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FROM CURIOSITY TO CREATION: THE BIRTH OF KALPOP

My journey as a producer (Blame It On Don) began with a deep love and passion for music. Growing up, the creative process behind the songs and the way music could evoke emotions and connect people always fascinated me. This curiosity led me to explore music production, and I started experimenting with various digital audio workstations and production techniques. I honed my skills through countless hours of self-study, online tutorials, and hands-on practice. I immersed myself in the world of music production, constantly seeking ways to refine my craft and stay updated with the latest trends and technologies.

The Musical Landscape:
I was still learning production when it dawned on me that Kenyan music was not growing despite having music genres that were supposed to give us that unique identity. I had grown up listening to Rumba, pop, Reggae, Rap, Bongo, Kwaito, and different sounds while maintaining a playlist of the best in either genre. There was E-Sir's Boomba, then Ogopa DJs' Kapuka then Genge came. All these Kenyan sounds other than Benga lacked international appeal. These genres were never growing past the Kenyan borders. And by growth, I mean adoption by artists from different regions beyond 254.

Challenges in the Industry:
Similarly, despite the efforts by production houses, media, and fans to support local content, Kenyan music was not growing for many reasons including conmanship in the entertainment industry. We had Promoters (they still exist) who had decided to make money from the sweat and blood of artists. Then the Music Copyright Society of Kenya came and ruined everything despite having elected some artists to the management board hoping they would do something different. They ended up being the most prominent scam artists ever proposed in the history of Kenyan entertainment. Story for another day.

The Birth of Klassik Nation:
This and many more gave me a desire to create a platform that celebrates and promotes African music, culture, and talent. I wanted to provide a space where artistes could showcase their craft and connect with a global audience. That's how Klassik Nation record label was born. Considering my background as an artist, brand manager, and head of business operations in the corporate world, I had everything somehow figured out. I created a comprehensive business plan complete with acquisition, retention, sustainability, and growth strategies. Along the way I met great friends and partners such as Blessed Paul, Ben "Priest" Gumo, Jay Jackson, Cash B, Lord Wizoh, Jilly Lemundro Parco, Kingpheezle, and others who dropped along the way, we continued to build the Klassik Royal legacy. Klassik Nation is all about embracing diversity, fostering creativity, and amplifying the voices of African artistes. This is in accordance with the Klassik Royal Nation's vision, mission, and objectives established under the .

The Emergence of Kalpop:
We (The Klassikans) created different sounds, even turned rappers into singers and vice versa, and then we settled for Kalpop as the name of this dynamic genre. Kalpop is a dynamic and vibrant music genre that encompasses various influences from Klassikan, African, lingual (multi-cultural), and popular music. It emerged in the mid-90s within the Klassikan royal communities under the Klassik Nation record label in Kenya and has since gained popularity in Kenya and international markets such as the US and UK.

The rest is history. Join me next Friday for the next part of this . From the seeds of curiosity and a deep love for music to the birth of a genre that celebrates diversity and creativity, the journey of Kalpop continues to evolve, and its beats resonate across borders, connecting people through the universal language of music.

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