Producer Maina has made many Luo artistes stars

By Caroline Nyanga

Many Benga lovers have heard musicians heap praises on producer ‘Maina’ and probably wondered how a Kikuyu can produce music in Dholuo.

Some people even believe ‘Maina’ is the producer’s nickname and that he is Luo.

But Maina believes music has no tribal boundaries and his productions can attest to that.

Producer Maina David Mithu with artistes, from right, Ajoji Dume and Ajoji Dume.

Born Maina David Mithu, 36 years ago in Murang’a, the producer has worked with various artistes but most of his clients are Luo musicians, including Princess Jully, Osito Kalle, Musa Juma, Dolla Kabarry, Emily Nyaimbo, Jerry Jalamo, John Junior, Queen Babito, Omondi Long’ Lilo, and Odhiambo Tusker.

The producer, who first worked with Benga star Colella Mazee and his Victoria B Band in 1997, is credited for the success of several celebrated local artistes.

Princess Jully of the Dunia Mbaya fame refers to him as "the only producer on River Road" in her hit song.

Benga STARS

Maina has worked with the likes of Benga maestro the late Okatch Biggie, the late D O Misiani, and Ohangla stars Onyi Papa Jey, Osogo Winyo, A Boy Landlord, Onyango Alemo, Lady Maureen and Jack Nyadundo.

In Central Province Mugithi stars like John De Mathew, Kamande wa Kiui, Timona Mburu, Queen Jane, Lady Wanja and John Njagi are some of his clients.

Others are Kamba star Ken wa Maria, Kativu, Bob Mbithi, Sungusia Boys Band, Kirwanda, The late Joseph Luceno, Sukuma Bin Ongaro, Musindi, Kaluoto among others.

"The fact that I have worked with the artistes well is a clear indication that music knows no tribal boundaries," says the producer who hails from Murang’a.

He produced Okatch Biggie’s Nyathi Nyakach, Princess July’s Dunia Mbaya, Musa Juma’s Marcelina, Dolla Kabarry’s Sela, Jerry Jalamo’s Ayiecho, Ajoji Dume’s Tang’ Ne Dendi, Papa Jey’s Mapatano and Osogo Winyo’s Wan Ji Ariyo – some of the highest selling songs distributed locally and internationally.

Maina is putting final touches on Benga musician Atis Pesa’s album Two Sisters Volume Two with Extra Jully Boys Band.

"I’m glad that I have changed the face of the local music industry, which for long has not been taken seriously," he says.

The producer is based at Leemax Studio on River Road, along Sheikh Karume Road, behind Tusky’s Supermarket.

"Unlike most producers who specialise in a particular genre of music, I work with artistes from diverse communities," says the producer who has been in the music industry for the past 13 years.

He says he first listens to a song before coming up with a tune for it. After listening, he then advises the artiste on the best way forward.
"I ensure that they understand and are willing to comply to come up with a good product. If the song is good enough it should inspire a good video," says Maina.

He says Leemax does not want to be associated with a substandard product despite being in downtown Nairobi.

Like many producers, Maina’s success has not been without challenges. He recalls struggling during the initial stages, especially when dealing with Benga musicians.

"They guided me on the sound and within no time I got familiar with it due to my interest and love for music."

However, the producer, who studied Studio Operation for two and a half years, admits that working with different artistes has not been easy.

"Every artiste who comes into my studio has his or her own set of ideas," he says.

Sub-Standard Work

"Anyone who walks into my studio door wants me to make him/her a star and if they are already one they expect me to make sure that they stay at the top. That is my main challenge although I have been able to handle it well," he says.

Another challenge, he says, are competitors who charge more but produce sub-standard work.

Some customers, he says, do not understand the best channel to follow to market the end product.

Other challenges are piracy and non-payment – some artistes deliberately fail to pay on time.

"The fact that we encourage album productions as opposed to singles does not mean that we are expensive. Most of our clients will testify that we are affordable compared to many producers in Nairobi.

Maina admits the job is time consuming hence the need for patience.

There are times he has had to work day and night.

The soft-spoken Maina advises musicians to compose songs with simple messages.

He says one thing that made him want to get into production was seeing artistes who believed they were talented but were let down by bad production.

He is humbled by his success, saying when working he is never preoccupied with producing a hit album.

"I know that I am good at working with people and since childhood, whenever I heard a song I would get ideas about how it could have been done differently. A producer gets an idea from an artiste and then refines it, making the end product better than the idea, but still maintaining the original idea," he says.

Maina says Colella Mazee was the easiest to work with due to his flexibility and good knowledge of music.

He describes music production as a two-way traffic. The first option is where the producer buys the full rights of the music from the musician. The other alternative is whereby the artiste brings in his/her work and settles the production cost, retaining all the legal rights of the production.

His message to would-be musicians is to take their time to research before coming up with albums or videos.

"They should not rush in doing music lest they end up messing their careers," he adds.

Born in Murang’a District to the late Joseph Mithu Njuguna and Elishibah Wanjiku Mithu, Maina is the second-last born in a family of ten. He attended Gituri Primary and Kangema Secondary schools before joining Kenya Institute of Mass Communication where he majored in studio operation.

As a student he participated in co-curricular activities.

B A Kanyotu, the proprietor Leemax Studio, is his mentor.

"Having watched him record veteran artistes like Kakai Kilonzo made me realise where my passion lay," he says.

A lover of Lingala and reggae music he hopes that the Kenyan music scene changes for the better in terms of good music productions.

Even though he is one of the most sought after producers today, Maina says he does not see himself as a celebrity.

"I am just an ordinary person… in any case I would not like to be treated differently since I believe that we are all celebrities in our own ways," he says.

The producer is married to Anastasia with whom he has three children.