Juliana Kanyomozi is one of E.Africa’s leading musicians.She unveils a lot about her life,career and future in this interview with Monday Times.
Juliana Kanyomozi is one of East Africa’s leading musicians.She unveils a lot about her life,career and future in this interview with Monday Times.
MT: how would you describe Juliana Kanyomozi as a person?
Juliana: Juliana is a woman who loves to sing. A mother who puts her son first before anything or anyone. I’m very reserved and can be extremely quiet if I find myself in unfamiliar company. I loooove my privacy. And can be very opinionated if I have something to say.
MT: how did your whole music career start?
Juliana: It started in small performance venues and school productions in Namasagali. I realized that I was gifted with a singing voice early, and after that I knew I wanted to sing. Shortly after that I met the people who would make that dream a reality.
MT: when and where were you born?
Juliana: I was born on 27th November 1980. I was born right here in Kampala .
MT: who are your parents?
Juliana: my parents are Gerald (RIP) and Catherine Manyindo. Both from Fort Potal.
MT: do you have brothers and sisters?
Juliana: yes I do. David (RIP), Edward, Evelyn , Irene, Stella and Laura. I am the second last born.
MT: how was family life as a child?
Juliana: it was quite normal. Our parents were always around. Mum was a stay home mother while dad went to work. They took us to church on Sundays. We were just a normal family with loving parents.
MT: was any of your relatives a musician?
Juliana: quite a few but none of them had any intentions to do it professionally. My uncles and aunties always tell us how when they were growing up my dad was a great drummer. He loved the drums so much that during his holidays he’d look for the nearest place not too far from home where he’d go play a bit and then sneak back home.
MT: where did you go to School?
Juliana: I went to City primary School (now Arya), then to Bugema Adventist for S.1, there after I joined Namasagali college.
MT: did you sing in School?
Juliana: Oh yes I did. Especially when I joined Namasagali . Being a school that excelled in the arts, that was the perfect place for me to develop my talent. So I participated in all the School productions.
MT: have you ever been part of a church choir?
Juliana: funny enough I haven’t. I’m a shy person but when I was younger, it was worse. So I always wanted to join the church choir where we used to pray from but I was too shy to even ask.
MT: what are your biggest achievements in music?
Juliana: they are quite many, from the many awards, to fame and favor . But for me the biggest achievement is when I sing a song that not only entertains but inspires and changes someone’s life. That gives me joy.
MT: how many songs/albums do you have so far and when did you record them?
Juliana: officially I’ve released two albums that is the ‘Nabikowa’ album and ‘Kanyimbe’. But I’ve released a lot of music after that that could amount to maybe two or more albums, it’s just that I haven’t released them in form of an album. Back then it was profitable to release an album. Now we sell singles most of the time. But I’ve been getting requests from people here, Kenya, Tanzania,Europe etc who want to buy my music in the old fashioned way (albums/CDs) and I’m making arrangements for such people.
MT: what are some of the challenges you have faced in music?
Juliana: piracy is probably the biggest one. When you work so hard and invest in your product only to find someone selling a poor version of it to your loyal fan on the streets or on some website. It’s a big problem. But we are doing what we can.
MT: do/did your parents support your music?
Juliana: absolutely. I was raised by parents who believed in letting a child develop what she/he was most passionate about. Of course with their guidance and advice here and there.
MT: does your husband/partner/fianc�/someone you are seeing supportive your music?
Juliana: oh yes he does. Also offers advice when I need it.
MT: what advice would you give to an upcoming musician?
Juliana: you don’t have to listen to each and everyone, because you can’t please everyone. People will always have an opinion on everything you do. Choose the path you want to take musically, listen to a few trusted people but most of all, listen and trust your gut.
MT: what makes you scared the most in this world?
Juliana: I don’t know if it’s what scares me the most but it’s definately one of them. Disappointing the people I love the most. Be it my mother, my son, family or best friend. So I try so hard to never do that.
MT: How many children do you have?
Juliana: I have one. His name is Keron Raphael Kabugo.
MT: would you encourage your children to become musicians?
Juliana: I would do exactly what my parents did for me. Find out where his passion and gift is and encourage him. There’s nothing more rewarding than getting paid for something you love to do. I’m lucky to be able to experience that and I’d want the same for my son.
MT: what other countries of the world have you performed in apart from Uganda?
Juliana: so many. But the ones I can remember now, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Africa, Nigeria,UAE, The UK, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, France, Denmark, USA etc.
MT: if you were not a musician what would you be doing?
Juliana: probably a lawyer.
MT: how do you spend your free time?
Juliana: I read a lot of books, I watch movies, travel somewhere quiet n relax with my loved ones and listen to lots and lots of music.
MT: have you made a lot of money from your music career?
Juliana: the word ‘a lot’ is relative. However, I earn a decent living from it.
MT: which local musician inspires you?
Juliana: there are many and for different reasons but you asked for one so I’ll give one. Mr. Moses Matovu. Given all the knowledge, experience , success and respect he has earned, he is the most humble human being I’ve met. When I met him to record ‘Guttuke’ I didn’t know what to say to him or how to say it. And then he made it so easy with his humility. He does not look down on people. He’s a great example to us.
MT: which foreign musician inspires you?
Juliana: again many, but one of them is Alicia keys. Fame and money have not gotten to her head. She’s a great musician, has got it all but does not rub it in your face.
