'My Craft' Sessions | Mike Kayihura: Afro-soul Artiste | A Short Documentary | IGIHE
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#IGIHE #Rwanda
Transcript
00:00 There must be something stopping your fighting, stopping your fighting, stopping your motive
00:08 There must be something stopping your rising
00:11 I've created so many songs in the shower actually, surprisingly
00:14 I mean, I'd say, yeah, I wouldn't say fully, but the idea was maybe melody
00:22 I do sing in the shower, I do like to sing in the shower, especially if I'm in a really good mood
00:27 [Music]
00:36 Where's your mask?
00:37 Where's my mask? Oh my god, where's my mask?
00:40 I have it right here actually
00:42 I mean, we've got a distance between each other and I've got my little
00:46 I'm just finding a way to
00:48 Yeah, so should I rock it right now?
00:49 Yeah, I can put it on
00:51 So I've got this little camouflage mask
00:53 That, yeah, little camo thing, I think it helps with the corona
01:00 [Music]
01:02 My inspiration, my first ever inspiration, I mean, I grew up listening to Michael Jackson
01:08 You know those songs you hear as a child and they just
01:12 There's certain artists for me and I think for everybody that are just guaranteed inspiration
01:17 No matter what happens in your life, you don't have to be a musician
01:20 You talk about Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, all those artists that just have a permanent impact on our lifestyles and growing up
01:29 But I think as I grew older, Stevie Wonder
01:33 Stevie Wonder for me is just one of those
01:36 And I grew to love Stevie Wonder the day my, I don't know if it was my dad
01:41 Somebody bought a CD and you know those CDs that have like little books inside
01:47 And there's lyrics in them for every song
01:50 So Stevie Wonder's album called 'Hotter Than July'
01:53 And I remember me and my sister, we used to, every day there's a little CD player
01:58 And we just listened to all those songs, you know, like songs like 'Jammin'
02:02 [Singing]
02:05 You know, like all those, yeah, it's a classic project 'Hotter Than July'
02:09 So I think Stevie Wonder for me is top of the top for me
02:12 [Singing]
02:17 I don't know man, I think I was fascinated with, yeah, the fact that he's blind
02:23 And he plays everything, he plays the keys, he plays the drums, he plays the guitar, harmonica
02:28 You know what I mean, like, I think that's quite impressive
02:31 I've never, I've not quite seen that around
02:34 I went to his concert actually, I was lucky enough to go to a concert of his
02:39 I had the chance to go to London to just create with different people
02:44 And I think I had a few days left till I come back
02:48 And then this guy was like, "Oh shit, by the way, I just got you guys tickets to Stevie Wonder's show"
02:53 And I was like, "Get out of here"
02:55 [Singing]
03:08 I remember going there, I had, I was this close to actually meeting him
03:14 But it was so chaotic, everything was a mess
03:17 But that would have been a dream come true
03:19 Seeing him live was a dream come true
03:21 And pretty much every song, I was just singing every song, word by word, it was amazing
03:26 [Singing]
03:30 When did I start music?
03:32 I started singing, like really singing, like microphone and singing at church
03:38 I was 13
03:40 And I think when I, I'd say around when I was 15, 16 is when I wrote my first song
03:47 It was a gospel song
03:49 And yeah, I'd say I think 15, 16 is when I really got into songwriting
03:56 I was in a church choir for some time, so gospel music was like
03:59 All that was around me for a long time
04:01 And I miss it actually, I quite miss it
04:05 I'm not, I would be honest with you, I'm not
04:08 I've grown up not to understand religion is something that has really gone away from me a lot
04:14 Because I see how religion, how churches are structured and how things happen
04:18 It's, as you grow, the more I grew up, the more I realized it's more of a business than actually
04:24 Than actually connecting with the people, you know what I mean?
04:29 I know this might sound a bit off topic, but you know how you go to church and
04:34 And you know it's a home for everybody
04:37 And then it's separated, it's like
04:39 You can tell there's like a gap
04:41 Like those who look quite decent and very, you know
04:44 And the kids out there who just like, torn clothes
04:47 And they couldn't get in, you know what I mean?
