Behind those hits

The days when a few music production stables dominated the airwaves are long-gone. Sheila Kimani and Mkala Mwaghesha traces the new producers in town, who are the fresh brains behind hits

After launching his Silverback Records production stable two months ago, Wilfred Kioko, the latest producer in town, said his was not just another recording studio.

“There are many production houses but mine will be different. I have brought in state-of-the-art equipment and international experience that will revolutionise the art of music-making in the region,” the soft-spoken producer told Pulse.

 “Silverback Records is set to nurture and make artistes into superstars just like production stables do abroad. I will have some of their works edited by my affiliate stables abroad,” he added as he set base in Karen.

Since then, the new kid on the block has had artistes flocking to his new studio seeking his maiden Midas touch.

Silverback Records joins a list of sprouting production stables now changing the local music sound as well as video concepts in the fast growing music market. Sakata Productions, Lampstand, Chilli Inc, Link Video Global and Kay-G records are just some of the stables giving older recording stables a run for their money. It is not just about the new stables but the talent behind them who can lay claim to the hit songs currently ruling the airwaves.

Provoke — Provoke Music

Kevin Provoke, the owner of Provoke Music, thanks Mandugu Digital’s Ambrose Akwabi for introducing him to the art.

“I use to follow him around his studio and everywhere he went. That’s how I learnt the trade,” says Provoke, also a former member of the rap group, Vaccine. While working with Ukoo Flani, he met celebrated rapper Cannibal with whom he worked on the Chosen One album.

“When Cannibal’s I Wish was nominated for Channel O Awards, I was overwhelmed. It was one of the songs I had produced with him. I was also overjoyed after upcoming rapper X-static got a Sony deal after I did her Prep song,” says Provoke. The producer chipped in on Nonini’s Pole Pole and Avril’s Kitu Kimoja. He has worked with Plan B, Bamzigi, Wendy, Uneek and Fundi Frank. Currently he is working with Just-A-Band, Chase, Rabbit, Cannibal, Sharama and Wawesh.

Syddo — CEO and producer, Headbangaz Intl

Headbangaz international came into the limelight through hits like Burn Dem and Hip-hop Halisi by Ukoo Flani-Pwani. Sydney Armstrong, 26, is the brain behind Headbangaz International.

“As a music teacher, I was asked to do the soundtrack to a school play and my visit to the numerous studios around Nairobi bore Headbangaz,” says Syddo.

Initially, he used to produce and sell music beats.

“I went to Mombasa and met Cannibal and Sharama. They wanted to do something different. The rest of Ukoo Flani-Pwani joined them at Headbangaz and that made Headbangaz the talk of town,” he said.

Apart from Ukoo Flani, Headbangaz has been working with Abbas, Nazizi, Benoiut of Camp Mulla, Tanzania’s Jay Mo, Nako-2-Nako, Shuba, Kayvo K and Voodoseller.

Ulopa — Ulopa Ngoma Studio

Paul Kibukosya aka Ulopa is one of the biggest names in the local showbiz industry. In 2009, the multi-talented singer, producer and songwriter took Kenya by storm when he teamed up with urban hip-hop group Kleptomaniax to release the hit track Psycho. A scion of the Kibukosya musical family, Ulopa was part of Wakimbizi’s second album. His magical hands have borne hits like Come Back to Me (Tattu), For Shizzo (Prezzo) and Makanga (Wakimbizi) among others. Most of his songs are club hits. He is also a major force behind Camp Mulla’s songs. He is no doubt a force to watch in the music production industry.

Musyoka — Decimal Records

Even before he left Homeboyz Production, Eric Musyoka was a force to reckon with. With songs like Keroro, Musyoka made his name as a serious and diverse producer. At Decimal Records, Musyoka has won the hearts of many artistes. He has worked with Nonini, P-Unit, Juliani, Klepto and many other top artistes with Kadhaa, Biceps and Hapa Kule being some of his celebrated productions.

J Blessing — Link Video Global

Undeniably a fast rising producer having won Groove Producer of the Year 2011 as well as making award-winning productions, J Blessing’s Link Video Global has been known to produce outstanding gospel videos. Besides gospel, J Blessing also handles secular music through Pink-Lab, his other production house through which he has worked on Prezzo’s (featuring Cannibal) My City My Town. 

