Love child riddim

For a decade Kevin Waire aka Wyre has continued to remain on top of his game. He talks about his family and shares his secrets on conquering riddim market, writes SHIRLEY GENGA

Pulse: Last month MCSK released the list of the highest royalty earners from stations airplay and you emerged among the top. Is your strategy to collabo with different artistes from all genres of music to get massive airplay across the board?

Wyre: Not really. I collaborate with different artistes because I want to remain versatile and release many singles. In fact, I do not want to be among the artistes who only release one hit every two years. Whenever you have a variety you can pick any for different shows.

P: Which artistes have you worked with?

W: Internationally, I have collaborated with Jamaican stars Cecile and Peetah Gramps of Morgan Heritage. In Africa, I have also collaborated with Nigerian stars P-Square, 2Face Idibia, J Martins and MI. Locally I have worked with benga star JB Maina. I’m currently working with another artiste from a different community. Watch this space!

 P: You are among the handful African artistes to be featured on a riddim. How did you land the deal?

W: G Money introduced me to Jamaican producer Arif Cooper of Fresh Er Productions. He listened to my music and liked it. He later sent me a beat and I laid vocals on it. I then sent him the raw material and he mixed it in his studio. I got the chance to be on a riddim album with huge artistes including Cecile and Sean Paul. It was always my dream to be on a riddim and now my music is being played all over the world.

P: What do we expect from your new album?

W: My debut album Necessary Noise (2001) introduced Nazizi, Bamzigi and I to the limelight. Kenyan Boy Kenyan Girl (2004) turned Nazizi and I into household names. When I released Definition of a Love Child (2005), I was still trying to define myself as a musician and it was largely R&B sound. Then I released Ten years wiser (2009), which was a celebration of my ten years in the industry. It defined me  as an artiste. It was more reggae and dancehall sound. I do not want to say much about the new album I am currently working on. It will be full of surprises.

P: Apart from being an artiste you are also a music producer, tells us about it...

W: I have produced music for Prezzo, Redsan, Yunasi, Achieng’ Abura, Kenyanna, Gidi Gidi, Maji Maji, Necessary Noize, Alahola among others. I took a break from production in 2005 to concentrate on my solo career. I realised I was building other artistes at the expense of my career. I recently opened Love Child Records and have signed two acts.

P: You have successfully managed to keep your private life private, why?

W: I am not hungry for fame. I feel my private life should remain separate from my public life. It is also important to define the two areas for balance.

P: You have managed to keep your wife and son out of the spotlight, tell us something about them...

W: My son is now two and a half and loves music. He can recognise my voice in songs.

 I met my wife before my music career took off. I actually married my best friend. She is very supportive of my career. It is nice to have someone you can let off steam when you get home. She also loves music and whenever I have a new song, I always let her hear it so that I get her opinion first. I enjoy every moment I have with my wife and son.

P: You have managed to remain relevant for ten years, how do you do it?

W: You have to learn your consumer and learn to identify when they have changed. You need to be aware of trends and sometimes you have to be bold enough to try something new and steer a new trend. Many artistes are stuck in a creative box and cannot try new things.

P: What of Necessary Noise?

W: We are still together and just took time off to work on our individual careers. In the future we will definitely work on a number of projects.