04:49 It felt off for me
04:51 And I felt disconnected with it, but I do miss it, I do miss church
04:54 But yeah, I started singing at 13, fully
04:59 So ever since then I've been creating
05:02 I think I'd say meeting, you know like
05:07 As artists, you get a spark when you meet another artist, you know?
05:11 So I met other artists within school, I was still in high school
05:14 So we got together, created groups and different genres
05:18 I found myself singing on hip hop choruses
05:21 Yeah, so I was just like, woah
05:24 You know, you feel something different, you know?
05:27 Because I'd been doing gospel music for quite some time, singing in a choir
05:30 And then all of a sudden, boom, I'm in the studio
05:34 And I'm recording myself now, for real
05:36 It's not like in church singing for the congregation
05:39 But this is like in a studio and you can hear your voice on the speaker
05:42 It's fascinating, you know?
05:44 So the first time it happened
05:46 And then getting feedback from people
05:49 And they're like, dude, that's great, that's amazing
05:52 It gives you a spark, you know?
05:55 It gives you that urge to keep going
05:58 It feels so weird, bro
06:12 It still feels weird, I'm not gonna lie
06:15 But the more I create, the more I understand that
06:18 It's important for me to love what I hear
06:20 It's important for me to enjoy what I'm creating, you know?
06:23 So that time was quite complicated, for sure
06:26 I was just like, woah
06:28 I didn't even want to listen to myself
06:30 Maybe in the studio as we're creating
06:32 But after that, it felt really weird
06:35 Obviously, the first time was really...
06:38 I remember, I'll tell you the story, actually
06:40 It's my friend, Dennis, he's called Kanaka now
06:43 So Kanaka is a rapper as well, slash producer
06:46 So he found me at school and he said
06:49 It was home time, so he's like, come to my place
06:51 I've got a studio and I want you to jump on something
06:54 And I just couldn't project
06:56 I was just like, wow, this is weird
06:58 And I was too tall for the microphone
07:02 So they had to get a little stool
07:04 And put it on top of the table
07:07 And there was a little mic on the little stool
07:10 And he was like, right here, so he was looking at me
07:12 He's like, yo, loosen up, bro, what's going on?
07:15 So that for me was the first ever...
07:19 It was weird
07:21 One thing I still have is stage fright
07:23 Being in front of people
07:25 It's loosening up a bit more as I create
07:28 But being in front of people, it's not easy
07:32 Especially if you're playing or singing or whatever it is
07:35 You have to have that natural ease
07:44 I mean, poof
07:46 I'm in a relationship now
07:50 That I would say was love at first sight
07:53 Can you believe that?
07:55 Nah, I'm kidding
07:57 Maybe someday
08:00 But I do believe in love at first sight
08:03 I believe in love at first sight, I believe in energy
08:06 Energy doesn't lie
08:08 That's one thing I've realised
08:10 Again, the more I grow, the more I realise
08:13 You don't have to really say much to me
08:16 To be like, this is good vibes and this is good energy
08:19 So yeah, I think it is love at first sight
08:22 It's the real thing, I believe in it
08:25 Absolutely
08:27 I like my FIFA
08:34 If I can play FIFA, I'd love to play FIFA
08:36 I'm a FIFA head
08:38 I know about your football
08:40 Yeah, I'm a big football fan
08:42 But besides that, I like FIFA
08:44 My boys like FIFA
08:46 So whenever we do that, we can do that
08:48 I'd have a drink with my friends every now and then
08:51 Chill out
08:53 What else would I say?
08:56 I think one of the things I'm trying to get into a lot more
08:59 Is taking care of myself, like exercising
09:02 It's not something I'd say that...
09:04 You know what I mean?
09:06 It's like, whoa, routine
09:08 It's something I'm trying to adapt to, at least
09:11 So maybe that's going to be a new hobby for me, soon
09:15 But other than that, I'd say my FIFA
09:18 I mean, I've got a piano most of the time next to me
09:21 I just wake up, I jump on the piano
09:23 Just play stuff
09:25 Yeah, that'd be painful
09:39 I actually met this friend of mine
09:42 Who I did sign a contract with
09:45 So it was...
