His production skills have helped him bag more KORA awards than any of his contemporaries. He is co-founder of one of the country's premier production houses. He has had the opportunity to undertake production and engineering training in Europe. Small wonder he is one of the industry's most sought after and highly regarded producers.
 Born Tim Rimbui, Ennovator comes from a family of five – both parents and two siblings. He is quick to admit that his parents weren't really musical, but somehow both he and his multi-talented producer/artist elder brother Aaron Rimbui picked up the skills. Jokingly, he ‘blames' his dad for turning them on to music. Returning from one of his overseas trips, his dad brought him a keyboard and his brother a drum set. In addition, their dad paid for them to attend classical music training during school holidays.
His interest in pursuing music more seriously started as a result of involvement in church musicals. Around this time the Oyiers, of Sterling Quality Entertainment fame, were starting off, and Tim was always on hand as part of the production team, either in the actual production or helping with sound. One thing led to another, and his passion just seemed to spill over.
He credits his foray into production as a mixture of various forces. For one, he had always been a technical person, always trying to figure out how things worked, especially with sound. Mechanics, electricity and computers were a big part of his interests, and combining this with his piano skills, his interest blossomed.
Early in 2005, Tim got the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands on an internship program, where he pursued training in production and engineering. This came about through a lady whom he met while still at Samawati Studios. Unbeknown to him, she was the director of a European based NGO that worked to promote African culture. Through her, a demo CD Tim had earlier done made its rounds, and eventually someone liked it enough to give him the opportunity.
Production training has not only expanded his horizons, its made him realize that there's more to production than just flair. He admits that even though talent might be a big advantage, it accounts for only 10 per cent of the finished product. He says:
“What you need is for your talent to be molded and developed. Your talent is similar to a diamond in the rough. It has to be crafted to be of any use to anyone. And learning more from those who have been there longer than yourself, and are more technically adept helps that process.”
The very first group Tim did any serious work for was rap pioneers Rap Community, who really just required tracks made. He moved a step up and worked with Mission Driven on their first singles and debut album. That went on to be nominated for a KORA, much to his surprise. Since then, Tim has moved on to work with the who's who of the industry, on both sides of the fence. From DNG and Gospel Fathers on the gospel scene, he's done work for K-South Flava, Mercy Myra, Didge, Nameles and Mr Lenny. He's collaborated on efforts with KORA award winners Kaz, Eric Wainaina and Neema.
Tim admits that working in an industry as difficult as the music industry; there are numerous challenges for him, especially as a believer. The greater majority of people who he works with do not share his faith, and often have value systems very different to his own: sometimes even have no regard for God at all. Yet he says he has learnt to put his foot down, sometimes to his embarrassment. Yet he insists that even though he is not wholly a gospel producer, he must uphold the faith he confesses. Of artists whose lyrics he finds offensive, he says:
“I'm working in a place where it's mainly vocals-based; I'm not working with jazz musicians. As an artist you might see yourself as the best thing since sliced bread, but for me if your lyrics are not up to my standard then I'll give you the number of some other producer who could work with you… Here's the contact of a great producer, give him a call. If you really feel like you have to sing this…sorry, we can't work together!”
This has often earned him curious stares, but over time the industry has come to accept him for who he is. The harder he has worked to entrench himself in the industry, and the more acclaim his work earns him, the more respect he's earned. Now artists approach him knowing that they must maintain a certain standard of work if they are to be produced by the Ennovator.
Tim strongly believes in having a strong spiritual foundation. He says Bible reading is an important part of his walk, and he attempts it as much as he can. Also being in fellowship with other believers helps him keep his walk stable and assures him of spiritual growth. Solo Christianity, as he puts it, is something he is not interested in, as it's the surest way to fall. As such, he holds fast to constant devotion outside of church.
Stylistically Tim feels like he is slowly moving away from the genre he has become associated with, rap and hip hop. He has always been more passionate about neo-soul and afro-fusion, and is now drifting closer to them. He believes this music has more longevity and also holds the power as far as disposable income streams of listeners is concerned. He is quick to state that the reason many people don't succeed in the music business is because they fail to see it for what it is – a business. Now unafraid to venture into areas that were traditionally thought taboo in terms of sales, he easily drifts in that direction.
When asked about where he would like to see himself in the next five or so years, the humility of this phenomenal soft-spoken producer is evident. He says:
“I think a producer is only as good as the people he has under him or who he's brought up. But if I could have ten other Neema 's, then for me I could die happy. It is really just to bring people up and be strong enough to walk away. You hope they become bigger than you and can move on to even better things.
With an attitude like that, its not hard to see Tim Rimbui.
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at Friday, 06 February 2009 13:58
You are the best and I pray that God will use you more for the benefit of the kingdom.
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