Producer Josh is living his dream

By Glorias Musiime

 

Joshua Sentongo aka Josh Wonder is a 21-year-old producer at Audio One studio based in Makindye, owned by producer Paddyman. 

 

How are you Josh?

I am fine how are you?

 

You look young for this profession, how long have you been in production?

Since 2011. I started while young and my uncle Paddyman trained me in his studio. Because I had earlier showed interest from Church, he never hesitated to train me.

 

Where did you get the inspiration? 

I was inspired by my uncle. During my S.4 vacation, I came to his place here in Kampala, good enough he had started this Audio One studio and he was already producing for big musicians like Jose Chameleone, Irene Namubiru and Silver Kyagulanyi among others

 

Who is Joshua Ssentongo? 

I was born in Bugembe, Jinja, in 1994 and was raised by my both parents Peterson Segawa who is a pastor and my mother Margaret Segawa who all lives in Jinja. We were born five children and I am the second born.

I studied in New Hope primary school in Wakiso, Joined Yale High school in Kayunga and later went to Jinja secondary school where I completed my Form four. 

For my A ‘level, I went to St. Mbuga secondary school in Makindye

My father being a Pastor, I grew up in church and I loved the keyboard so much and at the age of 13, my parents supported my idea and I have never changed it.

 

So did you continue with school? 

Yes, I joined Datamine Institute where I am now pursuing a Bachelors in Information Technology.

 

So far, what challenges are you facing in the industry?

I have a challenge with my age. Some musicians despise me, they think I can’t do anything good, but for those who I have worked for, they trust me so much.

I have produced a quite number of songs so far.

 

What style do you do?

They are many of them and some musicians credit me only that the production style is different. I do, Hip Hop, Reggae, Afro Pop, Zouk. 

 

Have you produced some songs and which are they? 

I produced Nince Henry’s Time, Nyongeza, Anjagala by Lyto Boss, Bwerere by Barbi J, Sokalami by Naava, Yegwe by Jose Chameleon and Micheal Holy. Then I had a hand in Neera song by Mosey Radio which was done by Crouch, and Ndibera Naawe by Juliana Kanyomozi and many more.

 

How do you build up ideas? 

In my free time, I create tracks which are loved by my clients. I don’t take it when a musician comes with the track idea because it affects my thinking; always I think of it alone and place my fingers on keyboard then come up with the beautiful track.

 

What does it take for someone to have a hit song? 

Must have a good voice, lyrics and flow of the song.  At least the songs I have worked on, no one has given me a hard time in recording.

 

Advise to your fell young producers. 

There are some young people who think money is better than everything but there is, I say, they are wrong. All these come out of patience. Concentration and faith is the key.