09:49 It's art, so art has a lot of risk-taking
09:52 So you're like, nothing might not happen out of this
09:55 But I'm going to give it a shot, see what happens
09:58 So I did it
10:00 It was a combination of going to Ethiopia
10:02 And working with different people
10:04 I went to London
10:06 I was ideally supposed to work on an album
10:08 But it didn't work out because the funds didn't come through like we wanted
10:11 It was really frustrating, I think
10:14 Because you put a lot of effort in it
10:16 You put a lot of energy in something
10:18 And all of a sudden, it's just gone
10:21 But I learnt a lot from it
10:24 And I think that's the most important positive thing about it
10:27 What I got out of that experience is
10:29 Anything is possible
10:32 And then you encounter different people
10:35 Who talk to you about the challenges
10:37 At that time I was quite young
10:39 But as I grow, I'm facing those challenges they were telling me
10:42 Which is like, you reach a point
10:45 And it's like, fuck, what do I do now?
10:48 I'm not inspired as such
10:51 So you resort to laying back and listening to everything you can
10:55 Because inspiration is from so many things
10:58 Music has no boundaries
11:00 I believe I've experienced those little things
11:03 So it was a good experience, I think
11:05 That was my first ever solo experience
11:08 With music education
11:11 And working with different people that are really on another level
11:14 Compared to me, I was 20 years old at the time
11:17 Which is like 2013
11:20 So I spent a year doing music theory
11:23 Working with different musicians
11:25 It was very challenging as well
11:27 Ethiopians are genuinely very proud people
11:31 So they're really proud about their own vibes and their own sound
11:34 Which is amazing
11:36 You realise how much their own are being supported by their own
11:41 They're supporting their own, they're pushing their own
11:43 So I learnt a lot from that experience
11:45 It was challenging because I wasn't from there
11:48 A few different things, my sound is a bit different
11:52 But Ethiopia is where I started fully
11:55 I'd say that's where my mind really opened up
11:58 With understanding what things are
12:00 Because there was a lot of understanding of the business side of music
12:04 What music production is
12:07 Songwriting
12:09 But in general, music theory
12:11 Which means my piano playing
12:13 A few exercises you do before going on stage
12:17 You know, warm-ups and whatnot
12:19 I'd say I'm a singer-songwriter
12:22 And I also play the keys
12:24 I don't consider myself a pianist
12:26 Because there are actual pianists that are just out there
12:29 But playing the piano has given me a different...
12:33 Has really helped me in my songwriting and so many other things
12:36 So I could get back to a song I wrote maybe a week ago
12:40 And play the same chords
12:43 And then all of a sudden, oh snap, this was a minor chord
12:45 And I can make it a major chord
12:47 And all of a sudden, I'm like, oh, I'm going to have to change the verse
12:50 Or I'm going to have to change the melody
12:52 So I think playing the piano for me
12:56 Is just one of those plus-plus things that...
12:58 Because it's more than just playing
13:00 It's sound, it's like...
13:02 When you create a melody, even when you write
13:05 The melody is just connected
13:07 It's like a little... yeah, it's good to know
13:09 I think piano is what's...
13:11 So playing actually helps me go back
13:14 To the song that I wrote before
13:16 And I edit it
13:18 And obviously meeting producers
13:20 And then you sit down and...
13:22 I've created so many songs in the shower, actually, surprisingly
13:25 I mean, I'd say...
13:28 Yeah, I wouldn't say fully
13:30 But the idea was maybe melodies
13:32 But I do sing in the shower
13:34 I do like to sing in the shower
13:36 Especially if I'm in a really good mood
13:38 For how long? Wow
13:40 It's a tricky one
13:41 I think I'll choose not to answer that one
13:43 Jeez
13:45 We'll cut that
13:54 So...
13:56 I'm gonna write a song
13:59 And I'm just gonna improvise with it
14:02 So ideally...
14:05 I'd come up with a melody
14:07 And eventually the idea comes to...
14:11 So...
14:13 The melody I really had was more of like...
14:16 [Humming]
14:26 And that could be like for a chorus or something
14:29 And then...
14:31 An idea could be like...
