music: Vqee
Vqee was born and brought up in Kenya and after touring
in her native Africa and the US, she now lives and works
in Copenhagen where at the moment she's working on an album. We also
have a podcast for you
which features some African stylings along with French Hip Hop - pretty
nice it is too.
Myspace page
You were brought up in Kenya and now live in Copenhagen. How do you find Copenhagen? ... cooler, I guess!
It's definitely cooler. Copenhagen is a nice place to be creative and work without a lot of disruptions. One can focus.
How did you start out with music and dance in Kenya?
I was brought up in a Christian family. The church was at the centre of our lives. That's where I started out. I was a member of the church youth group and we participated in a lot of music and dance festivals. At the time a professional career in music was not on my mind.
Are the traditional forms of African music threatened do you think?
YES, they are and even more so as time goes by. Our generation has become completely westernized so much so that we cannot even speak our own mother tongue with clarity. Virtually no recordings exist of our traditional dances n music. So what's going to happen when our parents generation are no longer here? I embrace the West of course n its culture as we should.. I just think we should embrace our own just the same. Beautiful blend...which is what my music tries to achieve.
You went on to be all over the place - Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, the US, and it sounds like you were a real show business kid. How was all of that? Or did most of that happen later on?
It was amazing. I experienced varied cultures and lifestyles. It opened me up tremendously. A lot of my own values were questioned.I became completely open minded and objective. It all pretty much happened when i made up my mind to be a performing artist by profession. I guess that's what kept me committed to this path...because i realised through travelling to other places that i could actually make a living out of it.
... continues below ...
Any memorable experiences along the way?
I have had many pleasant experiences. One of them id say was when me and two of my friends criss-crossed America in a three month period. We were on the road performing at various venues across 15 states .Real hustling. That was one of the best times of my life.
Now, you're working on your debut LP in Copenhagen. Was there a particular reason to be working in Copenhagen in particular?
I got married and moved to Denmark. My husband is the producer of my album. Good timing i guess.
Are you working in a commercial studio, or will you save that until later?
Am working with THE CLICK. A Danish based recording studio.
Are there many studios in Copenhagen?
Yes. Especially around Copenhagen city id say...more than any other city.
You're bringing in some modern urban styles and sounds. What are your favorites in this area?
80s soul n rn b, 90s slow jams, love a bit of country n blues as well...Especially the old 60s n 70s.
What is your main aim with the record?
To sell. More than that i wish to also reach as many people as possible n share sounds from my own culture. Hopefully as well to get the opportunity to work with other artists, mainstream or other.
Do you think being in Europe/Copenhagen has added to it in any way?
I think it has...as it would have in the states for example. It's easier to travel around n promote my music so hopefully it has a big impact in Europe n america as well as africa n the rest of the world.
What have you got coming up?
Just final mixing n mastering of the album. N then shows n then some!!
Thanks very much.
Bookmark:
post to Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon
Recent on Mstation: music: Vivian Girls, America's Cup, music: Too Young to Fall..., music: Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Berlin Lakes, music: Atarah Valentine, Travel - Copenhagen, House in the Desert
front page / music / software / games / hardware /wetware / guides / books / art / search / travel /rss / podcasts / contact us