Eddie Rush, new style, same determination

Eddie Rush is a box of contradictions on the Ugandan music scene. When he appeared on the stage four years ago, it was through unconventional means; he was not introduced by some radio disc jockey or an MC at a concert. One day, he appeared in news items in the press and the story was that he had been nominated for a KORA award.

No one had gained fame that way before. Others have done it since, with unknown musicians going to the Grammy’s and in effect, being noticed by strangers before they are at home. They learnt from the best.

Having established an own style, ‘Runyagafin’ with his breakout hit, Ngoma Afrika, Eddie Rush, who sounds more mature now with new songs with more depth  says he has shortened Runyagafin to Runya. The style is derived from traditional beats from western Uganda fused with the more common raga rhythms.

“My music has always been about fusion,” he says. “Since Ngoma Afrika, which was my first foray into fusion, I have worked with different styles, mixing it up to produce coherent music.” Runya style is about exploring the inherent gems that Ugandan music from the different regions can give the world, according to the burly musician.

His experimentation has paid off. He has come up with a new album which promises to be the bar when it comes to Ugandan fusion. His latest offering, Tibesigwa is a mixture of African and Caribbean influences with pronounced rumba and raga beats with electric soukous guitar patterns. The artist also samples from Asian and Native American styles.

The musician has gone one better and produced a video to go with Tibesigwa. It is a simple story showing the different ways in which those we trust can mess things up. The actors are convincing enough.

Ugandan musicians have taken the gospel of producing videos to heart. Eddie Rush is an old hand when it comes to videos, having learnt it when he was marketing his music for the African award he was nominated for in 2004. His offering for Tibesigwa is evidence of time well spent learning the workings of the industry.

Rush sings in Swahili, English, Luganda and Runyakitara, which is the most dominant language in his music. While his contemporaries have taken the Luganda and Swahili road, Rush has stuck to his native Runyakitara. This is a strong emotive language and I feel freer getting out my message like this,” he stated in an earlier interview.

And it has been worth it if his progress is anything to go by. He has achieved a feat many musicians aim for in creating a style that will always be traced back to him. Because there are many who will have to take a leaf from his book when this project is done.

“There’ll come a day when fusion will be the style by which our musicians will be recognized,” he prophesies. “The few artistes who are toiling to make it come out in the open are like the midwives. That is our role in history now.”
He refers to the strength of Ugandan music, pointing to the diversity in language and dance in Uganda. “Every tribe in this country has its distinct style and these are the gems that we have as Ugandans. This is what other musicians, for instance in the west do not have,” the former award contender lets on passionately.

The artist was born Edmond Ntumwa on September 28, 1978 in Kampala, Uganda but grew up with his mother in south western Uganda in Kabale district until 1990 when she passed on. He is the youngest of seven.

At the age of 16, the prolific musician was already establishing a foundation to his career deejaying with local groups in school and at dancing competitions. He was an inspirational leader who set up a youth club called Rush Talents in Kabale in western Uganda, a club that the young people would go to to develop their gifts.

Like many musicians, Eddie Rush started his road to fame in the church choir. His music though not gospel is mature and loaded with meaning. The video for Ngoma Africa in 2005 was described with the kind of words any musician would only dream of.

He has written and produced his music, which should say a lot about the talent and experience of this 29 year old young man. The first such effort was Mama, a 1996 track that was used in the documentary, “The Role of the African Woman in an African Family.”

Other singles that Eddie Rush has produced over the years include Kakitali (2001), Jenina (2002), Pressure (2002), Blue Jeans, a joint effort with Ugandan musician, Menton Kronno (2003).

In 2004, Ngoma Africa earned him the KORA award nomination for Best Male eastern African artiste. In 2005, Rush released his debut album "Ngoma Africa." It is a 12 track album that contains songs like Malaika, which has received some impressive airplay on local TV and radio.

“I am inspired by African pop artists mostly; the likes of Youssou N’dour, Salif Keita, Baba Maal and Oliver Mtukudzi, who are known for giving the world fusions of African and western styles.

The musician is determined to show the world that there is something good in Uganda. Even when fusion is not appreciated as much as other genres in his native Uganda, he believes that something this good must be given time to grow.

“It is not going to happen in a flash,” he says. “The world greats did not hit it big at once. When you are creating something new, the listeners have to be given a chance to appreciate it over time. It is up to me to keep going because I know that eventually, we shall be big on the world stage. Fusion is the future,” he states with such intensity.

After his nomination to the KORAs, Eddie Rush used his chance to learn more about fusion on the world stage. What came out of this sourjourn was the ammunition he has used to craft the new album off which Tibesigwa comes.

He is different in many ways. Gone is the clean shaven, innocent eyed artist of 2004. In his place stands a man who has tested his limits and discovered new springs. The contradictions in what he was and what he is go only as far as that, though. As far as his resolve is concerned, he is not changing track.