14:33 Something like "Hens Gend"
14:35 You know what I mean?
14:37 That's like "Hens Gend"
14:39 We all know what this girl is trying to say
14:41 [Laughs]
14:43 We know what she was trying to say
14:45 So like...
14:46 She's trying to say the "Hens" of God, right?
14:48 So if you come up with a song like that
14:50 It would be like something like...
14:52 So I'll write it down and then I'll sing it
14:55 So the idea is sort of down
15:09 So the melody was something like...
15:11 [Humming]
15:22 And the idea I mentioned was "Hens Gend"
15:25 Because we know what "Hens Gend" is
15:27 And I was like, it would be good in a song
15:29 So something like...
15:31 So I did actually pull out my phone
15:34 And I put the voice recorder on
15:36 And then...
15:38 [Laughs]
15:40 And I just record this
15:42 So it would be something like...
15:44 So that could be an idea with a song
16:07 A chorus
16:09 And...
16:11 I picture somebody like Ish Kevin on it
16:13 Or something, you know
16:15 And then some hip-hop would come in
16:17 And so I think that's like...
16:19 That's sort of like...
16:21 Oops, I need to stop the recording
16:23 So...
16:24 So that sort of thing
16:26 And then if I had the piano with me
16:28 It would be much easier, of course
16:30 Because I'd play the chords and I'd know
16:32 What structure comes in
16:34 And I'd know what to do for the verse
16:36 So if you have a chorus now
16:38 It makes the verse easier for me
16:40 Because I've recorded it on my phone
16:42 So I say if I'm out with my friends
16:44 I just pull out the recorder
16:46 And record maybe the humming and the mumbling
16:48 And then I get home, I can write something down
16:50 So I picture a song like "Hens Gend" for example
16:52 I sit down and I'm like...
16:54 Maybe my verses could not be ideal
16:56 And I can hit up a different artist
16:58 And we can collaborate on it
17:00 Somebody like Ish Kevin or somebody like...
17:02 Prime or somebody like...
17:04 It could be a singer as well, you know
17:06 It could be anybody
17:08 So yeah, I think that's the ideal process for me
17:12 To write the song
17:14 I have a song
17:18 I have a song that I'm looking forward to recording
17:20 Today
17:22 It's a song I wrote in high school
17:24 So the melody is still there
17:26 But with my musical progression and so on
17:30 I've come back to the song
17:32 And I've completely changed
17:34 The lyrics to it
17:36 And the message
17:38 But the melody and the vibe is still there
17:40 So there's no time limit for it for me
17:42 So for me it's more of like
17:44 How I feel
17:46 If the song at the moment is really good
17:48 It's just gonna stay there
17:50 But otherwise what I do is I always revisit
17:52 Because I'm constantly writing
17:54 I use my phone recorder
17:56 And that's my first step of writing
17:58 So I record myself
18:00 I could be at a bar with my friends
18:02 And I step out and go to the loo
18:04 And pull out the phone and just mumble some stuff
18:06 And then in the morning, wake up
18:08 I listen to what I've recorded
18:10 And then I can go to the piano
18:12 And I can write
18:14 That's how for me
18:16 That's my structure of things
18:18 Despite the fact that I've written a few songs in the shower
18:30 Making a remix
18:32 I wanted to do it in the studio
18:34 But we didn't have the funds for that
18:36 And that was a time where
18:38 My contract with the people I was working with
18:40 In the UK and what not
18:42 Kind of fell off
18:44 And I was really frustrated
18:46 I just wanted to release stuff
18:48 I wanted to create
18:50 And as an artist
18:52 It gets quite frustrating when that doesn't happen
18:54 You know
18:56 I say this because I get frustrated
18:58 Being frustrated as an artist
19:00 Is the last thing you want
19:02 So I was like
19:04 I sat down with my friend
19:06 That we worked together
19:08 And we were like
19:10 Why don't we just record this live
19:12 I've composed these songs
19:14 And I've been singing them
19:16 And I've written them
19:18 And a lot of the songs, I'd say maybe five of them
19:20 On the EP of Barely Mixed
