Afro-soul queen: Shifah Musisi was meant to have a concert last year but due to reasons beyond her control, she postponed it to this year. She will be staging her first concert at Golf Course Hotel tonight as Isaac Ssejjombwe writes.
Give me a bit of your music journey so far?
My parents introduced me to music at a young age. My mother bought me my first piano when I was 12 years old and my father used to write for us songs and pushed us to participate in Music Dance and Drama. He paid for my first studio session. I released my first album in 2016 titled Olugendo and I am currently working on my second album Dark and Happy Times.
You are an Afrosoul artiste, a genre that is not much appreciated in Uganda. Why stick to it?
Growing up, I was inspired and still I am, by people such as Maddox Sematimba, Iryn Namubiru, Maurice Kirya and Sade. Their music inspired me to take the direction of afrosoul and because I write my own music, this genre is comfortable for me. It hurts that most people shy away from afrosoul but I know there are people out there who enjoy this kind of music and I am so happy that more have started embracing it. Of course earning from afrosoul has been a slow process but we are getting there.
Tonight will be your maiden concert. Why now… four years later?
I had planned this concert last year but something that was beyond my control came up. But now we have everything under control by the grace of God.
I believe I am now ready to share with the world my story and music. I will be supported by Charmant Mushaga, Maurice Kirya, Kaz Kasozi and Kenneth Mugabi. You will see others when you come through.
What challenges have you faced in the industry since you started?
The genre had taken a while to be embraced by the media and radio stations, but now that is a story of the past, as I am getting support from the media and so the music is reaching the right people.
Who is Shifah Musisi, briefly?
Shifah Musisi is an afro-soul artiste with a fusion of contemporary and RnB music. My middle name is Nalubega and my ancestral home is Kapeka. I am a peaceful person, which explains why my music in soulful. I studied fashion and design, so when I am not doing music, I am a designer, with a fashion house called Marish located in Bukoto, Kampala.