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Victoria Kimani
(Youtube/NotjustOK)
Victorian Kimani of Chocolate City Music speaks on her music, challenges of acceptance into the industry and more.
In a recent interview with NotjustOKTV, the Kenyan singer explains that she joined a Nigerian record label because they share the same vision of crossing their music beyond the African continent and at the time she initially signed to the label, they had a branch in Kenya – Chocolate City Kenya because they were all about expanding the brand and also she’s the type of artist that would like her music to be held by as many people as possible, hence her reason for pitching her tent with a company that is motivated to see their music spread across the continent.
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Victoria Kimani in new photos
(misspetite)
Kimani describes her music as a blend of Afro-pop and R&B, adding that she would soon drop her album which will give her fans a chance to understand what type of artist she is.
She mentioned that she has a background in songwriting, and has written songs for foreign pop R&B artistes, but has had to localize her sound on moving to Nigeria, in order to penetrate the market. “If I was going to make a song for the Nigerian market for example, I don’t see there being a problem in using pidgin, If I wanted to make a song for a Tanzanian or Kenyan, I could speak in Swahili, I think that is what shows diversity as an artist.”
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Victoria Kimani in new photos
(misspetite)
She adds that the album would contain mash up of different genres of music, including live instruments, and not just about what happens in the club as there are stories to be told.
On challenges as a Kenyan artist trying to break into the Nigerian market, she said that was not necessarily the goal, that she sees herself as a pan-African artist whose goal is to make music to appeal to the continent and not necessarily for Nigerian ears only but added that it is smart for an artist to jump on that wave if you can but overall she believes the fact that she is a foreign act is has been her greatest challenge.
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Victoria Kimani
(Instagram)
She also relates the Nigerian music industry to the U.S music industry as being young and fresh, and has got a lot of movement going on but in terms of structure, with artistes and producers not getting due royalties as it is obtainable abroad, there is room for a lot of improvement regards that.
The Afro pop singer also talks about how she started music professionally and the most challenging single she has had to work on.
Watch the full interview below.