Malcolm meets Charles at NTV. PHOTO BY ISAAC SSEJJOMBWE
Signed to Talent Africa, Airport Taxi a group that was born in July 2011 describes their style of music as a fusion of Rn’B, Hip hop and Afro pop. The trio met their fan Joram Muzira at Talent Africa offices in Bugolobi.
Hi guys, we know you as Airport Taxi, but what are your names?
Tucker HD, Martha Namubiru a.k.a Martha Smallz and William Mugisha also known as Llyboc.
Why Airport Taxi for a name?
It was an idea we got after seeing the name Maybach Music working for Rick Ross’ label. We wanted something new and fresh. Something that could represent the kind of music we do and identified with. Airport Taxi was the right name.
Martha, how does it feel being the only girl in a boys’ group?
It feels great because I can always challenge them. My opinion is always taken as the first priority and besides, I’m used to all of them.
Why Talent Africa of all Record labels?
Because we emerged winners in a competition organised by Talent Africa in April 2011.
I understand you guys are students. How do you juggle music and education?
We have a schedule for both school and our education. They can never clash. Our label has a work plan which we follow respectively.
What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Martha: It’s always embarrassing when we don’t move the crowds during shows.
Tucker: I remember during Sean Paul’s concert, I was so mesmerised by the crowd and during the whole process of performing, I almost tripped because we bumped into each other.
How old are you guys?
Martha, 21 years, Tucker 20 and William 23.
What does Talent Africa exactly do in your music career?
Talent Africa does everything concerning our music. From management, production of our songs, distribution, promotion, collaborations, interviews to video shoots.
Would you ever leave Talent Africa?
If it’s for Roc Nation or Shady Aftermath yes.
What are some of the challenges you are facing in the music industry?
People don’t understand the type of music we are doing and in this type of market, it needs patience and determination to convince the crowd how good we are. The language is also a big factor in our career because we use English and few people perceive what we sing about.
You’ve been nominated in this year’s Buzz Teeniez Awards. What are your chances against big guns like Baboon Forest and Good Lyfe?
As of last week, we had accumulated votes that put us in second position behind Baboon Forest and if things move on like that, we stand a chance. Airport Taxi music is significantly different from music by Good Lyfe and Baboon Forest.
Do you write your songs?
Yes, we do because it has to be authentic. We always want to communicate to our fans through music and that music has to be written by us and no one else.
You’ve been compared to a Kenyan group called Camp Mulla. What’s your view on that?
We often get compared to Camp Mulla because we are almost in the same age group as they are, we do the same type of music, we both target the same audience and it’s a group we respect so much.
Where do you see yourselves five years from now?
By then, we want to have created our own genre of music. We want to at least be bigger, have a huge audience and still be together as a group.
Thank you guys for your time and looking forward to hearing more good music from you.
Thank you too.