MT: musicians usually complain about negative press.Have you received any and how do you handle them?
Juliana: of course I’ve had my share. But I’ve learned not to let negative press define me because that’s not who I am. That’s just some guy who sits behind a desk picks up a pen and paper and decides to just write a story about me that will make him money. Sometimes it’s upsetting but I don’t take it too seriously, because that’s just what it is, gossip. I just divert my energies into things that are gonna help me become even a better person than I already am.
MT: how has the music industry changed since you started?
Juliana: a lot has changed. There’s so many platforms to release and promote music now than it was back then. Today, Uganda celebrates Ugandan music, back then all you heard of were the foreign artists.
MT: you have won several awards, could you list them for us?
Juliana:
Best R&B; song. PAM AWARDS 2003
Best R&B; artist. PAM AWARDS 2004
Best R&B; single. PAM AWARDS 2005
Song of the year. PAM AWARDS 2005
Female artist of the year PAM AWARDS 2005
Best R&B; artist. PAM AWARDS 2005
Best R&B; artist. PAM AWARDS 2007
Artist of the year. PAM AWARDS 2008
Female artist of the year. PAM AWARDS 2008
Best R&B; artist. PAM AWARDS 2008
Teeniez Gospel song. BUZZ TEENIEZ AWARDS 2008
Teeniez Female Artist. BUZZ TEENIEZ AWARDS 2008
Female artist of the year. East African Music Awards 2011/2012
East African Artist Of The Year. Kora Awards 2012/2013
Best International Afro Beat act BEFFTA AWARDS 2012/2013
WARID Woman Of Substance Awards 2013
Best Afro Beat Song.HIPIPO MUSIC AWARDS 2014
Most gifted musician SUPER TALENT AWARDS 2012
Afro beat Diva DIVA MUSIC AWARDS 2011
Thats most of them I guess.
MT: how does it feel every time you win an award?
Juliana: It’s a feeling I don’t get used to. Every time I win an award it feels like the first time. It’s a constant reminder that people appreciate and love what I do.The feeling is incomparable .
MT: you held a record breaking concert at Serena Hotel, what do you think help you break the bank with that concert?
Juliana: it’s something I’d wanted to do for some time. But we kept finding setbacks. If it wasn’t unavailability of the venue it was a sponsor who didn’t believe i could do what I was promising to do. To be honest it was very tough. I remember a number of potential sponsors either closed their doors on us or stopped picking our calls. But I wasn’t about to give up because I believed in myself and my gut fully. I knew exactly what i wanted. We identified a wonderful team to work with and great sponsors and that was it. I’m so thankful to my manager and those people because they helped me bring to life something I’d wanted to do for so long. I remember people were still trying to buy tickets n come in as I was singing the last songs yet the venue was full. Amazing.
MT: what is the shortest time you have ever taken working on a song in studio and which song was that?
Juliana: amazingly it was a song that has turned out to be one of my biggest , ‘Diana’. I remember doing two takes or three from start to finish minus backups and kiwuuwa told me “that’s it, I have what I need”. And that was it.
MT: what is the longest time you have ever taken working on a song in studio and which song was that?
Juliana: I think it was ‘Kanyimbe’. Steve is a perfectionist. We recorded it for about a week. We also had to bring in the church choir that comes in at the end of the song, that was a full session on it’s own. But it paid off in every way.
MT: which artiste are you dying to work with in future?
Juliana: if it’s someone I haven’t met before, I think right now it would be Emeli Sande.
MT: when and how was I-Jay formed?
Juliana: I-Jay was formed around 2000. We also released an album called wait in the same year. We used to sing together alot especially in studio. We’d record adverts together, harmonising each other. Then people started complementing how good we sounded together. So we decided to record a proper music album together. First we came up with the name.
MT: why did I-jay disintegrate?
Juliana: it was really an issue of different locations.. Iryn was moving to France permanently while I was in Uganda. Which wud automatically mean the end of the group.
MT: any plans for an I-jay reunion?
Juliana: Iryn and I have both been blessed with very successful solo careers. But we are putting together something nice for our fans cuz we know how much they’d love that. Recently we performed a song ‘Sirina Anambikka’ together at the Michael Ouma concert and we had so much fun. So we can’t wait to start on these projects we have in the pipeline.
MT: you were a fabulous radio presenter at some point working with Capital Radio. How did you get into radio?
Juliana: I was at home in my S.6 vacation, bored and decided to walk into Capital FM studios and ask for a job. So I walked into the PD’s office Mr. Huub Gales at the time and I said to him “Hi, my name is Juliana and I’m looking for a job as a radio presenter”, he sent me to the studio to do a voice test, he told me he’d call me. After 3 weeks he did call and I’d got the job.
MT: what made you leave radio?
Juliana: In 2005, I got my big break in music, and it started to become difficult balancing the two together. So I had to let go of my radio job and concentrate on my music career.
MT: do you miss radio at all?
Juliana: oh yes. There are times when I miss going to studio , switching on that mic and talk to my imaginary friends. It was fun. I’d probably do it again if I had the time.
MT: any special message to your fans?
Juliana: to my fans, I’m forever grateful to you for your never ending love and support. I am who i am because of you. You love me, encourage me, inspire me and push me to keep doing what I do best, and that is to sing for you. And nothing could be better than that.
MT: what plans does Juliana hold for the future?
Juliana: a lot. Stay put and you will find out. Peace and love.
