Dancing viva stars sing their way up
THERE is lots of raw, untapped musical potential everywhere you turn in this town. One just has to go to one of the numerous musical performances to see this.
By Moses Opobo
THERE is lots of raw, untapped musical potential everywhere you turn in this town. One just has to go to one of the numerous musical performances to see this.
One is likely to be overwhelmed at such a concerts. And overwhelmed Vianney Kushaba, the manager of Viva Stars, the latest music group in town, was. As a brands and promotions manager for one of the leading cosmetics companies in Kampala, Kushaba attends his fair share of musical concerts.
“I realised that there is a lot of untapped young talent. Artistes I had never heard of would pounce on me begging to perform at concerts that we sponsored, or would ask for help them shoot a video†Vianney says.
Away from the concerts, many jobless young people approached Vianney to connect them to odd jobs in Movit Products. “I would advise those that could sing or dance to join my group,†he says.
He named the group “Viva Corporate Clubâ€. By then (2005), it was strictly a dance troupe. After one year, Vianney decided to restructure the group, renaming it Viva Stars. Of the 23 pioneer members, 16 were sacked for indiscipline, leaving behind only nine. To gain wider appeal, the group ventured into singing.
A school choir teacher was contracted to give the group vocal training. Unfortunately, the skills he imparted were too choir-oriented for the group.
They then turned to veteran musician/songwriter, Bernard Munyigwa. It turned out to be a good bet as Munigwa easily prepared the group for live singing and studio recording.
The group hit Kann Records to record their debut single, Kantambule, though it passed barely noticed.
For their second single, Kona Endongo, the group sought the services of Henry Kiwuwa of No End Studios. Kona Endongo easily turned over Viva Stars’ fortunes for the better, garnering them the moderate recognition that they enjoy today.
As the name already suggests, it is a typical happy-go-lucky song that implores you to dance because life is too short.
Kona Endongo is the group’s flagship song not only in nightclubs, but also on the luganda airwaves.
The video, together with that of Ansuuta have also made it to local TV stations’ play lists.
However, even though Viva Stars comprises six girls and four boys, it projects itself as a girl group. In their songs, the boys only do the ad libs. Even fliers and group photos only bear the girls’ faces.
The boys are to assume a more prominent role starting with the group’s follow-up album next year. But there is no denying that there has been a bit of reading from the scripts of other established girl groups like Obsessions and Dream Galz.
But if there is one thing for which the group deserves commendation, it is the mode of recruitment.
“We don’t consider beauty only. We don’t look at things like height, skin complexion or weight.
The lot that was dismissed in the beginning were the beautiful ones who thought that the group depended on them,†Vianney, the manager says.
Rather, one must be young, sociable, educated to tertiary level and a talented dancer.
THERE is lots of raw, untapped musical potential everywhere you turn in this town. One just has to go to one of the numerous musical performances to see this.
One is likely to be overwhelmed at such a concerts. And overwhelmed Vianney Kushaba, the manager of Viva Stars, the latest music group in town, was. As a brands and promotions manager for one of the leading cosmetics companies in Kampala, Kushaba attends his fair share of musical concerts.
“I realised that there is a lot of untapped young talent. Artistes I had never heard of would pounce on me begging to perform at concerts that we sponsored, or would ask for help them shoot a video†Vianney says.
Away from the concerts, many jobless young people approached Vianney to connect them to odd jobs in Movit Products. “I would advise those that could sing or dance to join my group,†he says.
He named the group “Viva Corporate Clubâ€. By then (2005), it was strictly a dance troupe. After one year, Vianney decided to restructure the group, renaming it Viva Stars. Of the 23 pioneer members, 16 were sacked for indiscipline, leaving behind only nine. To gain wider appeal, the group ventured into singing.
A school choir teacher was contracted to give the group vocal training. Unfortunately, the skills he imparted were too choir-oriented for the group.
They then turned to veteran musician/songwriter, Bernard Munyigwa. It turned out to be a good bet as Munigwa easily prepared the group for live singing and studio recording.
The group hit Kann Records to record their debut single, Kantambule, though it passed barely noticed.
For their second single, Kona Endongo, the group sought the services of Henry Kiwuwa of No End Studios. Kona Endongo easily turned over Viva Stars’ fortunes for the better, garnering them the moderate recognition that they enjoy today.
As the name already suggests, it is a typical happy-go-lucky song that implores you to dance because life is too short.
Kona Endongo is the group’s flagship song not only in nightclubs, but also on the luganda airwaves.
The video, together with that of Ansuuta have also made it to local TV stations’ play lists.
However, even though Viva Stars comprises six girls and four boys, it projects itself as a girl group. In their songs, the boys only do the ad libs. Even fliers and group photos only bear the girls’ faces.
The boys are to assume a more prominent role starting with the group’s follow-up album next year. But there is no denying that there has been a bit of reading from the scripts of other established girl groups like Obsessions and Dream Galz.
But if there is one thing for which the group deserves commendation, it is the mode of recruitment.
“We don’t consider beauty only. We don’t look at things like height, skin complexion or weight.
The lot that was dismissed in the beginning were the beautiful ones who thought that the group depended on them,†Vianney, the manager says.
Rather, one must be young, sociable, educated to tertiary level and a talented dancer.