Emerging Rwanda: Kaya Byinshii

“I exposed myself to different types of music so that I can stand out music-wise, both as a singer and songwriter,” she says. In April, the artist partnered with the versatile photographer Meliibees on a photo series about flowers. We caught up with the Green Ferry Music signee to learn more about her music and career.

LUCY ILADO: How has this year been for your career?

KAYA BYINSHII: It’s not been too bad to be honest. Initially, it was all a bit daunting, as there was a sense of uncertainty, but for me, as time has gone on, I’ve been able to get stuck into music. I’m optimistic for better times after the pandemic. Meanwhile, I’m taking the opportunity to network and meet with artists that inspire me. My highlight so far, I would say, was getting to meet American singer Teddy Riley and Congolese-Belgian singer, rapper, songwriter, model and artist Lous and the Yakuza in Kigali. Although there wasn’t much time to speak in length, I was inspired by their success stories.

How do you describe your music?

Genres do not confine me and I’m sure that I will not settle for a specific sound. But I tend to lean more towards folk, reggae, R&B and soul. Thematically, I strive to encourage conversations on different topics such as self-love and self-awareness – issues that are not covered as much as they should.

Congratulations on the release of your debut EP. It is such a great collection of songs. How does it feel to have it out?

Thank you very much! Initially, I was nervous because I was scared of negative feedback. I didn’t want to make myself vulnerable. But now the feeling is different because all the feedback has been positive [laughs]. I feel relieved and happy that people can get to know me a bit more.

Was there a particular theme or message you wanted to portray with this EP?

There’s an empowerment theme but the main message is to trust your gut, be intuitive and listen to your conscience. ‘Kami’ and ‘Uri Kaya’ encourage the listener to embrace self-love. I believe that one needs to love and accept themselves and also set aside time for meditation to be the best version of themselves. ‘5 Am’ challenges the listener to be self-driven and not rely on others to make their dreams come true, while ‘Ibyejo’ talks about living in the moment as nobody knows what tomorrow holds.

I love all the tracks, but my favourite is ‘Ibyejo’. What was it like to collaborate with famed artist Bushali?

It’s everybody’s favourite [laughs]. I think it’s because it carries a theme that anyone can relate to – love. Also, it has a fast-paced, irresistible rhythmic groove. Bushali is famous, and yes, that also helped to make it more popular. He is a very cool and creative person to work with. I am sure we will have more projects in the future.

Any local media support for the EP?

No local airplay, honestly. I cannot zero in on why this is the case, but I think radio stations believe people won’t like the music, or it could be because I don’t pay for the music to run on radios or TVs. I am optimistic that the industry will slowly embrace artists like myself. In the meantime, we will keep making good music that speaks for itself.

Where would you like to be in the next five years?

I am very passionate about live performance. I hope that in the next five years, I will be a regular at various music festivals worldwide like Sauti za Busara, Bushfire, Bayimba and WOMEX. Before then, I plan to release more music, and I am super excited for the next project, which could be an EP or album.

You are as passionate about music as you are about theatre. How do you ensure a balance between the two?

I find music and theatre very complementary, which doesn’t need balance. My goal as an artist is to initiate conversations that challenge people to be better, and I do this through acting, poetry or music.

Several of the musicians we’ve interviewed recently have spoken about how the pandemic has stretched them creatively. Did you learn any new skills during the lockdown?

Yes. I got a ukulele and learnt how to play it. I’m not as perfect as I may want to be, but I am glad that I already got the basics. I’ve been able to perform with it a couple of times already. There’s a short film by Khald Steve Shema titled Last Lasts, which will be released soon. Aside from being featured as an actress, I also created the film’s theme song by playing the ukulele.

Stream Nyabyinshi here.