Artists To Watch: R&B Crooner Caleb Awiti
East Africa’s R&B scene is blossoming, and the region is steadily growing into one of the continent’s R&B hubs producing artists such as Karun, Xenia Manasseh, Tofa Jaxx and Ceee. 18 year old, Mombasa-based artist Caleb Awiti is lending his voice to this growing list of crooning stars with his sensual, trap tinged take on R&B.
Caleb’s smooth, entrancing vocals float over hypnotic, slow-rolling beats as he navigates infatuation, love, and toxic exes on his latest offering, EX-TAPE. Technically, the production on this project is meticulous, an impressive feat for a young artist. Caleb manages to create sonic consistency throughout the project but avoids monotony through subtle experimentation with modulation and tempo changes on tracks like “Temptations“ and “Chances“. He steps away from his brooding side introducing uptempo dance-hall and reggaeton influenced beats on “Come Closer” feat. BV Accurate and “Dear Young Shorty” respectively proving his versatility.
Whilst still being on the come-up, Caleb Awiti’s releases to date prove that he is most certainly one to watch. We caught up with him over email to learn about his musical journey thus far.
Who is Caleb Awiti?
Well as you already know, my name is Caleb Awiti. I am 18 years old born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya. I consider myself a goal oriented hopeless romantic who fell in love with expressing himself though the likes of music. I also am a computer science major currently studying at Simon Fraser University.
Where are you from? Can you speak briefly about your upbringing and how you got into music?
As I said earlier, I was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya. Specifically grew up in an area known as Nyali. My parents were always the type to let us pick our own futures, they gave us full freedom on what we wanted to be and I can’t thank them enough for that. My mum was a music lover. She loved listening to different artists ranging from old western prodigies like Michael Jackson, Don Moen and Lucky Dube all the way to locals such as Tony Nyadundo and Diamond. Back then they used listen to CD’ s so I remember her always asking me to help fix the radio whenever a CD wasn’t working and I always saw how happy and carefree she was whenever she listened to music, it was almost as if for that particular moment her problems were non existent...especially whenever she listened to gospel and as early as 5th grade without knowing it music became the mode of expression I instinctively resulted to because I always wanted to be able to create something of such emotional power like how my mum felt when listening to Don Moen or Lucky Dube. I used to ask my friends to help me craft the perfect song for my very many crushes without realizing it [music] was becoming a part of me. At the time, the thought of being a musician/artist was the last thing on my mind but every action I was making subconsciously was saying otherwise. I currently have two notebooks full of my teenage experiences from my first love to my last and I didn’t know why I was doing that but looking back at everything especially at the countless number of songs referring to the books. It almost feels like this is what I was destined to do.
When did you start putting music out? What was the first project you released?
To me music and I shared a personal relationship, I made countless of songs expressing different feelings that I experienced for years with no intent of public validation. I didn’t put anything out up until June 27th 2019, “Messed Up” was my first song to really go public.
What have been your musical influences? What did you grow up listening to?
My mum was my first musical influence as I explained earlier, followed by my Dad. He really loved listening to Luo music but was very open to enjoying our modern type of music with us. The joy that music brought to not only my parent’s lives but all of us...those moments were what we all lived for. I resonated with RnB Artists almost all my life, Sean Paul back in the day was almost always on repeat! Gym Class Heroes, Lil Wayne! FUTURE, DRAKE those artist’s were on another level back then, I was bumping them almost religiously and lets not forget my role models Bryson Tiller, XXXTENTACION, Tory Lanez, I just listened to them a lot growing up.
Can you remember the first song you fell in love with? Why that song?
One of the first songs I fell in love with has to be ‘The Dreamer’ by The Tallest Man on Earth. I was 10 years old at the time, we were on a family road trip to visit our grandparents and I just woke up from a nap, all I could remember was the feeling of happiness as we drove past a beautiful sunrise while hearing The Tallest Man on Earth sing “Just enough dark to see, how you’re the light over me”. It was an ineffable feeling, completely unfathomable.
How would you describe your sound?
If I’m being honest, I don’t know cause I’ve never really given it much thought.... I just sing.
What is your creative process?