Mpenzi (Willy Paul), Kimbia (Kidum), Beautiful People (Eko Dydda) Asante (Chomba), Holiday (Hopekid), Penya (Jemima Thiong’o) and Emmanuel (Mercy Masika) are some of his well-known works.

Teddy B — Digital Track Lab

Teddy B is the producer behind Daddy Owen’s Dakika Tatu and Kofi Yoo by Masterpiece (featuring DK). Having been in the industry for quite a while, Teddy B admits that the industry is too dynamic for a producer to work with one kind of music genre. He confesses that he loves to work with flexible artistes who can experiment with different beats.

Philip Makanda — Ogopa Deejays

Currently the best production house in the country, Ogopa has discovered and nurtured artistes whose songs often top regional charts. Philip Makanda aka Philo has been behind most of these productions ensuring that the artistes get the best recording deals. His works include Mbona (Daddy Owen featuring Denno), Chokoza (Marya featuring Avril) Kitu Kimoja (Avril), Vidonge (Size 8) and Kigeugeu (Jaguar). He is keen on producing music that appeals to the market.

Philo admits that in order to be the best, one needs passion and self-drive.

Sappy — Homeboyz Productions

Having started his music production career in Tanzania, Sappy came to Kenya and got mentorship from Mandugu Digital. Lately he has worked on great productions among them Rabbit’s Swahili Shakespeare and Haiwesmake, Toklezea remix, Redsan’s Ila Wewe and Size 8’s Silali.

Sappy admits that the experience he has gained in the industry is one of his greatest strengths. Considering that a production involves a lot of commitment and co-ordination, he has set conditions that artistes need to sign to and oblige for the production to be executed with expertise.

“It’s not all bliss because some artistes are too stubborn to work with. Others fail to pay on time while most will not meet deadlines, making the production process tiring,” he notes.

Jacky B — Lodwar Records

Famed for the famous ‘Beat ya Jacky B’ phrase, Jack has truly brought a twist to local music production, judging from the massive airplay that some of the music he has produced has received. He is the brain behind the award-winning Furi Furi (DK and Jimmy Gait), Psalms 23 (Eko Dydda), Press On (Holy Dave and Izzo), Like a Dream (Hope Kid) and Bado Nasonga (Heyzzy and Danny).

Noting that he only works with gospel artistes, Jack admits that working with artistes can be tedious.   He thanks Kiki, the CEO of Lodwar Records, for mentoring him.

Produzza Toti — Kay-G records

John Kagimbi is the man behind many hits from the Coast. Since 2005, when he started recording from his small house, Produzza Toti has grown to be one of the big names in Coast showbiz.

He is the force behind Ally B’s award-winning Maria song. We ni Wangu (Ally B featuring Nyota Ndogo), Sina Hali (Chidi Benz featuring Lady B) and Kitoto (JI) are some of his gems. He has also worked with reputed artistes among them John Skani, Matonya, Ali Kiba and Sam Ukweli.

His future projects include Nyota Ndogo’s eight-song album, four singles off DNA’s as well as an upcoming album and project We run Mombasa, with some Mombasa-based artistes.

Refigah, Creative Director; Grandpa Records

Refigah is a veteran of the music industry, having started as a musician more than a decade ago. He founded Grandpa Records almost three years ago and is currently riding high with Chapa and Fimbo ya Pili by Grandpa Family.

Refigah attributes working under people like Chris Adwar, Tedd Josiah and Jesse Bukindu of Ketebul records for developing Grandpa Records’ varied prowess in music production.

“As a stable, we can produce a song like Amileena’s Why, which has a mix of zouk and RnB and at the same time produce Maswali ya Polisi by DNA, which sounds totally different, and both songs became hits. Few others can do that.”

Other than Maswali ya Polisi, Grandpa Records has produced songs like Moyo Wangu by Dogo Biggie, Nisamehe, Solo by Ng’ang’alito and Am Here by K-Denk (featuring Sanaipei).