JUBA – In an effort to explore the current booming South Sudanese music industry, The Citizen in its entertainment column decided to bring into light one of the South Sudanese upcoming music stars.
We caught up with one upcoming South Sudanese artists whose song “am not a player” has been hitting the air waves of Juba and other parts of the country.
The singer’s song that has been on the top ten of V.O.P radio, music hit station in Juba, is a promising artist who believes in his music and thinks the sky is his limit.
The R&B singer who rose to the scene of music in 2006 with his first hit “intum nas ta Sudan” a version sang in Arabic enjoyed popularity because of its call for the government to build roads.
He started music years back when he was still in primary school and the 19 year old singer believes it’s just a matter of time before he got to the world level.
The singer who flows like P. Squared believes that it is a matter of finance before he hit the airwaves of the world and represents South Sudan in the world music industry.
I caught up with him in a Q&A and this is what he has to say.
Q: Mr. Smack J, what are your real names?
A: My real names are Kenyi Anthony but most people call me Drogba because I also play football very well.
Q: When did you start your music?
A: I started in 2004 with my first song “intum nas ta Sudan,” as my first hit calling for road construction in the then Southern Sudan.
Q: What kind of music do you do?
A: I do R&B
Q: What is the meaning of your name Smack. J?
A: I came up with this name after my first encounter with evil hearted people who slapped me when I went to record my first song and that is where I derived the name from.
Q: What is more striking about R&B?
A: I like R&B because this is where someone truly sings especially when I look at great artists like Chris Brown, I feel there is true music in R&B.
Q: Who among the R&B singers impresses you most?
A: Ohhhhhhhhhhh! R. Kelly really impresses me a lot and I wish I could make it to his level.
Q: Who is your role model in the music?
A: P. Squared
Q: How many songs have you so far recorded?
A: Seven
Q: Which of your songs is your favorite?
A: Am not player
Q: Why?
A: You know am a social person and when my girlfriend used to see me with other girls, she told me that I am a player so I was responding to her. You know this is based on true story.
Q: How old are you?
A: Am 19 years old
Q: Who is your favorite local artist?
A: W.J the King of Lukwilli
Q: Why have you chosen to do music?
A: It’s simply because there are some messages that I want to pass to the people and the government. So through music, you can inform, educate and entertain.
Q: How do you look at the music in South Sudan and what do you think about South Sudanese music?
A: I think it will improve in some few years to come because I see potential in most of the South Sudanese artists.
Q: Have you won any award so far?
A: Not really because I had not been participating in the competitions but soon am going to participate.
Q: Any hope of winning?
A: There is too much believe and not hope.
Q: What challenges are you facing in the music industry?
A: My main challenge is that I don’t have a sponsor, director and promoters.
Q: What do you think in the next ten years you will be?
A: I see myself singing like R. Kelly and owning a big music group.
Q: What is your advice to the other upcoming artists?
A: My advice to them is that let them keep doing their best, never give up because gaining popularity is something that you have to be patient.
Q: Do you have a video?
A: Not really but I intend to shoot one before the end of this month.
Q: What is your message to your fans?
A: Let them stand with me and keep believing in me and God bleassssssss them.
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