With his debut album, ‘Hii Si Demo’ dropping on November 30th, Kenyan producer Kilihippie Skypes in with me to discuss his journey as a producer, the inspiration behind this project and who he would choose to be a part of his music supergroup.
First things first, how did you get into music?
I feel like it just came to me to be honest. I never grew up playing instruments or being involved in making music. My sister was always singing when we grew up but our parents never really involved us in music. But I’ve always really loved music and then when I joined uni and I used to make little DJ mixes, after that I downloaded a version of Ableton e and I tried to mess around with it and it was so bloody complicated! So I put off the idea producing but with the things you wanna do in life, it kinda remains in the back of your mind. Fast forward to 2016 and I had joined my second course in uni, I decided let me try reading music theory and see if this producing things could work. And then I just decided to start. I downloaded FL studio and started on my journey.
When did you decide to go into music fully as a career? Was it at that moment when you downloaded FL studio, or was it a process?
I think that it was very clear from the moment I had started that music was something that i wanted to do full-time. But firstly, coming from an African family and telling your parents that you want to be a musician or that you want to be a producer, which is pretty music like saying you want to be a DJ because they don’t really know the difference, it was definitely very very difficult having to tell my parents and the people who ared about me that I wanted to this music thing especially consideringI had never done music in my life so it was kinda hard for them to see how that was going to be possible. It was always a part of me, it was just a process convincing those around me. And since I was coming from joining uni a second time and having to it down with my parents again and saying that I didn’t even want to go to uni anymore. It didn’t come easy but I fought for it, I’m still fighting for it.
What was the first song you ever had the confidence of putting out into the world?
When I started, I had the idea that I wanted to infuse old African music, like benga, with modern sounds and I remember coming across some West African song and I decided to sample it. I ever since I started making music, I wake up every day and make beats. And so I had all of these beats sitting on the computer and I was like, you know, it doesn't make any sense for them to just sit there. I had wanted to start an instrumental series and I decided to call it Turning To Infinity that I wanted to put out every month. And I remember sending out Whatsapp message cause I guess that’s how it starts for musicians, sending the link out to your friends and having people tell you that they liked how it sounds, and that it's unique. I think the thing that hit me most was the fact that people said it was unique. Because putting it out I was confident that it sounded good but it was reassuring
What or who are your biggest influences and what are you listening to right now that’s influencing your music?
Growing up, for the first 13/14 years of my life, I used to go along with what was fed to me, which is radio music, or whatever was on TV. I mean I think we’re all very familiar with Western music. My dad was a really big fan of Luther Vandross and Michael Bolton but I didn’t really like soft music because I just remember feeling very sad. Even if they’d be singing about love, if the chords and progressions in the song were minor, then I'd end up feeling super sad. I ended up discovering rock music through Capital FM and ended up becoming very into it. I had a phase where that's all I used to listen to it, for about four years. And then when I finished high school, I got into a phase where I was super into EDM. Then I discovered hip hop. Ever since then, I think I’ve gotten deeper into music than I ever have before because I tend to listen to only one genre because I want to know everything about that genre.
How would you describe your production style? What makes your sound unique?
I like using two words, soulful bangers, because for me whatever I make has to be based in soul. I need it to really touch my soul because I feel that if it touches my soul’s, then chances are it’ll touch someone else. And bangers because I love my bass. I love my kicks to hit hard and I like my drums to slap so yeah, soulful bangers.
Dope. I like that. So why the name Kilihippie?
So I grew up in Kilimani, We moved there in 2001, so I've lived there for 18 years now. So the Kili part represents Kilimani. I think it's unmistakable that your environment tends to shape who you are, how you interact with people, how you speak. It shapes you alot. So it’s me embracing my background fully for what it is. And Hippie is because I feel like I’m an alien in the way I interact with people. I’m like an alien that people ted to fuck with for some reason. So yeah, I thought it was a cool name.
Okay, so you're putting out your debut project. What does that feel like?
I've lived with it for so long, and developed it in my mind and in the real world for such a long time that I kind of feel like the whole anxiety of putting out something that usually engulfs hasn't really hit me. I kind of see like it if they like it, they like it. If they don't...there's something wrong with them. So yeah, it's weird because I didn't expect to feel this way. And also the idea of putting out music and just letting go of your art for people to vibe with it, as they will, it’s a muscle that you build up and the more you do it, the more you're able to let go and I’ve done that alot. The EP I released before this one is like a pre-release that allowed me to gauge where I stand in terms of my sound and how it’s received. So it’s like I'm looking at this as an experiment and I'm just proud of myself that I'm doing it.
What's the concept of the album and then what inspired it?
The main inspiration behind it was the fact that I was working with people like Rubi and I could keep naming names until tomorrow. And I just remember having a feeling of disbelief that these guys were as good as they are and not being appreciated at the level that they want to be appreciated. I wanted to use my album as a platform not just for them to be heard, but also create a chance for some of these guys to work with each other, to create a space for collaboration That was super important.
What are you hoping that the audience will take away from this project or how you kind of want people to feel?
