The Magical Mysterious Mind of Mike Kayihura

Mike Kayihura has been a staple in my sonic space, way before his well-deserved call to fame over the last couple of years. Through his sounds, he has opened up a realm of vulnerability from his early Soundcloud days with “Mama & the City” / “Nina with the Side Eye” / “Tina” and many other gems; to his more recent experimentation with sounds from the continent on his ‘Zuba' EP. And we cannot forget his live-recorded album ‘Barely Mixed’ which was the catalyst to everything. A piece of gold he was quietly polishing, waiting for the right moment to reveal. All of these sounds were influenced by time spent in Ethiopia and London, amongst others, soaking up the cultures. His ability to challenge our perception through his mindful lyricism is unmatched and how he still manages to make each song as catchy as a nursery rhyme, never ceases to amaze. Watching him captivate an audience, just him and his keys - shows the key in simplicity. He seems to never miss a beat.

Mike Kayihura photographed by @calvinkarangwa

We see the end result with artists, but rarely do we get to peek into their mind and walk through that maze with them. Mike was kind enough to take me through a small portion of that maze & I am honoured to share what was uncovered.

If you could compose a playlist right now, off the cuff, who would be featured on there?

Playlist off the cuff? Hmm… Stevie wonder / Anderson Paak / Kanye West / Mike Kayihura / Mucyo / Drake / Cleo Sol / Tems / J Cole. To mention a few haha. They all have something they have given me. More reason to still keep pushing through. 

Which collaboration has taken you to new heights so far in your career?

I always say the Kingdom Choir, because it's a song I wrote in high school. When I met them I had new content and was much older, but that's what they chose. Felt so good. It's a song called ‘Over the Sun’. One of my favourites, no doubt. I'd say every collaboration has changed me in many ways, but I feel the best is yet to come. 

Looking back, is this how you saw things unfolding?

Not necessarily. Looking back, I was surrounded with so much hope and belief that I threw all my stones into that basket. I forgot to meditate and analyse what is really happening. Am I around the right people? Am I reading enough? Am I enjoying this enough? I was younger, but still grateful for the process. I think where I was mentally and now are totally different. It's been pretty rough, but I am still creating sounds and not doing what so many people wanted me to do. Which is doing what I don't love. So yes. Hard to sum that one up, to be able to create still is all that matters.

Do you have any particular aspirations or goals at this point; that you’re actively working towards?

All I think about lately is being remembered, it's crazy because in that sense I don't ground myself to one sound. Going through the hardships of the process have been heavy on me, but the thought that I must give sounds people can jam to when I'm no more keeps me going. But yeah, I want to be able to one day record all my sounds with my orchestra, my way, my sounds. I'd love to end my career in that feel. 

What about your past, for instance your time in the church, assured you that you wanted to pursue music?

My time in church was truly everything. It's a pity being in church showed me the imperfections of the human race are in the most ‘holy' of people too. You see that and you realise, what would these churches be without the music. Church was family. No ego, just worship. I miss it. I miss being part of a choir. I sang every Friday and Sunday for about 7 years. I touched the piano for the first time in church. So church is truly the heart beat of my music. 

How did your time in Ethiopia/London impact your trajectory?

My time in Ethiopia was such a twist of things. I felt the other side of the process - discipline. Being able to be aggressive about what I want. This wasn’t church anymore. I had to endure the fact that just because you can play and write songs doesn't mean it's all well and done. You've got a whole other world of people just like you. Or even better than you. So the time in Ethiopia fused with the time in London as I was working with my brothers Dicken and Piers. It wasn't an easy time either. But we take the risks. In London I felt welcomed and felt I could take my sounds away from home someday. They were both great learning experiences.

What’s your process? Lyrics first, then melody? 

I always have the melody first. Lyrics come out depending on how I feel. That's why I think a lot of people claim to not understand what I'm talking about. So melody inspires what I will potentially write. I always have my phone recorder by me. I get inspired that way.

Where do you typically draw your inspiration from?

I would say my Dad. He always had me listening to the likes of Hugh Masekela and Rid Stewart and Africando and then Jimmy Dludlu. So, a range of sounds. And then of course, church comes to me once I've sort of played around and visualised what it would be like to create a song and give it to the people. I think him playing me those songs helped me write my first song In church. 

What made you move from playing the piano during your live sets, to having a guitarist accompany you?

I still play the keys. I love it. I just wanted to feel something different. Work with someone who can play what I create in a way that someone else can feel it. I always seem to deliver a song in my own way on the keys that I forget there's a simpler way to give people the sounds. Also, I am working on my stage fright a bit more. Accepting my self and being as open as possible about everything. I am overcoming a lot that I couldn't and I will get there soon. I feel it. So - getting out of my bubble, really.

What has helped you build your confidence over time?

I think being able to create through the pain within. Being able to make myself feel better after writing something I end up truly loving. I've written some of my best sounds while super low. I realised through those times that I am all I've got. Me and my sounds. That's at least something that can't be taken away from me. But mostly, being able to express emotion, something I couldn't do when I was younger because I wouldn't be cool like that. I love it. To talk about an experience with my brothers and maybe cry it out. I feel so much better. 

You’re working on a new project right now, what’s the story you’re trying to tell?

I've been working on an album that talks about the rise. It’s unfortunate it’s taking ages, but that’s the beauty. I want to talk about how I feel, how I have evolved in my sounds. I don't look up to all these artists I idolised so much while younger. I look up to what I am going to become, God willing. I feel much more alive within my artistic self. Its called "The Rhythm Of The Rising Spear".

Do you feel any pressure to stay ‘relevant’?

Yes I do. I feel that expressing the way I feel, the emotion and all, takes that off me though. The more I sit on the thought by myself, the more pressure I feel. I've got a son now, that also helps a lot. I look at him and realise: relevant or not, I got this guy. That's beside the music yeah, but having him is quite similar to creating that one song, or project, or chord arrangement that you are like - yeah, this is mine. Royalties and all are in the DNA. Can't touch this. Haha.

As artists, the creative process can sometimes be gruelling or simply fall flat. How do you keep momentum & push yourself to consistently grow? 

I actually take a break. I don't touch the piano or go to the studio for a while and just be into my other side of things. Like my family & friends. I like to be alone, so I spend time listening to music and randomly, I’ll pull out that phone recorder and hum through a melody and that's when I'll get back to the studio or piano. Knowing the creative process, that might have to change. The music changes all the time and so does the process. I love it regardless.

Why is it important for you to remain independent as an artist?

I want to be able to create my own setting. Once I am financially free as well, I see things I'd love to do that being dependent won't give me. Also, to be able to drop music when I feel like it.

What do you think of the state of the music scene in RW right now?

It's amazing. Honestly, I think a couple of years ago, I don't think I would have been doing this right now. The pressure to be relevant, to know where I stand from everything around; while trusting the process at the same time has been so hard. To see similar faces encouraging me now is also strange, haha. But that's the process. I do think the future's so bright. Whatever life takes me to, I'll always be grateful to know I will die knowing I did what I love the most, and was able to eat with it. And made my people happy. All of that, being created in the motherland, Rwanda. I'm proud of where I come from. I also feel this is just the beginning. 

Mike Kayihura photographed by @calvinkarangwa

And that folks, is just a small piece. I hope this gave you insight into why he chooses to do this. The purpose behind it. Simply put: Mike Kayihura engaging and opening up, allows us to explore our depths and do the same.