Young Mari Is Definitely An Artist To Watch Out For...Have You Heard His Latest Album?

How would you profile yourself?

I am a singer/songwriter based in Nairobi. My main style of music is pop/r&b with an African touch. I branded my music as "conscious music" which basically means music with a positive message that relates to everyday life. I write songs that speak on day-to-day experiences and emotions that cut across different age groups, races and religions - shared human experiences. I'm currently an independent artist (not signed under any record label). I released my debut album 'Let It Out' earlier in the year on Boomplay after 3 years of working on it.

Why RnB & Pop?

My style of writing best fits in the pop and r&b categories, though it does not limit me to those genres.

What inspires your works?

My creativity borrows a lot from the hit songs of the '90s and 2000s which I grew up to from artists like Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Brandy, Lionel Richie, Craig David and boy bands like Westlife, Boyz II Men, and Blue. I also borrow from local Kenyan hit-makers of the time such as E-sir, Eric Wainaina, Nameless, Necessary Noize, Kleptomaniacs to name a few.

Growing up to these songs helped me notice a gap especially in the pop genre in Kenyan music. The genre remains unexploited in Kenya despite having been a key contributor to the shape of today's local and international music scene. This motivated me to pick up the mantle and delve deeper into the pop and r&b genres.

As a young artist, what is the one change you are willing to see through?

I'd like to change the face of pop music, bring more message-based songs into the popular hits that frequent our ears. I'm also looking to build my artist brand into a worldwide household name. That's the direction I'm steering my music career towards.

Your achievements so far?

My biggest accomplishment thus far has been the production & release of the 'Let It Out' album. One of the songs from the album 'Dancing to the Beat of the Drums' is currently airing on numerous radio stations in different countries around the world including the US, UK, France...Kenya of course. Another song from the album 'Break of Dawn' in which I feature Victor Peace was selected as the soundtrack for the movie 'Flowers & Bricks' which was picked up by the M-net network channels. A few of the songs have been featured in the top 50 pop songs categories on Boomplay charts in Kenya and Cote d'Ivoire. I've also signed deals with a few international companies to help get my music heard around the world, Boomplay being among them.

Your challenges?

One of my greatest challenges has been the financial implications of the music making journey, it's an expensive process that requires hefty investment. I've also faced creative challenges in finding people who understand my style of music. Not too many producers and music creatives are comfortable in the pop and r&b genres in Kenya. Getting the right people to work with and achieving the right sound has taken a lot of time and effort.

Your take on the industry.

The Kenyan music industry is currently very vibrant. Quite a number of artists are exploring new territory in terms of their creative styles which I believe is important to the growth of the industry. The industry is also opening up to many possibilities both locally and internationally and I believe Kenyan artists stand to benefit greatly; while building our local music scene we need to prepare for and embrace the opportunities that the international scene has to offer.

On the other hand, the global music industry is changing drastically especially due to the growth of online platforms and digital spaces. Music is more accessible than it has ever been; this is broadening the horizons for stakeholders and the future of the music industry is looking bright. As players in the Kenyan music scene, I feel we need to take bigger steps to keep up with the changes and play our part in the international scene.

Are you planning to ride on the industrial wave?

Yes. I'm looking to engage with key industry players (festival managers, booking agents, promoters, etc) to grow my brand both locally and internationally. I'm also looking forward to working on more collaborations with other like-minded artists and blend my style with their creativity. You'll definitely be seeing a lot from me in the near future

Your long term goals?

My dream is to build a music conglomerate empire and leave a legacy for the next generation. I want to help build successful careers for other artists by guiding them through my experience in the industry.

Any coming up projects?

I'm currently making preparations for a launch event of the album later in the year. You can expect one or two promotional singles from the album to be released for radio and a few music videos by then. I'm also in discussions with a few promoters to explore the possibility of a tour. There's a lot of activity lined up for the rest of the year, a lot to watch out for.

Click to listen to the album.

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