Lau Wyne and Cata Vybz
Lau Wyne and Cata Vybz, signed under Ocean Music Management, started hitting the airwaves in 2020 after the release of their first hit song, Zinamu. Today they are enjoying their status as the only outstanding music duo in western Uganda.
Describe yourselves to someone who has never heard of you.
We are Lau Whyne (Lauben Tusiime), Cata Vybz (Rodgers Rukyamuzi) signed under Ocean Music Management. We do all genres of music and we sound different, so it is easy for one to know who CataVybz and Lau Whyne is.
Why Ocean Music?
Under our management headed by manager Obed Agaba, we have a variety of music genres. It is an ocean where one can fish everything they want, meaning we have all sorts of music, reggae, Rn’B, among others.
How did you meet?
We are neighbours from the same village of Nyakaguruka-Kinoni, Rwampara District. We have grown up together and studied in the same class and school, so it was easy for us to meet.
Who came up with the idea of teaming up?
Cata Vybz: I was working as a music producer and while I was in studio, Lau Whyne came to visit and he liked my production skills. I complied something and immediately we recorded our first song titled, Zinamu in 2020, we started singing. Luckily enough people knew and loved the song and that is when we got our manager, Obed Agaba.
We now have eight songs with five videos (Zinamu, Kampotiti, Am the Man, Nonyonjera, Ondobeise, Baby and Action, the latest one featuring Alex Muhangi.
Amongst your songs, which one do you like most?
We like Am the Man because its composition talks about us as men who can do great things.
What have you achieved so far in your music journey?
A lot; we have met great and responsible people. Collaborating with Daddy Andre, Alex Muhangi, producers Antin, Nessim, Daddy Andre among others was great for us.
We have also performed at big platforms, for instance, we showcased our talent at Comedy Store twice at Agip Hotel, Mbarara and at Levels Kampala, also UMA Grounds twice, Bakiga Nation and at Imperial Royale for Ray G’s show,
Besides all that, we have played a role on the development of western Uganda’s music industry.
What challenges have you encountered in your musical career?
After the Covid-19 lockdown, we thought we would hold shows and have some money in our pockets but we realised we needed to first push our music to reach all Ugandans so that by the time we hold a show everyone is yearning for it. That was a challenge because we did not fulfill what we expected.
Why do your fans call you the Radio and Weasel of Western Uganda?
It is because of the way we sing. Cata Vybz brings the vocals and I come in with that rough voice and the fact that we are the only outstanding music duo in western Uganda makes us look like Radio and Weasel of western Uganda.
Are you all single?
None of us is single, much as we have not revealed our love life to the public.
Has music given you financial freedom?
We are not yet well financially, we still have those who give a helping hand via management. Not to say we are poor, but soon we shall be financially well and musically the whole of Uganda will have known who CataVybz and Lau Whyn are.
What motivates you as a duo?
When we see our music playing everywhere and enjoyed by everyone, we like it and it gives us morale to keep recording and releasing great tunes.
And what turns you off?
In our music line, we do not like it when someone critics our work because they do not know how we started and where or how we have come to be here.
What is your most memorable moment on stage?
There are so many moments but the moments we treasure are those when we are on stage performing and someone from the audience brings a tip of about Shs100,000, and also after performing when the manager is happy and buys us heavy and dinner. Those are the small moments we cherish.
Where are you based?
We are not based anywhere. The nature of the job demands us to keep moving.
What message do you have for young talents out there?
First take care of themselves before they get help from others. We encourage them to first sacrifice and show what they can bring to the music table, sacrifice for development, use the small resources they have to reach their admired level.
Where do you see yourselves in five years?
CataVybz and Lau Wyn will be popular everywhere you go and we hope we shall have performed on the biggest platforms in Uganda and Africa at large.