H-art The Band: We once got a beating since we had a funny name

H-art the Band's distinctive sound combines smooth, synchronized voices with spoken word poetry and soulful, African-inspired acoustics.

For ten years, H-art have been bending hearts with their well-thought-out craft. The three-man band though started way back literally from trenches and have morphed into a household name bagging shows and ambassadorial deals every now and then.

The trio; Mordecai Mwinyi, Wachira Gatama and Kenneth Muya, met more than a decade ago and shared a dream of making out of their modest life.

"By then our group name was known as The Young Achievers (TYA); ambitious and raring to go," recalls lead vocalist Mordecai 'Dex' Mwini.

They would attend practice sessions where they would interact with other established and aspiring city artists while balancing it with acting because they had little to no extra money. Everything took a turn for the worst just as they were beginning to make progress and though they had finally broken even.

The group members tried their hand at various endeavours merely to make a buck because they were barely getting by. Fortunately, all three of the group's members are quite skilled illustrators. "Skoko and I would loiter around our friend's tattoo parlour in the city, and anytime he would leave and a customer would come in, we would take advantage, design the tattoo, and pocket the cash, regardless of how the image turned out. For us, it was the money " Kenchez says

One day as they walked home from a free concert, police on patrol accosted the trio. "They really mocked us when they heard our TYA group name and gave us a thorough beating for loitering at night. It must have been the most trying time for us," says group poet Skoko Abednego.

After giving their career decision deep thought, they agreed to rebrand and rename their name to H_Art the band. "We were not relenting from doing what we loved from the depths of our hearts, hence the name H_art; love for art, from the heart," says Kenchez Muya.