The weekly western chronicle had a one on one interview with Joshua Kamande akaJoshqa, an upcoming artist from Kakamega county. Demaso was hosted on Za Kisasa show, a youthful and entertainment show that promotes young talents.
Your name?
I am known by the names Joshua Kamande. My stage name is JoshMyq. I was born Nairobi but my parents came from Kakamega county, my mother was born in Matungu constituency and my dad from Ikolomani constituency.
Your education background?
I attended my primary education in forest view a private primary school from primary central Kenya. Later on proceeded for my secondary education where at that time I did a CGSE system kind of education. This is a system of education which is not in Kenya but its branches are here in Kenya.
Tells us about your music career?
Ok, I think I can associate my musical talent with my mother who was a singer in the church. You know my mother by then was a follower of the divine church, a church that is known for using drums while singing and it sounded magical. It made me alongside my age mates enjoy the music in church and I developed the interest in music. I started recording my first music with my friends from central Kenya. We did a song with the title normal fight, we did this song to pass a message and discourage Kenyans and politicians not to repeat what happened in 2007 after elections.
Your latest projects in music?
I did Lazizi Wa Moyo with Grand Pa Records productions in Nairobi. Later on, I did Ombi Langu which is a hit song now and is getting more airplay in Kenyan radio stations.
Challenges?
The main challenge for me has always been money. Without cash, as an artist, you can’t do anything tangible in music. I need money to do quality music, and quality music can be done by a professional producer who at the moment demands a lot of cash. I have a lot of work to record but i can’t because I don’t have enough money to record all this. But I haven’t given up, I have to hustle, struggle “Yaani kujituma” everytime, so that I can achieve my goals in music.
Any other job apart from music?
Currently am in western and am engaging myself in farming. We have a fertile land at the village and I just realized that during my free time I can utilize the land and plant tomatoes, onions and agricultural crops to earn myself income.
Advice to upcoming artists?
The upcoming artist needs to be persistence in everything they do when it comes to music as a career. Let them not give up because they failed to make it in their first second or third project. Instead, they should work harder and be reminded that even the shining stars in music now started from somewhere down there before success came their way.
You are a fan of which football team?
I am a supporter and diehard of Manchester city. In Kenya I support timu ya nyumbani, Ingwe or u can call it AFC Leopards.