Let it burn. Breathe deep. Stay still. Elevate. Upgrade.

I fall down hard; 60 kgs and counting, plus the cares of the world stuck on my back, we come crashing down of God’s earth.
It shakes, but it does not break.

I lie still, not moving, not breathing for a while.

The view from the here seems familiar. I know this place. I know this feeling. I have cried these hot tears brewing at the back of my throat, the front of my chest.
This scent, defeat, I know it well. For all my best intentions, I am back at the place I was before. This cycle never ends.

I lie still, not moving, crushed and burning on god’s good earth.

Turns out that the world is a treacherous place, that words often spoken in the dark, in hushed tones between lovers hearts are just words, and agreements made in broad daylight in offices backed by currency are just intentions that are mostly negated, and that for all the will in the world, the pursuit of my happiness on stage and in life is connected to individuals outside my desire or ability to control.

The loneliness weighs heavy on me, as heavy as a leaf must be to a team of ants. Nothing could be more monumental.

I lie still, not moving, crushed and burnt out on this unyielding earth.

Gravity denies me the freedom to soar in the sky where we laugh in sunshine and speak in Technicolor.

A sequence appears in my head. On loop. its goes...

Let it burn. Breathe deep. Stay still. Elevate. Upgrade.

I do not know what it means, but my weary heart desires reprieve.

Please be so.

An open letter to the musicians who went before us

An open letter to the musicians who went before us

Re: Stop making music a free commodity

Dear artists who went before us,
First I begin by thanking you very much for all the work you put in getting the main stream masses of this here our Kenya come around to the idea of home grown, home made music. Thank you for the continued war with Radio and TV stations to get Kenyan content on high rotation. Thank you for investing in better videos and such promo material. It would seem we are getting somewhere. It would seem.

Now, onto the little matter of making music free commodity. You ask me how? I tell you how.

The way its meant to work is that fans are supposed to support the career of an artist by buyng the music, the merchandise, the concert tickets, the artists apps and all that good stuff that is the artists and associated with the artist. But look at the scenario right now in this here Kenya. Corporate Kenya as well as Club owners negotiate with artists for their performance fees and most times pay upfront and what may be considered a good amount. They then spend time and MONEY to advertise and host the event which is FREE for the public. Together so far? Stay with me please..Take Musician X. Say I watch him today at the concert Face off where the entry is Ksh one bamba 50, then I watch him in another week at the COE constitution review activation for free, then I watch same artist X at another activation road show event where the cost is a further Ksh FREE. Now, my claim is that im going to all this venues because this is my favourite artist in the world, but I have never needed to pay a penny to see him. So when his album does come out..my mind set is already on FREE. I mean think about this, whatever I don't get on the radio for FREE, I can catch at his gig FOR FREE so in my head my favorite musician in the world= FREE. No thanks to buying his brand new album for Ksh 500. which, by the way, is exactly what it will cost me for a double Gin& Tonic at my favourite club in westlands, where incidentally the entry is FREE and the music that is mostly off my favotites artists portfolio..is a further FREE.

Dear Musicians who went before us, Mainstream music=FREE to the Kenyan audiences. This is not a way to build a sustainable career. This is the short cut to the shortest shelf life of music ever

Dear musicians who went before us, this strategy needs to change. We need you to get into the performing circuit. We need you to organise your own gigs, and put some work into the live act and then charge entrance at the door so that fans can relate you with a worth. We need you to negotiate with event organisers so that you are not on the billing of free shows more than thrice a year. You deserve our support, now make us make that mental connection that reads my favourite musician= VALUE.

MIKONO KWENYE HEWA

Written by M.Ndonga

Chorous:
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Na wengine mikono chini ndani ya mashati/
Na wengine mikono ndani ya mifuko wazi/
Na wengine mikono kwenye chupa na glassy/
Na wengine mikono up juu na kweney hewa/

Bargames/ type A bargins/
Willing buyers, wiling sellers/
Her name is Stella, looking at the fella, he trying to figure out what to tell her/
Smiles/ hidden agendas/
Each thinks the other to be a pretender/
But they exchange the names/ and they play the games,/with a poker face/ they make a pact on their undone acts/
Now ndio apate physical elevation/ lazima kwanza atoe physical motivation/
Like drinks to get the conversation going and drinks/ to get the party really flowing/
Up and away suddenly it’s a new day / he knew a good lay is some tequila away/
He rolls to his side with a thought on his mind/
cos the last thing he heard was the MC say/

Chorous:
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Na wengine mikono chini ndani ya mashati/
Na wengine mikono ndani ya mifuko wazi/
Na wengine mikono kwenye chupa na glassy/
Na wengine mikono up juu na kweney hewa/


