the rest of the world to continue where I have left off: all the bloggers and social media pages that have rallied for local rock. If the trend picks up, then my goal will have been achieved.

Before I lay down my pen, there are a few things I would like to put across as a wishlist for future bands, artistes and participants on the Kenyan rock scene.

First, I hope that more artistes will take the time to explore new ways of exposing their music. Gone are the days when becoming a successful musician was determined by an exact formula.

The basics are still working for most people: getting radio airplay, performing at shows, appearing pretty for the media and collaborating with bigwigs.

FRESH AND CREATIVE

But publicity spaces are shrinking and not everyone gets a slot to dine at the upper table of music celebrities; you are better off thinking outside the box.

I always like to use Just A Band’s example with regard to their "Makmende" video. It was fresh and creative. Most of the time, that is all it takes. But with many rock acts just getting started with their first music videos, we can say that we are on the right path.

Second, I wish we had more rock played on our local radio stations and at events. I don’t just mean X-FM but the entire spectrum of radio stations and DJs. In my view, the scarcity of rock music in local radio stations is what has kept it in the lower ranks of musical attention by Kenyans.

A simple rock show that goes on for at most an hour would do a great deal of justice to the thousands of rock fans in Kenya who just want to enter a matatu and listen to their favourite band for a change instead of a squawking dancehall artiste who is better off making soundtracks for adult films.

I also hope non-rockers will stop using rock music as a general example of the devil’s influence on this world. There are Christian rock bands too.

I believe discriminating against rock because of preconceived ideas on its spiritual influence is as retrogressive as racism.

CREATING NEW MUSIC

Just because a song has a distorted guitar sound does not mean the guitar is possessed by some evil force. The only thing it is possessed by is electricity.

Finally, I wish more artistes would focus on creating new music more often and experimenting with making it unique. The much that has been done so far is stunning.

The fact that we have enough music variety by Kenyan rock bands to compile into a mixtape of hits is a good sign of progress. But having one hot single every month from a different band would keep the scene more exciting and give the press something to talk about.

Albums are not really the game to play by in Kenya since people can hardly tell you the title of their favourite artiste’s album off head but will sing the lyrics to their biggest hit word by word.

With those four wishes, I will now end this long chapter (or short depending on how you look at it) of my life as a rocker. For any updates on what I will be up to with regard to rock music, feel free to follow my twitter handle.

Farewell friends and Vive le Rock!