Meet Dedan Danny aka Danny Dee, 24, a fast-rising Kenyan singer and student
How and when did you develop your love for music?
This happened when I was just a young boy—nine years old to be precise. I used to play the piano and guitar in our church for praise and worship and also the church choir at Umoja Two in Nairobi.
This really influenced and inspired me to pursue the talent in a more professional level.
I loved the art and used to tell my friends that some day, I would become a musician. Look at me now; I thank God for making that dream come true.
Did your family support your decision to become an artiste?
You know how our African parents are... hahaha. So, they did not. To the contrary, they really supported me in church, but when I decided to seriously pursue music, they were not supportive at all.
However, with time they came to understand how much I needed their support and started supporting my craft. But it wasn’t easy to convince them.
When did you decide to go professional on the art?
To be honest, I have never thought of being a professional musician because for me, music is not really a career.
I do it for the love I have for it; for the passion. Music is something I want to do even in my old age.
What makes you standout as an artiste?
When I decide to do something, I give it my all. I put in a lot of work including getting some of the best audio and video music producers to ensure that I give quality stuff.
Actually, before I do a video, I first visualise it in my mind and see how it’d look like and what I can do to make it better.
I always give it my all in everything that I do, and that’s what makes me to stay above my peers.
As a rising artiste, what challenges do you face and how do you overcome them?
Fear is my main challenge. This is so because most of the time I ask myself many questions such as, ‘I’m using this amount of money on this project, what if it doesn’t pay off?
What if no one will like it?’ But I don’t regret because music is something that I love to do, and being a risk taker, I always take the risk.
I’m hoping and praying to God to open more doors for me that one day I’ll be one of the best musicians in the country.
What are some of your projects?
I have five projects so far. The most recent is a solo project called Tetete, which came soon after my collaboration with Jovial titled Pole Pole.
I have also done another collabo titled Gari Inajua Mtaa with gengetone artistes Boondocks Exray, Odi Wamurang’a and Maddox. My other solo jam is called Supernova.
What are your feelings towards the gengetone genre?
I support Kenyan content and I feel gengetone is such an amazing genre. It is ours, just the way you can relate bongo flava with Tanzanians, Amapiano with South Africa.
In Kenya, we have different genres, but if you hear a gengetone song playing anywhere, you’ll definitely know its 100 per cent Kenyan.
As they say, mwacha mila ni mtumwa. For me, I won’t abandon our music traditions.
What projects are you working on currently?
I have different projects that I’m currently working on including more collaborations, that I will be announcing in due time. All I can tell my fans is to wait for a lot of surprises.
How have you leveraged internet or social media to raise your profile as an artiste?
When I came to Australia in 2018, I deactivated all my social media pages because I wanted to focus more on my education, but with time, I got back to the social media considering it’s the best platform to interact with my fans and also push my music. It has really helped me to market myself out there.
Have Kenyans showed you support thus far?
Yes and no because I am not still so well known. Leaving for abroad has also contributed to that, but with time when I’m done with my studies, I will come back home and continue with my music career.
However, Kenyans in Australia have been very supportive. Here, Kenyans even have chamas for which also serves as a good platform to sell my music.
I’m so grateful to the media houses that play my music and to everyone who supports what I do.
Your last word...
I would like to encourage young guys who travel abroad, either for stay or school, not to forget their talent.
No matter what they are doing, they should keep on pushing and building their craft.
As much as we are focusing on jobs or studies, we shouldn’t forget to do what we love.