19:22 Were supposed to be on the album that we were working on
19:24 So I was like, you know what
19:26 I'm going to take this idea from my shoulder
19:28 And just put it down and then just change
19:30 And focus on a different feel
19:32 You know
19:34 So that's how it came up
19:36 And then obviously I spoke to my friend Aristide
19:38 Who recorded it at Bougainvillea
19:40 It was free entrance
19:42 And people really showed up
19:44 It was amazing
19:46 I think that was the most life-changing moment for me
19:48 Like till this day
19:50 But I think top two
19:52 Working with the Kingdom Choir for me
19:54 Barely Mixed is up there
19:56 Barely Mixed is number one
19:58 Because that's the first time
20:00 Anything like that has happened here
20:02 You know, like an entire project being recorded
20:04 On go, one take
20:06 And with people around
20:08 You know what I mean
20:10 So people actually came for a showcase
20:12 But they also came for a recording session
20:14 So that's the first time it's happened here
20:16 And nothing beats that feeling
20:18 The feeling of
20:20 People appreciating the vibe
20:22 You know
20:24 Every time I listen to it
20:26 I go and sit back in that chair
20:28 And I'm playing that shit again
20:30 It feels like, yeah, it's unforgettable
20:32 So
20:34 I don't know if that sums up
20:36 What Barely Mixed is for me
20:38 Barely Mixed is my first baby
20:40 It's
20:42 Yeah
20:44 It's just one of those things, man
20:46 I'm painting my walls
20:50 Only orange
20:52 My mama loves it
20:54 She likes a party
20:56 So every morning
20:58 I play her music
21:00 Kante
21:02 I remember when I wrote Kante
21:04 I was in the studio
21:06 I wasn't really
21:08 In the best of mindsets, you know
21:10 It was, again, it was quite a frustrating time
21:12 And then I remember writing Kante
21:14 My friend Mucho
21:16 Was in the studio recording
21:18 And I called her up
21:20 And I'm like, yo, come check this shit out
21:22 It's different, it's nice
21:24 Check it out
21:26 And I played it for her
21:28 And she just walked out
21:30 She just walked out, she's like, okay
21:32 She didn't say shit, that was it
21:34 I clicked what she wanted it to mean, I guess
21:36 It was really nice
21:38 It was such an effortless track, too
21:40 'Cause I wrote it then and then
21:42 I already had the melody, then and then
21:44 And then I put the songs together
21:46 Or the lyrics together, and then boom
21:48 I was like, the first person I could think of
21:50 Was N'Golo Kante
21:52 I mean, I don't know if you follow football
21:54 N'Golo Kante was always cheerful
21:56 And, yeah, so
21:58 I think that song
22:00 And
22:02 What other song would I say
22:04 Kichukiro
22:06 Late 90s
22:08 'Cause Kichukiro late 90s is
22:10 I grew up in Kichukiro
22:12 The first time I came back home was in Kichukiro with my grandparents
22:14 And Citroën was my favorite
22:16 Fanta, you know
22:18 And my grandparents had this crazy view
22:20 That really just, it's like
22:22 The airport is right there, it's like a little frame
22:24 So you could see the planes just come
22:26 Back and forth
22:28 So Kante Kichukiro late 90s
22:30 And I'll be your light
22:32 I'll be your light
22:34 Because
22:36 I wouldn't sit down
22:38 And say I know exactly
22:40 What the story is
22:42 It's a connection of so many things that I've gone through
22:44 And what I feel
22:46 Relationship wise
22:48 And so many other things
22:50 Those two songs I think are really
22:52 Silly silly boy
22:54 What you think you're doing
22:56 Seeming really foolish
22:58 Sipping Citroën airport view
23:00 Sipping Citroën airport view
23:02 I don't know, I don't know what my boy Del is just gonna think about me
23:04 Saying this, but like
23:06 Yeah, I just wanna be open with this
23:08 As an artist
23:10 And I've heard a lot from other people
23:12 Identity is very important
23:14 So like I said
23:16 Working on Barely Mixed for me
23:18 Was a transition
23:20 So I wanted to get this off me
23:22 Songs I had written so long ago
23:24 Like I can sit on this
23:26 I want these out there
