Passion propels music producer to financial freedom

David Saidi at his music production studio, Track lab Records. [PHOTOS: NANJINIA WAMUSWA/STANDARD]

David Saidi always wanted to be a music producer. However, he naively believed that for one to be a producer, one had to be a musician first.

So he concentrated on both studying and performing music through primary and secondary school in Busia County.

“I excelled in music both as a subject and in performance, winning several trophies and certificates at provincial and national music festivals. I participated in traditional dances and choir,” says Saidi.

The numerous trophies and certificates he earned confirmed to him that he was on the right path to realise his dream.

After secondary school, Saidi picked several songs he had written earlier and started rehearsing, as he prepared to record them. But lack of money stopped him. He decided to raise money by getting a job as taxi driver for one year, after which he had saved enough to record his first track.

That was in 2010. He released his first single, Wakome, which warned Christians against ungodly behavior as they risked God’s punishment.

He explains, “After recording my first song, l learnt from friends that l could still do production without having to do my own music.”

With this knowledge, Saidi, 33, abandoned a number of songs he had lined up and joined Southlands Production in Dagoretti and later Ngoma Africana where he learnt production.

In two years, he had earned the skills he felt were sufficient to propel him in his career. He quit and started assembling his own production studio, Tracklab Records, in 2012. He started with a capital of Sh150,000, saved from previous employment, to purchase basic equipment - a computer, speakers, microphones, guitar and the acoustic material used to modify a room into a studio.

He started on a high note.

“While employed at the two production studios, l related well with artistes. I did most of their work and many of them worked very well with me. When they came, they would ask for me.”

Because of this warm relationship, when he quit and started on his own business, tens of artistes followed him. At the time, he could not afford a piano as it was beyond his means, therefore he used to hire one from a nearby church.

“The biggest challenge was when the church went out on crusades. This meant l would not do any song that needed a piano, yet l had several artistes waiting to record.” Later on, he bought one. Saidi, who is now a popular music producer, records both new and seasoned artistes.

However, he says, there are upcoming artistes who he assists to make a breakthrough but when they make it, a good number forget where they came from.

He says, “Several artistes still owe me a lot of money. They came to me in needy situations. But today, they have become rich and famous they still don’t want to pay. Some now go to producers who wouldn’t have helped them when they were green.” Saidi charges Sh10,000 per song.

Four years down the line, he has recorded songs for hundreds of artistes both gospel and secular, such as Shanky Radics of the Bambika hit, Wakimbizi, Octopizzo, and Uncle Konaiah of the MeriMela hit song, among others.

Without stating how much, Saidi discloses he makes good money from his work, which offers him comfortable life.

He says the production business peaks in April, August and December. Most artistes flock to the studio to produce music in those months, and there are also many events and performances.

Saidi says if the song is poorly done, the producer is largely to blame.

“The producer should guide the artiste. But sometimes, there are artistes who come and want their song produced as it is, however much you try to convince them otherwise,” he says. His advice: “If you have a passion for production, it is possible to conquer all challenges and live comfortably.”

He has now set his eyes on expanding his studio to offer video production. He has set aside more than Sh500,000 to build a complete audio and video production suite.