You are not the type of artiste that stages a concert very frequently. In fact, before 2016, when you last held a concert, your previous concert had been staged in 2013. Is it a deliberate choice? 
Yes, that was deliberate. There is a lot that goes on before one puts up a concert. All that needs a lot of time and concentration plus a good team of people to work with.
I only want to put up a show when I am ready financially, physically and emotionally.

Speaking of the 2016 concert, dubbed One Night Only, it had an all-VIP look and feel. Should your fans expect more of the same this time?
Oh yes! The concert at Serena will be exclusively a VIP treat. Then after that show, we shall have three more concerts for all, in different cities, as will be announced soon.

Take us through what it feels like whenever you have a concert coming up? Is it still as pulsating, exciting, frightening as it was on your first concert?
I still do get nervous and apprehensive sometimes. I fear to lose my voice for example, or even forgetting the lyrics. I have to prepare for a long time both mentally and physically. It is very important for me to give the audience a song how they know it and better. I always think it's not perfect enough. I practice for the longest time and towards the show, I speak less or hardly.

For some artistes, holding a concert means a resuscitation of their career, for others, it means celebrating a good musical year, while for some, its a chance to make some money. What does it mean for you to hold a concert like the one coming up?
For me, holding a concert is celebrating my entire career existence, as well as showcasing everything more that I have learnt artistically along the way, especially when I realise my fans miss and believe in me. I love the contact with my audience and it feels my heart with joy when I see the emotion I share with the audience through my songs. The money bit of it can not be ignored, but if it was only and all about that, you would see me everywhere and all over performing nonstop.

Your performances are known for delivering good live music. Who are you working with this time for rehearsals and at the event itself, to bring out your expectations?
Myko Ouma will be the show director. He is impeccable.

Your previous studio album, Mpulira, was a mixture of acoustic and upbeat club bangers, but because of COVID-19, the album probably was not consumed exhaustively. Would you agree with this assumption?
Probably. But also because I was already on a musical break. I got all these unreleased songs that had been sitting on my shelf for ages, compiled them, added a few new songs like Mpulira in two versions and put them on digital platforms and that was it. I did not do any promotion, it was intentional. I did not want those songs to be forgotten on the shelf.

There's a view among artistes that good music no longernsells and that's why they resort to bubble-gum music, to survive. But you happen to fall in the category of good music. Is your long break from releasing new music because of the same frustration? That Ugandans don’t appreciate good music?
I do not know of good music no longer selling. All I know is that it evolves and there are always new trends. It is up to one to follow the trend or not taking in mind how you package and market yourself musically.

At this point in your career, what motivates you to keep sharing your gift with the world? Because certainly, what pushed you 10, 15 years ago might not be the same today, especially with the ever evolving challenges in the industry?
That is the God-given talent that I still have, the fans that still ask for me, my voice itself and my never ending love for music.

Speaking of challenges, what are your views are on this push for copyright reforms. In France where you are partly based, what's the ecosystem like? Is copyright functional there? What can Uganda learn from there?
The copyright law in France is fully applied. As an artiste who does not fully reap from my sweat , I support the push though it is not an easy road as we are poor as a country.

A few years ago, you were appointed by the French Embassy as Ambassador of the French language in Uganda. How is that coming through? Is it one of the things that kept you busy all this while?
That was only for a certain period of time, which I enjoyed doing, but It is not exactly what has been keeping me busy.

What have you done to diversify your income? For someone that had taken a long hiatus and given that our industry thrives a lot on performances, what else has kept you afloat?
Yeah, but I still will not be everywhere performing. I have other projects I work on. Currently, I’m busy undertaking some studies.

Are you still signed under Masters Music label? If yes, what should your fans expect from you, going forward?
No, I am not. The contract was one only for year. At the concert, my fans and Ugandan music lovers at large should expect a thrilling performance.I love them so much.