Mwafrika.com: It’s been awhile since you first hooked up with Kijiji and we started hearing rumors of a Juliani album. Why now?
Juliani: I was preparing myself, and the time hadn’t come. I needed to be grounded. Now, I’m more nature musically, I have a message, I have a product, and I have a niche, which I believe is my way with lyrics and how I deliver my message. So now I’m ready to launch my thing.

M: Great. To backtrack a bit, you’re the first Kenyan act to be signed to a UK record label, Gatwitch Records. That’s the same label that houses international star Jal. How did that happen?
J: Well, I did a DVD earlier in the year (videos and performances), and DJ Moz happened to go with it to the UK. While there, the guys at Gatwitch saw it, and were impressed. So they gave me a call, said they’d seen my stuff and wanted to sign me, and that was it!

M: Were you shocked?
J: I was surprised, but that’s what I wanted from the beginning. You know, I’d pray and tell God that I wanted to be a signed artist, so it was an answer to prayer.

M: How has the experience of being signed been so far?
J: On one hand, it’s been challenging because it’s not like before when I could just make decisions. Now there are other people and contracts to consider with every decision for my career. On the other hand, it’s exciting because of the opportunities it’s given me. At the same time, there’s order in how things are going, and more resources to get where I want to go. Not many artists have the opportunities I now do.

M: Alright. Let’s talk about the album, Mtaa Mentality.
J: Yeah. The album is Juliani, but also has a very different feel to it. One thing I’ve tried to do is to exploit everything I have. The focus, as always, is on the lyrics and flow but you’ll hear a lot of new things as well.

M: What’s likely to surprise your fans on the album?
J: I think one of the things will be the people I’ve teamed up with for some of the songs. Eric Wainaina tops that list – we did Who is to Blame with him. It’s more Eric than it is me, and it’s a political commentary. I think that was one of the highlights of the album because he is an artist I respect and one that has a message I wanted to tap in on.

M: So apart from Eric, who else is on the record?
J: I’ve done a song with Wenyeji of Ukoo Flani, Kanjii is there of course on Pendo Kweli. Other guys like LC, Kerah (of Gospel Fathers) and Dunco have come in with vocals, just to complement the sound.

M: Anything else about the album’s content?
J: I think you’ll realize Mtaa Mentality is more mature and more universal. By that I mean that while writing my lyrics for instance, I’ve not just given ‘mtaa’ metaphors. I’ve deliberately written music that can be translated and identified with by a more mature audience as well, both locally and all over the world.

M: What does that mean for your ‘mtaa’ fan?
J: Nothing has changed in as far as their being able to identify with the music. But at the same time, I’m not really trying to please; I want to serve humanity, not only my ‘wasee wa mtaa’. So there’s something in there for more people.

M: Cool. Who’s handled production on the album? We understand you’ve used quite a crowd?
J: Blackman produced (the title track) Mtaa Mentality and Pendo Kweli which both made it into the album. But the main producer is Musyoka, who’s done about six tracks, Kanjii and Gittx have also done some production for it.

M: Tell us again when and where the album is gonna be available?
J: This limited edition release is only available at the Kenya Music Week, and that takes place between 11th and 14th December at the Sarit Centre. I will also be performing there on Saturday (13th) afternoon. The official album launch will be on 3rd of January.

M: Alright. We’re almost done, but we must ask, are you still part of Hip Hope?
J: Of course! I’m signed to Gatwitch as an artist, but Hip Hope is home! What we are trying to achieve with Hip Hope is a situation where everyone is an established artist in their own right, and Astar and Rigga have gone ahead of us. Now it’s my turn, and we’re all supporting each other to get there. Hip Hope ni home!

M: Finally, where’s Juliani going?
J: I want to be the biggest artist in Kenya, and not just Gospel. Big in the sense that youth, women and the elderly all know who I am – not because they’ve seen me in the papers or at gigs, but because they know what I represent and they identify with my message. I want them to own me. Then export me to the rest of the world. I want that anytime you mention Kenya, there will be coffee, Obama, athletics and Juliani!