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It's been all of five years since we last heard from one of Kenya's best and probably most famous boy groups, 501. Well, the long silence is over! The foursome that is Five.Oh.One is back on the music scene with the release of a new single, Nakiri. All married, older and 'more mature', the men are raring to go, vowing to achieve even greater musical success in the days to come.

The single is a potential precursor to a full-legth album due next year, and as usual, we are giving you an exclusive opportunity to download that single right here on Mwafrika.com (CLICK HERE to download Nakiri). What more, we caught up with Mutua Matheka who gives us a run-down on this all new Five.Oh.One.

Mwafrika.com: It's been close to five years since you were last heard. Where have y'all been and why are you back now?
Mutua: Yes, it has been very long. About 3 years ago we were on the plans to start working on an album when we got bit by the marriage bug (smiles). Quite honestly, it just happened and we kinda got married in the same time zone; September, October, December then March. Shortly after that one of us moved to Coast and it became harder to meet up and do music. I think it was God-intentioned as everyone found themselves in some way individually. Music was still itching us and we used to see each other every so often but we decided not to force issues. Then some of us transitioned into fatherhood and that took the excitement in the baby direction. Right now, our boy relocated his family back to Nairobi and we revisited our project of music with what I think is a new sound, maybe maturer? We have always loved music and we were still writing and sharing ideas even while far from each other so we are happy to be back to doing that now.

Mwafrika.com: So is this a one-track return or can we expect more from Five.Oh.One?
Mutua: We are back back! Doing music as often as we can(no pressure) but we have cool stuff that we would like to get out there and plus we've kinda missed performing and doing music ministry.

Mwafrika.com: That's really great to hear. So tell us about this new single...
Mutua: Nakiri is our new single. It was written by Gibson (Gibby) and produced by Warle' at Soula'Paul AUDIO. It's a song about the power of the tongue that God has accorded us. We have the freedom to confess into our lives but we also have the freedom to praise Him and just declare how awesome He has been to us. It has a soulful touch to it and then given the bit of 'all in it' diversity that you would expect from five.oh.one.

Mwafrika.com: Why this song for the 'big return?'
Mutua: We chose this song because it is a testament to our positions in life right now. We are all in major transitions in life that require God in them or things go down. Nakiri is just the story of a christian, relating with God in a basic way and trusting & praising Him in the only way you know to. In terms of a sound, it was the way feel like singing right now, a bit laid back music that appeals to us right now.

Mwafrika.com: Great1 What does the immediate future look like for Five.Oh.One? Any more new music?
Mutua: We are working on a 12 track album. Due to be released, God willing, in April next year. We are very musically curious right now and are ready to break all the musical rules we have imposed on ourselves. In terms of production, we can't say exactly what the plan is but some stuff shall be in-house and some we are looking out to work with the more adventurous of producers who will challenge our normal way of doing things musically.

Mwafrika.com: What does it feel like to be back in the swing of things?
Mutua: The most exciting thing about being back in music is that we feel like our mouths had been shut but now we can speak again. I guess we want to know that we used that which God put in us to advance His kingdom in whatever way. We believe that we'd rather use what we have badly than not use it at all (but we shall use it in an awesome way). Music is our thing, it makes us happy and we know that there are people who can be reached by the music in a way nothing else could reach them. That is the power in music, to capture someone in that 4minutes and maybe, just maybe make a difference to them and give some perspective on things, a Godly perspective. We are privileged to be able to use that power in Jesus' name.

Mwafrika.com: Awesome, we're excited with you! Any last words for now?
Mutua: All we can say is that in the advent of careless glorification of self and decay of morals, we can say Jesus works. Being with God really does work, He gives peace, joy, strength and a lot more. When you start to think you don't matter, His heart breaks. You matter and your art matters too. Be bold, be strong, trust God, He knows the way.

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