CELEB CONFESSIONS: Wyre the Love Child

Kevin Wyre is arguably the most talented Kenyan dancehall musician, besides Redsan. In his 18 years doing music, the CEO of Love Child Records has maintained his down to earth attitude and humility. Nation.co.ke recently caught up with the humble African.

What’s good man?
Everything bro, we thank God for the gift of life.

Bebe Cool recently said that you, Nazizi and he were planning on dropping a new song under the East African Bashment Crew, it’s been a minute…

You have to realise that all three of us have different solo careers. We’re touring at different times, releasing songs at different times and so basically it’s all about time. We already have several songs recorded though, ziko ngoma kadhaa. When the time is right ndio tutaachilia.

After the end of Nazizis’ marriage, you guys teamed up to try and revive the Necessary Noize group but the move seems to have flopped considering the fact that the cameo song you released, ‘Bring back the noise’, didn’t do so well?

Music has its own dynamics, the industry has also changed greatly. Back then when we were as NN, njia za kupush music were different compared to today. Nowadays things are more digital. Marketing has changed, the sound and vibe, all these factors affect music.

Besides, we only released one song since reuniting and it’s never a guarantee that when you release a song it will hit like the previous one. It’s always about the vibe of that particular time. Even back then we had to release a couple of songs before we became a household name.

Do you miss Necessary Noize?

I honestly do simply because NN has its own unique vibe and that’s what I miss the most. It’s that vibe that made us tour the whole world, especially for the album we did “Kenyan Boy/Kenyan Girl”. To date, despite going solo, there are shows that we still perform together because of that NN vibe. We have several unreleased projects which again, when the time is right, we will release.

How would you compare music of the current crop of artistes to that of yours, the so ‘old school’ generation?

The have the right energy if you ask me. Back then one hit song could push you for six months plus or even a year, but nowadays King Kaka is dropping a song after every month or two. That means the music is being consumed at a much higher rate now, which is not a bad thing. It has changed the industry and change is inevitable. For the current crop, they have to chuck hits at a higher rate than we used to. And you can easily tell the difference between us and them to date, we maintained our old school vibe of dropping songs after a while.

What has helped you remain relevant all these years without flopping and keeping with the competition of the new crop of musicians?

By always trying to be the trend setter so that I don’t have to copy other peoples’ trend, but they have to copy mine. In doing so my reputation is maintained.

For an artiste of your stature, do you need a new song to attract gigs?

Not at all, I built a catalogue over the years that has been of great help. I get gigs every other day just to perform the songs I did way back and the response is always amazing.
I know of a few musician with whom we started together that also don’t depend on releasing new songs to get gigs. It’s always about the kind of catalogue you have built by investing heavily in your brand.

Are you worried about foreign music, especially Nigerian, taking over our industry due the fact that it’s played more than our very own?

Not at all. I do believe we’re also doing well out there just like them. We have a unique sound just like theirs. The same way we enjoy their unique sound is the same way ours is out there. Trust me we get played in their countries same as they are here.

You are also very talented when it comes to RnB genre but you have chosen to stick to reggae and ragga dancehall. Why is that?

This is simply because reggae/ragga dancehall is currently the most marketable music genre in the world. Besides, even when performing in gigs, it helps turn up the crowd easily because it’s engaging.

Was it easy to get to collabo with Jamaican song bird Alaine?

It wasn’t! It was a process because to get such an act to work with you, so many factors have to come in to play. When I contacted her, she referred me to her management that had to go through my catalogue to see what I have been doing with my career. They were satisfied and loved my sound because it is familiar to hers and that’s how “Nakupenda Pia” came to be.

What keeps you grounded?

Family

What is that one thing that people don’t know about you?

That I am a trained journalist. I studied Mass Communication in the Institute of Communications Studies and Development.