I’ve never actually sat down and wrote a whole song before. I like to keep things authentic and real so I just put my headphones on and go crazy but before that I would normally either read one of my notebooks before I start or something that is rather becoming more common lately is that if I’m singing based around a particular subject I’d visit the source and then immediately start going. So, for example if it’s a particular girl I’m singing about (the subject) I’d most probably visit her insta (the source) and all the feelings that I had resonates right back to me and then I go crazy. Usually it’d take me anything between 1 – 5 hours to finish a whole song because I mix and master my own vocals plus, I always alter the instrumental, move things around until I’m completely satisfied.
Tell me more about EX-TAPE? What inspired the album and what was the process behind putting it together?
The Ex-Tape was originally known as Love Letters 2 the sequel to my first ever album Love Letters 1. I decided to postpone that album because of unforeseen difficulties but It gave me a chance to reflect and realize that the Love Letters 2 album wasn’t really me, I was under a lot of pressure by everyone around me to release something and it was what the public wanted, not me. After the upset of a no-show album on April 10th I had a lot of people disappointed and indirectly threatening me by warning me about losing clout or not being taken seriously because all eyes were on me at that moment... but I didn’t care, I wanted to feel like this album was mine so I took everything down and started from scratch going against everyone’s advice. Luckily, I had just finished my semester and was on break so I had time to dedicate solely to the new album which I then changed to Ex-Tape. Now Ex-Tape was inspired by how quickly people turned on me the minute I didn’t do what they wanted. If you see the Cover art for the Ex-Tape, you’ll see a woman wearing a crown. She represents my desire to always put women on pedestals. You’ll also notice how she’s looking over a town... that town represents my world and how she’s looking over it from above. She’s always watching, not because she enjoys it but rather because she’s in control of it. She’s in love... not with me but in love with the power she has over my world. She wears a crown because she knows she’s the queen... the queen who forced herself onto the throne.
What is Mombasa’s Very Own?
When I started music, it was the hardest climb in the world and honestly it still is but I remember in the beginning how nobody gave me the time of day, nobody took me seriously, no one believed in me and it was honestly awful. Luckily for me it was never about the people and maybe that’s why I’ve made as much progress as I have now but the point is, I never wanted anyone to go through what I did when starting off, it’s mentally draining if you don’t have a true passion for the art. So, I used my name Mombasa’s Very Own to create a group. In here we’re a family and since at the time all eyes were on me, I used that to help showcase undeniably talented artists who you wouldn’t expect to see as creatives. The likes of one of my closest friends Edmund Vuko aka Razor Man, Martyn Zedek, Prolly Matt, Elvo on the beat, Nate and Untitled. Like what’s the point of achieving success if you can’t use it to give back to the community that made you who you are? That’s what we’re all about, that is Mombasa’s Very Own.
What has been your experience navigating Kenya’s creative industry? How do you feel about the scene as a whole and how do you and your friends/collaborators fit in?
I really can’t say I’ve been in the game long enough to give you a properly structured response but from what I’ve experienced I just wish that people focused more on creating art and not rush to the political aspect of things. Fame is only temporary. And as for my friends/collaborators we’re fitting In just fine there’s no hostility, no rivalry we’re all one big family hustling hard trying to put our country’s name on the map.
What have you been listening to recently?
Not gonna lie, I’ve been bumping dark lane demo tapes for a good minute now. A Boogie also released new music; ‘Secrets’ is undoubtedly my favourite! Oh and also don’t forget Woo Wednesday!
When you’re not making music, what are you doing?
Whenever I’m not creating music I am studying. I am pursuing a computer science degree and honestly there isn’t any time to goof around. I like to imitate my dads work drive; he works every day no rest! But whenever I’m feeling burned out catch me watching DDG on YouTube or anything on YouTube and if I’m bored of that, Netflix.
If you could put together a music supergroup, which musicians would you choose?
Oh boy, this is a good one. I’d have Brent Faiyaz, Lil Wayne, Bryson Tiller, Drake, Tory, J Cole, Future, Billie Eilish and X.
Who is your dream collaborator?
Bryson Tiller
What does the future look like for you?
If you asked me that question two years ago, I would’ve given you a completely different answer from who I am now. I’d just like to take it one day at a time. But possibly the future would feel a little bit nicer if I get that Computer Science degree haha.
Keep up with Caleb Awiti on Instagram and stream EX-TAPE on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
