Museke.com interview with A-Y
Museke.com is an African music website with a particular focus on lyrics. The site is built around African music songs and the effect of music on society. Museke has lyrics to over 2000 popular African songs from more than 15 African countries. In addition to lyrics, users can listen to audio, watch videos, find information about musicians and where to purchase albums, etc.
Museke.com also has a blog (articles), African music news, polls, forums, etc.
Museke.com – sing along, intelligent listening.
Museke.com: Mambo? Habari gani?
Ay: Poa sana mambo vipi?
Museke.com: Can you tell us a little about your background and family?
Ay: My name is ambwene yesayah, I’m a 3rd born in a family of four kids. A.Y is a stage name and a performance personality. I would say A.Y is a successful artist in Tanzania and in many other parts in east Africa. A.Y is also a businessman when he is not performing on stage
Museke.com: How did you get interested in rapping?
Ay: I remember that time i use to listen a lots of songs from abroad,like Vanilla Ice,NWA,KID FROST & HOUSE OF PAIN that’s why I got interested in Rapping
Museke.com: Which musicians (African or foreign) did you listen to growing up?
Ay: Vanilla Ice, NWA, KID FROST, Snoop Doggy Dogg & HOUSE OF PAIN
Museke.com: What was your first big break?
Ay: My first big break was NI RAHA TU ( P.FUNK he’s the one who produced it)
Museke.com: What has been your most challenging song to write and why?
Ay: I think is YULE coz was my first time to sing but I couldn’t imagine it would be come A CLASSIC SONG!
Museke.com: You were nominated for many international awards last year. How did you feel about that?
Ay: I feel SO MUCH APPRECIATED
Museke.com: Has Bongo Flava as a genre changed over the years? If so, how?
Ay: I think our industry has grow from PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT to EMPLOYMENT
Museke.com: Has it become more necessary for Bongo Flava artists to add more English lyrics to their songs? If so, why or if not, please explain
Ay: NO.Coz we are very proud of our language and more other nations are switching to Swahili so that their records can reach majority of EAST AFRICANS.
Museke.com: How did the collaboration with P-Square, Freeze, happen?
Ay: First time we met in Kampala and we decide to work together and then after that they came to Dar and then we record in B.HITS STUDIO (that’s the studio I use to record a lots of my tracks)
Museke.com: There’s a lot of collaboration between African musicians these days. What do you think is causing this?
Ay: First of all I’d like to make it clear that I pioneered the movement of recording with different artists in East Africa.But I think lots of musicians are doing this to expand their market in different regions and in order to do that you have to connect with a big local artist of that area.
Museke.com: You’ve had countless collaborations with other African musicians. What have been your most memorable or favorite collaborations with other musicians?
Ay: I think BINADAMU with Maurice Kirya,FREEZE with P.Square and NASEMA NAO with CHAMELEONE
Museke.com: Can you confirm being on the remix for the Waving flag remix with K’Naan, official World Cup anthem? How did this happen?
Ay: K’Naan suggested that we should record aremix of that song after performed together in Dar and when interviewed by EATV he said the same so we are waiting for both of us to adjust our schedule so we can work together.
Museke.com: What record label are you on?
Ay: B.HITS RECORDS,My Producer is HERMY B he’s a BEST PRODUCER 2009 IN TANZANIA MUSIC AWARDS
Museke.com: A lot of African musicians are taking advantage of promoting their music online. Do you think it is making record labels less needed?
Ay: NO.Record labels is still a record label coz it’s purpose is to recird music BUT I think Distribution Companies are in competion with music online business
Museke.com: Which other African musicians do you admire (presently)?
Ay: Have a lot..P.SQUARE,HHP,JMARTINS,CHAMELEONE,BEBE COOL,WEASEL AND RADIO,JULIANA,BOBI WINE,NAMELESS,PAPA WEMBA,FALLY IPUPA,BLACK JACK,PROF JAY,MWANA FA,LADY JAY DEE ETC ......
Museke.com: What advice do you have for Tanzanian musicians?
Ay: their suppose to invest more money and skills in their artwork and promote their artwork outside the borders coz Africa Music market as has became universal
Museke.com: What are your plans for 2010?
Ay: BIG TINGS ARE GWAN MAN!!! Mo hits with JMARTINS (NIGERIA),BEBE COOL (UGANDA),NAMELESS (KENYA) & K’NAAN
Museke.com: What challenges do you face in the music industry (piracy, payola (paying deejays to play music), etc)?
Ay: PIRACY MAN,GUYS should support MUSICIANS by buying GENUINE MATERIALS AND NOT PIRATING.
Museke.com: What is the major revenue generator for Tanzanian musicians these days? Shows, concerts or CD sales?
Ay: SHOWS
Museke.com: Where can we get your music to buy?
Ay: AM SETTING A NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL SO I’L LET YOU KNOW VERY SOON ONCE IT’S SETTLED
Museke.com: Do you have any present engagements and works other than music?
Ay: Yeah,m taking BUSINESS CLASSES and run other business (UNITY ENTERTAINMENT CO LTD it’s a ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY & AY COMMERCIAL WEAR it’s a BOUTIQUE)
Museke.com: What is one interesting thing about you that some of us fans don't know?
Ay: AMA GOOD TABLE TENNIS PLAYER
Museke.com: What are your hobbies and pastimes?
Ay: Spend time in GYM,Hang with my friends and traveling.
Museke.com: How can people reach you? Do you have a website?
ay: they can reach reach me through my website www.ay.co.tz and my official email address is ay@ay.co.tz
Museke.com: Any messages for fans, etc?
Ay: THANX FOR THE SUPPORT AND KEEP ON THAT SPIRIT COZ I’L NEVER LET YOU DOWN..AND KEEP IT LOCAL
Museke.com: Thank you for your time.
