After a great run over the past 12 months or so, that included a slew of hit singles and videos, as well as a nomination for Best 2008 Newcomer at the continental ONE GOSPEL music awardds, Gospel debutant Hey-Z capped off a great year by being named Best New Artist at the recently concluded 2009 Groove Awards. Mwafrika.com recently caught up with him to pick his mind on his win, and see what is in the horizon for this talented artist.

Hey-Z

:: Thanks for agreeing to join us on Mwafrika.com. It's been a good minute since we met up and chatted the last time. Since then you've gone on to release a number of radio singles and music videos, and of coure, the big one - you were named 2009's Best new Artist at the Groove Awards. Tell us, what does winning that award mean to you?
Thanks.Yeah a lot has happened since then. As for the award, that was huge! It just means much more responsibility and work on my side. I need to make sure that I do not fail people and the high expectations they have. I was greeted as a role model, and i need to be very careful about that now.

:: Were you expecting to do so well?
To be honest I think I was. I know I have really played my part through tours all over the country, and especially school tours, visiting close to 120 schools in the past year alone. My Song is doing very well in Eldoret's Fish Fm where i also have good contacts with the Viatu Entertainment Crew - one of the best Event organisers there. Also in Mombasa my song "Wampenda" is on Baraka FM's countdown (currently at number 4), and as things look, with all the requests, it will continue to do well.
Here in Nairobi, it is getting really good airplay at Power Radio, Hope FM, KBC & Truth FM.

But I have to be honest and say i had some doubts. Willy's jam, "Hafungi Macho" is really big (and won a statuette for Collabo of the Year), not forgetting Haimie & LIN who have launched their own albums and their reviews on MWAFRIKA.com aint a joke. But all of us are Good and talented in special ways & our seasons are different. So I thank God for choosing this as my season.

:: I really like that whole God choosing this as your season. Very nice. At your acceptance speech you thanked a number of people. Who are some of the people you think have helped you get to where you are right now, and what have they done for you?
First of course i have to thank God, for giving me a new chance and such divine connections. There's also guys like SpinRej DJs - these guys, under the guidance of DJ Nevs took me in when i was still very fresh in music back in 2007 and have mentored me and given platforms at all their gigs to minister - they've watched me grow to this point. I Can't forget DJ Sadic, DJ Mo & Alemba. There's also my manager, and others like Arthur K for all his advise and helping get my Wampenda Video as number one on The Stomp for two consecutive months (March & April). Also for MWAFRIKA.COM - you guys really believed in me and gave me my very first interview , and the chance for my fans to download my music. There's many others -Nairobi Star, The Insyder, Urban Brew, Hope FM, The Pulse, Truth FM, DJ riQ, and Holy Dave and the Mad Love Crew.

:: Your singles "Wampenda Bwana" and its follow up, "Born Again Soldier" have obviously opened up doors for you. Tell us a little more about those tracks.
For Wampenda Bwana , Ihave to be honest and say i never thought this song would be as big as it's been. It was the very first song I wrote, though I recorded it second. Tim ENNOVATOR Rimbui produced it and the guys at Sakata Media shot the video. The song is simply about how many times we confess Christ with our mouths, yet often we do not act according to his will.

As For Born Again Soldier, I did give out single, but my manager's strategy was not to fully release it until the end of May, which is what we are doing. The corresponding video should follow up sometime in July.

:: Sounds like you have a smart manager. Alright, last time we spoke you also had a single in the offing called Malaika. what happened?
That's another story. We were to record with Malaika the artist but this did not really bear much fruit, as she has been busy on some of her own recordings. But we are still looking forward to working together. The track is coming.

:: Can't wait. Now another big thing that happened was your nomination for for a continental award via DSTV's ONE GOSPEL brand. How did that come about and what was that experience like for you?
That's an interesting one. The nomination actually came about as a result of my Mazeh music video. The video got a lot of spins as a result of its popularity in places like Nigeria and South Africa, where it was pretty big. To be honest that one was a real surprise, and I enjoyed it all the way.

:: Did it do anything for you as an artist and for your music?
For sure man, it gave me much more psyche and made people all over Africa know who this Hey-z is. It also gave me a lot more self-belief. I thought to myself, "if i can be nominated for a continental award, it must mean that people have seen something in me and they think i'm pretty good.

Hey-Z At One Of His Video Shoots

:: Now that you're beginning to build your own brand, who are some of the artists/producers you would like to work with, and why?
Sakata Media definately stays as my number one label for videos, those guys are tight. There's also guys like Ogopa DJs, whose quality I love, as well as producers Blackman and Gittxx. I would love a Blackman joint, that guy truly understands hip-hop and goes the extra mile to get the talent out of artists. Mad respect for Gittxx on the crunk feel.

As for artists, there's Dunco and Juliani. Dunco has crazy vocals and Juliani's poetic side is mad deep.

:: So one last one. So what's next for Hey-Z?
Big things are coming. For one, Born Again Soldier video is sheduled for release in July and a 'Thank You' single by Hey-z feat Dunco & D.K. Its basically thanking God for how far he has brought me.

And this next one is fresh out the kitchen. We have come up with a brand new group. It's called the PASS-WORD jamii. I don't want to say too much about it right now, but it's going to be big. Some of the guys involved include myself, SK Blue, Kriss, US-based BDP, Sarah, Shaz & Carena as the Producer. We are under Sakata Media Management. Keep your eyes open for what we're about to drop - it'll be HOTT!

:: PASS-WORD. that's an interesting name. Where did it come from?
It actually means Passing God's Word Through Music.

:: Cheers man. Thanks for taking the time to chat with your Mwafrika.com fans. We believe in you big time and are waiting for big things from you man.
It's always my pleasure. Thanks for your time and your psyke, i really appreciate it. I'm also waiting for big things.

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