On the spotlight: Bamboo (Simon Kimani)

By Matilda Nzioki

Pulse: Before you left Kenya six years ago your music was doing well locally. Why did you make the decision to leave for the States?

Bamboo: Well I left for the States to not only further my education (in music) but also to work in the U.S. music industry with some of the best producers and artists in the world, network and learn how the industry works inside and outside. I grew up in the U.S. until I was 16 years when I first came back to Kenya. I left Kenya only so that I could help lift the standard of music and entertainment in Africa but I have not forgotten my roots and I promise my fans that God willing, I will place Kenya on the international musical map.

P: You said that you do music full time there, so that means you live off your music?

B: Yes I do. I deal in music licensing which pays well. Publishing is also a big income earner. Once your music is placed in a movie, TV, or radio, you're paid every time it plays. The system actually works and artists are paid on time.

P: How do you manage to get shows, sell your music and get airplay there?

B: I get shows through promoters who have heard of me as well as being a member of certain associations that hold events. I also hold my own events although not that often. To be updated on what I’m up to, follow me on Twitter under the user name ‘Therealbamboo.’

　

P: You had scheduled a comeback concert here in Kenya in December, what happened?

B: Well, the concert was planned by some promoters here in the States. Sadly, there were some disagreements between them and my management team, which has pushed the concert to next year around April.

P: What major stuff is scheduled for the big show?

B: I may come back with a guest artist but that's a surprise, which may or may not happen. I won't speak on it until it happens. We'll definitely be working with the best sound and promotional team in Kenya and I promise I will not let my fans down.

Bamboo

P: The concert was to double up as the album pre-release party, is your album ready?

B: Yes the album is ready but I’ve been so inspired lately that I got back into the studio to record some new songs that actually might make the album. Just when I thought I was done with the project another song comes in.

There will be at least 12 songs on the album with a bonus track or two for the fans. The music will be some that you can dance to and other songs that you can just relax and listen to in the office or in the house, car, or wherever you may be.

P: Are you coming to stay or is it just a quick visit?

B: When I come back this time I'll be performing and setting up my base in Nairobi and then travelling back and forth to the U.S., Europe and other places too.

P: During an interview with Radio Maisha’s Peter Adams you mentioned that you’ve done collabos with international reggae star Buju Banton and Goldenchyld as well as with Cedric of Wu Tang. How was that?

B: Yes I was able to work with Goldenchyld in Long Island, New York at Shaggy's studio called Big Yard. Thanks to Shaggy for giving us the chance to work. His studio is worth millions and we were in there all the time just making records and loving it so he really helped me out. Golden Chyld and Shaggy made the collabo with Buju possible. They actually had his vocals in the studio and put mine with his.

P: In Atlanta, where you stay, you talked about meeting showbiz big wigs like Young Jeezy, how did that go and which other notable artistes have you come to contact with?

B: I’ve met a lot of people from Akon to TPain to Kardinal Official (at the HardRock Cafe in NYC) to Rev Run, Talib Kwali, Jazzy Pha, Puff Daddy, Dirty Money,Red Cafe, JaRule, Cassidy, Mario, Styles P (The Lox,D-Block), Maino and Swizz Beats among others but what is important is learning what it is that makes them what they are. That's hard work, dedication, patience and professionalism. You can be around stars all the time and still never make it. You also need a lot of talent. I usually post pictures of the different events I go to and when I meet this people on my Facebook.

P: How many songs have you done so far?

B: I can't even count them. It’s in the hundreds. What will happen is that I'll do maybe 30 or 40 songs for one album and then take the best 12 and compile them and that will make the album that I’ll first release.

P: Where do you normally record?

B: I work in so many different studios and producers to give different songs different sounds. I'm working with GoldenChyld, Mondo of Launchcode Ent who’s worked with Bustarhymes, Laface and others. There’s also Teddy Bear, and Jai of Nextone Ent., who works closely with P.Diddy among many others.

P: Seems like you’re doing good music, though here we only got to hear Love vs. Hate featuring Viki Secret. Are we going to hear more of the other stuff, and how soon?

B: You will definitely be hearing new music soon.

P: You talked of your style of music being Diaspora Music, how can you describe that kind of music?

B: Diaspora music is simply international music. That means that it’s performed in English so that more people can understand what you are talking about in the song, but it has an African influence, which makes it authentic.

P: And how is the reception to that music in the US?

B: People who hear it love it because it’s a bit different from what they are used to. It’s music that bridges a gap that has never been bridged before.

P: Having been an artiste both here and in Atlanta how can you describe the difference between the two entertainment industries?

B: The difference is astronomical. However we must also take into account that this country is far older than Kenya, so the music industry here has been developing for almost 80 years. The Kenyan industry is a lot younger. Of course there is far more money here in the music industry and many more lucrative ways to make it if you are actually good at what you do. The societies that are formed to act on behalf of the artists actually pay the artists. American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is one of them. They send me cheques regularly for my music played in the public. I think MCSK should be doing that for Kenyan artists but since I'm not there right now, I'm not sure if there has been any advancement in this area.

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