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Bush Baby; the Producer, Performing Artist and DJ
Apparently, Bush baby’s album is ready and due to drop after the Islamic fasting season. He’s also formed a group “JOBUCO”, Jo for Joan, Bu for Bush and Co for complex. His track “Maisha iko sawa” is currently on serious rotation in East Africa and the video is ready as well. The 24 songs off the album are “merry go”, emphasises Bush but worth mentioning is the fact that production was done at Complex Studios which is also the home of Afro records, U&I entertainment, power records and others. "We also have a D.J academy in the making and perhaps could go East African, we wanna take the D.J thing to another level” he stresses. About the P.A.M awards, Bush says it’s a positive trend for the industry, save for the few mishaps in the nomination process. Q. Who is Bush Baby?
BB: Bush Baby is
Michael Owor Benjamin, 27yrs old, born in Entebbe, journalist
Q. How did you get the name Bush Baby?
BB. It was given to
me by lil' kid sis' Cherry while I was still working at Q. Tell us about your educational background. BB. Attended kindergarten in Entebbe, St. Theresa's Pri. Sch in Entebbe, Kiswaa Pri. Sch. in Kampala, Manjasi High Sch. Tororo, St. Peter's SSS Nsambya, Gombe High Sch. and City High Sch. Did a diploma in journalism at U.M.I, but due financial.......couldn't finish at time.
BB. Ended up at 'ear all hits' after being spotted by the Director, Rodney Mengi, by that time I was at kiss fm in Mwanza, Tz.
Q. You luv your
job? (Silly qn!) So which part of your work do you love BB. Damn...I love my job...it puts food on my table guess I'd easily come by a Boyz II Men CD...they're hot. Q. Any setbacks?
BB. Setbacks? I hate
peeps who don't respect DJ's! It's a profession for crying out
Q. Which is your most memorable moment? BB. The day I landed a deal with ear all hits...it was a blessing. Q. What do you think about politics? Do you ever think about coming home to run for office? BB. I hate politics...but if people gave me their mandate, I'd represent, 'em in anything. Q. Taking a cultural persepective, do you think Swahili should be Uganda's national language? Reason? BB. Swahili?...yeahh, cool idea! It can be a national language, almost every one can grasp a bit of it, cant you see how chameleon is loved coz of da Swahili in his songs? Q. This is the big one, are you married? (If so, how many small bush babies are there?) BB. Married!*##?......naaahhhh, BUT I have a finceeeeee. We live together, it's been four years now, of course plannin' 2 tie da knot...if god wills. No small bush babies at da moment.... but I'd love to have like 2. Q. Being miles away from home, what do you really miss about Uganda BB. I miss Ug, home, friends, family, tha' weather, every thing.....ooohhhhh plus da women, very popular all over da world.
BB. It's
2pm...Gettin' late.... c' ya guys....holla.... Before I go, you
gotta know that I do music too, was once part of an r'n'b
quintet [with Walter-channel TV, Gabriel-Monitor fm,
Solomon-*!^%&*.... and Paul-+_&^*&....] It was one of da hottest
rn'b out fits back in da day.... Am currently doing a solo
project called 'Bush Baby and da East Africa Q.Where did you record these tracks from? BB.I did the recording in Dar, my first single 'Ijumaa' was recorded @ empty souls records by a friend of mine called Solomon Lamba, it featured Nai's K-South, Shaki of the group Jawabu from Nai as well, plus Jafarai of Wateule in Dar and Diddy [upcoming artist from dar]. Njoo Nikupe love was recorded @ Poa Records by Amit who's currently in UK, Ijumaa rmx was recorded @ the same studio but produced by Bizman of Inafrika band, it features chamber squad, jafarai, complex....... Q.Are they part of an album? BB.Yeaaaap an album is coming thru...in fact two, my own and the other one by a combination of me, complex, and Joan [new voice]...the group name is JOBUCO. We have a single out called Maisha yiko sawa... Q.How have the masses received the project? BB.Response from the masses is positive...with player haters along the way as usual...but it's great....... Q.What was it like working with complex? BB.Working with complex is sawa....,he's a creative dude...he knows sound, he's a perfectionist...and very talented. Q. Nice video you have! How much did it cost? BB.The video didn’t cost me that much since I almost had all the resources @ my disposal, besides I didn’t want to have it complicated, I wanted simple stuff .....u'know,.. homely....thanx 4 da props though.. Q. Are you a producer? Who produced your music? BB.Yeeeeessss I am a producer, though currently specializing in radio promos and jingles .....,plus commercials.
Q.Have you
attempted to promote it in Uganda? Are you going to make
BB.I have not done
any promotion in ug, neither do I have a formal launch in da
pipeline.....but I’ll keep droppin' jams. BB. I would love to have a few collabos from ug....I have contacted my favorite ones...and I’ll let u know when they confirm their participation. Apart from my favorite ones I’d also love to work with Small Axe, the entire Vocal Justice crew, Bobi Wine, Tikita, Weasle, Michael Ross, Sol Dre… Q. Who inspired you to write the music, especially the one about "akawala akaswaili?" is there something we should know? |BB. 'akawala akaswaili'...njoo nikupe luv.....definitely has an inspiration, it's just a question time, am not letting it out now, but u'll know. |
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East Africa radio’s
“Iron man” Michael Owori a.k.a the Bush Baby was in town for the
P.A.M awards. I caught up with him at his hotel room to find out
what he was up to “knock knock” I did and like the Alibaba
medieval the door opened.” Wassup dawg!” He went and in a
nutshell we did get down to business.
Q. Back to the
present… How did you end up jamming at the 'Ear all Hits Radio"?
Q. It's coming to
2pm, you're gonna be late! What’s your final message to
Q.Have you thought of collaborating with any Ugandan artists
like say Fred Ssebata?