Multi-award winning Kenyan afro-pop singer/dancer Arthur Chiluba reckons that he has what it takes to put his country on the internatio...
Multi-award winning Kenyan afro-pop singer/dancer Arthur
Chiluba reckons that he has what it takes to put his country on the international
map (musically of course). Given the success, the undeniable hunger to succeed and
the immense talent that he possesses ......not many would take that statement lightly.
"My plan is basically to put Kenyan music on the
map.....it's actually not just a plan....it's a promise", said Chiluba in a
recent interview with Urban Craft.
Background
Bold statement indeed! So for the benefit of our readers and
to get a better understanding of the artist, we asked him to take us back to where
it all began.
"I have always been a music person.....it started back when
I was still in primary school at my local church where I joined the junior
youth group....we used to sing and dance during the church service and at any
other church events and music festivals.
"I carried this love for music and dance into my high school
days where I joined the school music club. Being self-driven got me elected
president of the club In my second year of highschool and I held the position until
my final year, during which we won many awards and competitions in the Kenyan schools
music festivals. I remember me and a couple of my school mates had rap cyphers
with one of us playing the keyboard", he said.
Dance
Looking at the artist that he is turning out to be, you would
be forgiven for forgetting that it was dancing in actual fact that catapulted Chiluba
onto the national scene and gave him a solid foundation from which to build his
career.
"Not only did I sing but I also danced a lot and formed
a dance crew with my classmates so that every Saturday we could entertain everyone
in the school hall during 'entertainment time'.
"After high school I proceeded with my dance crew and we
competed in a televised dance competition where we did very well....we didn't
win but we got national recognition (especially myself because I was the most
aggressive in the group)", said Chiluba.
Breakthrough
Irregardless of his new found fame (and fortune) as a dancer,
Chiluba never did forget his other passion......that of making music.
"In spite of the attention that I had garnered through dance,
I never neglected my singing. So many people knew me as a dancer but secretly I
did music and actually the music payed me more than the dance.
"This went on for long (the double identity thing) and
before I knew it I was a very famous dancer in the industry. I was working with
some of the biggest Kenyan artists and my crew was well known internationally.
"One day I just thought to myself......I am one of
Kenya's best dancers and I can sing pretty well so why not combine both and become
the 'complete package'? That was the beginning of my journey into music. I quit
the acapella group that I had been apart of all this while because I felt like
I wasn't growing musically in the group and that I was better off as a solo act
since it allowed me to move at my own pace.
"As I had already made networks as Kenya's multiple
award winning Choreographer it wasn't hard linking up with top ranking producers
who in their own capacities gave me direction on how to come into the music
industry as it was different from the dance industry", he said.
Goals
Besides sharing with us how far he had come in his journey in
the entertainment industry, the afro-pop artist/dancer also shared a few of his
goals.
"I want to produce good music that will communicate to
the masses.....and on a larger scale I want to inspire people. Those kids who
will see me in the next few years should know that nomatter where they come
from.....succes is within their grasp", said the artist/dancer.
Highlights
Having traversed the length and breadth of the industry, we are
sure that there are a lot of moments/memories that he holds dear.......
"I have been performing with my band all over Nairobi
with the intention of creating a fanbase and it has just been one hell of a
ride ......earlier this year I dropped my first single WOLOLO, it got ample airtime
on the Kenyan airwaves and it allowed me the opportunity to link up with a top
international Jamaican producer with whom we are working with.
"My major highlight so far was performing at a sold out
concert dubbed CAKEART AFFAIR where I was the main act (they gave me this
opportunity because they hadn't seen a musician who performs the way I do).
"Another highlight was working with Jamaican reggae
star MaxiPriest with whom we are currently recording an amazing song with that we
cannot wait to put out and rule the global airwaves", said Chiluba.
COMMENTS