23:28 So I sat down, record them, boom
23:30 So now it's more of like
23:32 It's like a re-invention
23:34 Of some kind
23:38 Identity is something that I'm working on now
23:40 And there's a lot of that coming through
23:42 A lot of visuals coming through
23:44 So much coming through
23:46 That I'm really excited about
23:48 And collaborations
23:50 So yeah, that's coming through
23:52 And it's gonna be nice
23:54 [Baby crying]
23:56 [Music]
24:18 I know DJ Miller like
24:20 Before he actually got into DJing
24:22 His vibe, his energy
24:24 Was so contagious man
24:26 You know, he's the type of person who is really
24:28 He knows how to bring people together
24:30 I'm not gonna sit down and say
24:32 We were the closest of friends
24:34 But he was a fellow artist
24:36 And we had plans to work together
24:38 So the fact that
24:40 That didn't really happen for me
24:42 It's quite, you know what I mean
24:44 It's a fellow artist
24:46 It's like a football player dying
24:48 And the other football players are like
24:50 You know, they're gonna bin me on the pitch
24:52 So for me it did impact me a lot
24:56 Just seeing what
24:58 Seeing what the city felt like
25:00 Even the diaspora
25:02 Everybody's like, Jesus, DJ Miller
25:04 You know
25:06 And the way I felt about his energy
25:08 Is exactly how everybody else felt about his energy
25:10 So for me I look at it as that
25:12 And also the fact that he's my fellow artist
25:14 Leave alone the fact that I might not even have really
25:16 Known him like that
25:18 In this case
25:20 But we need each other
25:22 So I do believe
25:24 Even if I did have the chance to really, really work with him
25:26 We would have done some beautiful stuff
25:28 You know
25:30 So it was a beautiful thing to be able to
25:32 Write a song for him
25:34 And be on his project
25:36 The song Aiming for the Stars
25:38 And Shani and Sofie
25:40 [Music]
25:54 Hello everybody
25:56 My name is Mike Agura and I'm contesting for the
25:58 Peter Kruve Grand Prize
26:00 And voting for me would be great
26:02 I'm urging you to vote for me
26:04 And voting for me would be
26:06 Voting for the entire musical
26:08 Vibration that we are bringing to the table
26:10 And voting ends on the 3rd of December
26:12 The links are in my bio
26:14 And the links are in Peter Kruve's bio
26:16 So please do vote for me
26:18 Blessing
26:20 I mean
26:22 I applied for this in lockdown
26:24 You know when they first announced the lockdown in March
26:26 I was like shit
26:28 I applied the year before it didn't work out
26:30 And Social Moolah was chosen
26:32 And I applied this year in lockdown
26:34 And randomly I got a message
26:36 And we were quite excited about it
26:38 But yeah I think that's pretty much it
26:42 And slowly like that the process comes through
26:44 You go to top 60 I think
26:46 And then you go to top 10
26:48 And yeah the top 10 is pretty much the final
26:50 It didn't really work out
26:52 But it was a nice experience you know
26:54 It was really nice to see that people voted for you
26:56 It's really dope, it's inspiring
26:58 It just keeps you motivated, it keeps you going
27:00 So as much as it was
27:02 Not what we wanted to win
27:04 It was a learning experience
27:06 I learnt a lot from it personally
27:08 And you know
27:10 It's like
27:12 Visually it gives you different
27:14 It just shows you that your music
27:16 It can be of impact
27:18 Not to just your people and your community
27:20 But everywhere else
27:22 Getting to a fan of anything is quite cool
27:24 I think that's the first time
27:26 I've ever
27:28 Jumped into something like that
27:30 And
27:32 Yeah I think when I got into it
27:34 I had this
27:36 This thing in me of like
27:38 What if actually
27:40 You know the feeling of losing, it's not nice
27:42 It's not a cool feeling but it's a beautiful
27:44 Learning experience you know what I mean
27:46 Because like
27:48 It's a risky industry
27:50 It's a bit you know
27:52 I think bottom line is
27:54 It was a great experience, it was amazing
27:56 [Music]
28:22 [BLANK_AUDIO]