I want people to leave with the belief, an unshakable belief that when it comes Kenyan music, we can got toe to toe with anyone you put us up against. You want fire bars, we have that. You want a sultry voice, we have that. You want super duper producers, we have that. Whatever it is that you say you want we can provide. I just want people to know that world class talent exists in Kenya and it’s thriving
I respect that. I also really liked the fact that that project was called ‘Hii Si Demo’. I was wondering if you could speak on that because the name of a project obviously carries so much weight.
It translates literally in that I'm not trying to make a demo to shop it to anyone out there to tell me that you're dope or you’re not. The album title to me is saying that we hold all the power because music has changed so much, the way music its consumed has changed so much, and it's very democratic these days. If you have something good to say, and you have a vision of what you want to do, then you don't need to go to no Interscopes or anyone for that matter. You have the power within. So I think in my own way, It was me telling myself, and telling artists out there that if you want to create, create, and let the consumers tell you if it’s popping or not.
What are some of the most challenging moments of your artist's journey so far?
I don't want to say money problems because I think that's very well documented. Not even just in Kenya but for a lot for a lot of artists starting starting up and I feel like one of the issues there is one that will be solved with time and patience that if you keep pushing, eventually you will find an opportunity to make a living for yourself. The biggest challenge at say is being in Kenya and feeling like your dreams are not valid and they’re not acknowledged at the level that they should be acknowledged. If you tell us someone that you’re a musician, you’ll be asked, “Why? Is that the only thing you could have done?” You have to rise above it every day.
What have been some of the most rewarding moments for you since you started creating music?
First and foremost, being able to do what I do every day. Nothing's, far from it. But being able to wake up every day and make music despite my circumstances, that in itself is living a dream. Not many people are able to say that. It's being able to realize through that, I've been able to create my own reality and fight my own battles.
The biggest moment for me materially came this year when I left the country for the first time. I had never ever left the country, not even to Tanzania or Uganda. I applied for a music program by the Goethe Institute, and they picked me and I went to Berlin for 10 days in August. And it goes back to the whole idea of feeling like in Kenya I have to fight a battle every day. It just felt good being in a place where my dreams, my desires, were validated because there’s a structure behind behind it, not just business-wise but also mentally because there’s people you would be able to chop it up with. It was a completely place to be
What's your favorite bit of being a part of like Nairobi's creative scene right now? I feel like, beyond just music, there's a lot of great things that are happening across the creative arts in Nairobi right now. It feels like a very transient time to be in that space right now.
I think it's the feeling of belonging to something greater than you. I look at the people around me and I'm awed by how good they are at what they do. And the feeling that I belong belong amongst them as an equal makes me feel like I'm doing something right. And I think it's also the potential that all of this holds because, as you've said, it's feels like a very transient and very special moment because I feel like there's so much waiting for us ahead. I think East Africa at some point will be a hub so being a part of the pioneering group of people to stick it out until the point. Because I don't think anyone outside East Africa really understands what's going on. So when it all comes together, it's the pride that you stuck it out when no one so the signs other than you,
Right, I feel that 100%. The major inspiration behind me starting the Tangaza was the fact that everybody is so focused on what's going on with West African music and South African music and you know, the fact that everybody thinks African music is what is coming out of Nigeria. But there's so much music that's bubbling on this side of the continent and people just need to wake up to that.
So besides making music, what else are you into?
Right now I'm stepping out into event organizing for the first time ever. As I said, a big part of making Hii Si Demo was me acknowledging that people are so amazing and they need to be heard. And a big, big part of music is the live element. But the way my mind works, I like to focus on one thing. Producing was something I wanted to get super good at to the point that if I say I'm going to focus on just doing events,I can be able to take a month off and still come back and sound like I never left. And that's what the first phase of my career has been about, getting good at producing. But now I'm organizing the release party for my event for the album. What I'm going to do is going to be like a testing ground for what I want to do next year, which is host showcase events every month. So this is my virgin year, it’s all virgin territory. I'm taking my first step music entrepreneurship because I feel like we always complain about the lack of infrastructure, but we’re the ones who feel the pain and so are the best ones to find the solution.
Yeah, of course. Sure. Definitely. Who's your favorite artist of all time?
It would have to be J Dilla. For me, he’s everything. If I could fuse two artists together it would be 9th Wonder and J Dilla, they are so important to what I do
What are your top five favorite albums? Could be of all time or currently.
Good Kid, m.A.A.d City - Kendrick Lamar
Fantastic Volume 2 - Slam Village
Sylvia Demo - Isaiah Rashad
The Sun Rises in the East - Jeru the Damaja
If you could put a music supergroup together, which musicians would you choose?
In this music supergroup I'm the producer right?
Yes you are.
Okay...I'm really, I'm, I'm really feeling Erykah Badu, I'd love to produce for her, so I'd love to have her as the female vocal in the group. I'd do beats and have Lute as the rapper. And then bring back J Dilla from the dead.
Photograhy: Onyango Odhiambo
