Christine Kamau is a critically acclaimed Kenyan jazz musician and composer, known for playing the trumpet and the saxophone. She has performed at various Kenyan and international music venues and festivals and continues to make her mark on the jazz music scene. We had the privilege of speaking with Christine to discuss her career and current projects.
Christine, thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. For readers unfamiliar with you and your background, what drew you to a career in music?
I grew up in Nakuru, Kenya, an amazing town, with a childhood I look back on quite fondly. The elementary school I attended had established a strong music culture, and the music teacher there discovered I was musical. Subsequently, my parents enrolled me in formal music lessons at The Nakuru Players Theatre, an artistic venue that was founded in the 1950s where I studied classical piano and music theory. I had a musical childhood full of music lessons every holiday. Throughout my elementary and high school life, I had many opportunities to perform on stage at school events, including the Kenya National Music Festivals and The Young Musicians Competition. In my second year of high school, I was selected to be the school music prefect assisting in logistics with the school music room, and choir as well as being the school pianist. I later picked up the trumpet as a second instrument and studied at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music under Kagema Gichuhi. I also took piano lessons from an American jazz pianist, John Chapman who was living in Nairobi, and that began my interest in improvised music and composing. I then started writing my own music and started my own band in 2011.
Who were your early influences and how did they impact your career?
The popular music that was being played on TV and radio when I was growing up had a significant impact on my outlook toward music. Popular artists like Yvonne Chakacha, San Fan Thomas, and Them Mushrooms made music that was popular across Africa. You didn’t have to understand the language they were singing in, the music with African beats, melodies, and a vibrant horn section was quite catchy and danceable. In my own music, I have found my compositions to have been inspired by my formative interaction with this African popular music. My career experience has been wholesome so far. I recorded my debut Album This is for You in 2012. Since then I have performed at various festivals and events. I enjoy traveling, experiencing other cultures, and making music with other musicians. I have also played Trumpet for other musicians/groups including Eric Wainaina, Muthoni Drummer Queen, Meklit Hadero, Nairobi Orchestra, Frank Biyong, Akua Naru, and Aloe Blacc among others. What I have learned by interacting with other artists is to ensure form solid relationships at all stages of my career. The music industry is relational, and your ability to harness career longevity and ultimate success lies in creating meaningful relationships with various industry players; media, artists, venues, sessions musicians, and the like. Your ability to do this will enable you to scale up your plans and projects. I have also learned that it is very important to understand how the music industry works, and most of this knowledge can be garnered by attending various music industry conferences and workshops where the information shared up to date.
Your 8-track instrumental Afro-Jazz album titled ‘This is for You’ offered an exciting fusion of jazz with African music elements of ‘Benga’ and Rhumba’ and received critical acclaim. When you were recording the album did you have an intuitive feeling it would have such an impact on the music scene or your career?
At that time, not really. All the songs in that album came from a place of pure inspiration. I really loved what we had been able to create in the studio and that was the most important thing to me at that time. As an artist, I try to capture the melodies that come to my head as honestly as I can and I am glad that this album continues to resonate with the listeners who have experienced it.
Your admirable career includes performances and several major music festivals, including Sierra Jazz Festival, Kenya (2012) Blankets and Wine Festival, Kenya (2012) The ‘Jazz with Isaiah Katumwa TV Show’, Uganda (2013), and Lagos International Jazz Festival, Nigeria (2019). You’ve also been a speaker at several international Conferences championing women in music. Of your many achievements is there one you’re most proud of, and if so, why?
Thanks! Thing is, I actually appreciate every single opportunity I get to share my music whether performing live or participating in panels as a speaker because each opportunity has the potential to ultimately make a significant contribution to my overall music journey. Nonetheless, I would say my biggest achievement is actually becoming a professional musician…like I did the thing that I always wanted to do, and I am super proud of that! Career-wise, I am most proud of the live- event ‘Women In Music Concert Series’ which I founded in 2016. The concert series showcases live performances by female acts and has featured over 35 artists from Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. I am honored to have created a platform that provides opportunities for other musicians to showcase their art and to be an active contributor towards the growth of the creative industry in Kenya.
Which three traits define you?
Proactive, creative, and curious.
Please tell us about your latest project.
My latest project is titled ‘But I’ll Try’ and it will be released later in 2023. It comprises original contemporary instrumental jazz compositions and I can’t wait to share it with everybody.
What other projects are in the pipeline?
My next major music engagement is a Jazz research trip to Switzerland in April 2023 thanks to the Swiss Arts Council, Pro Helvetia. I will spend time in various Swiss cities exploring the Jazz music scene infrastructure in terms of venues, artists, and recording studios with the aim of forming connections with Swiss jazz industry players to lay the groundwork for a future joint Swiss-Kenya jazz music project. I am looking forward to that!
Where can our readers find out more about you?
- https://www.facebook.com/christinekamauke
- https://www.instagram.com/christinekamaumusic
- https://www.twitter.com/christinekamau5
Image by Gatehi Mwaniki
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