Marriage/ type A bargain/ willing buyers willing sellers of tomorrow/
Forever is much too long to be alone plus hidden agendas/Like/
Too much history/ too much ambiguity/ a need for binding social security/
So they exchange the names/ with a pompous act/ they make a pact/
Now ndio apate physical elevation/ lazima kwanza atowe physical motivation/
Like a house/to get her and her family talking/ cos the house is in a status quo location/
Up and away/ suddenly it’s a new day/ she knew a good life was a name away/
She rolls to her side with a smile on her mind and pumps the song where the MC says/

Chorous:
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Na wengine mikono chini ndani ya mashati/
Na wengine mikono ndani ya mifuko wazi/
Na wengine mikono kwenye chupa na glassy/
Na wengine mikono up juu na kweney hewa/


Na wengine, wengine mna jidai/
Na wengine, pengine mmesota/
Na wengine, pengine mnachora/
Na wengine/ pengine mnaroga


Dara ra ra ra….

Chorous:
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Mikono kwenye hewa/ Mikono kwenye hewa/
Mikono up juu na kwenye hewa/
Na wengine mikono chini ndani ya mashati/
Na wengine mikono ndani ya mifuko wazi/
Na wengine mikono kwenye chupa na glassy/
Na wengine mikono up juu na kweney hewa/

Mikono kwenye hewa/
Hewa…

SILENCE LYRICS

Written by M. Ndonga, J. A. Namu, S. Chege

This is what silence means/
This is what silence means/

When they walk into your house and/ sit at your table/
Eat your bread and drink your tea/
You won’t even know cos /you were sleeping/
They didn’t wake you/ from your dreaming/
Your dreams were colored in gold/

Chorus:
They will try and take everything from you/
Shout/ Make some noise/
So scream before they take away your voice too/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/
They will try and take everything from you/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/
So scream before they take away your voice too/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/

This is what silence means/
Remember, remember/
This is what silence means/
Remember, remember/7th July

When you’re walking down the street and/ buy the paper/
Turn on the radio/ watch the news/
Do you really see us when were matching into/
Clouds that sting for rights we thought we won for kids at home/
Do you really see what’s going on/

Chorus:
They will try and take everything from you/
Shout/ Make some noise/
So scream before they take away your voice too/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/
They will try and take everything from you/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/
So scream before they take away your voice too/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/

This is what silence means/
Haki yetu/
Haki yetu/

Kumbka kumbuka/ saba saba/
GSU tear gas town/
Sioni sababu/ machozi na damu/
Kuyasahau/Oh oh oh

The law does not allow for police brutality/
The police are not the judge and jury/ (Utumishi kwa wote)
They are trying to break your voice/
But it is powerful/ not even their blows can stop us
We are unbwogable
Why is my country so dark ( mulika mwizi)
Did you say you have an eight month old alone at home/ I was worried for my six year old/ and I for my 8 year old son/
And I for my 13 year old who is a candidate this year/
And Bilha does not talk/ She carries a baby she might lose in her womb (najihurumia kuwa mkenya)

Chorus:
They will try and take everything from you/
Shout/ Make some noise/
So scream before they take away your voice too/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/
They will try and take everything from you/
Shout/ scream/ make some noise/
So scream before they take away your voice too/

SAIDIA LYRICS

Written by S. Chege, M.Ndonga

Broken hearts/ from broken love/
That was meant to fill the half empty part of the glass/
Passing on down main street/
Dimmed eyes/ Jaded smiles/
Fading halos hanging over broken winged angels/
Passing on down main street/
And the loneliness from her broken nest/
Fills her heart with a fear that binds her wings/
If she closed her eyes she could be the wind/
Can you hear her soul crying/

Chorus:
Hear me/ help me/
Ninalia saidia saidia/
Ninalia saidia saidia/
Saidia/

Broken banks/ from broken backs/
Now broken dreams drowning in the shallow deep of their making/
Dragging on down main street/
And the preachers word/so often spoken/
Drags my shadow longer than the sun drags her rays across the earth/
Dragging on down main street/
He is frozen in a body that he barely understands/
Sinking in a life that he never even planned/
Hoping to receive with a closed fisted palm/
Can you hear his soul crying/

Chorus:
Hear me/ help me/
Ni nalia saidia saidia/
Ninalia saidia saidia/
Saidia/

These calloused hands/ these blistered feet/
In this 2X4 I just don’t fit/
I’m sweating and chaffing in this cruel heat/
I’m lost and found in this broken beat/
I’m living to be so in/ dying to be so out/
When will these ends ever meet/
I’m huffing and puffing against this wall/
I need/I need to let go/

Chorus:
Hear me/ help me/
Ni nalia saidia saidia/
Ninalia saidia saidia/
Saidia/

ROUNDOFF LYRICS

Written by M. Ndonga, S. Chege, R. Kiboy


Won't you bet your money on me/
Won't you place your money on three/
Won't you put your money on me/
Won't you bet your money on me/
Won't you place your money on Muthoni/

Uh, why do we always round it off/ why do we/
To, the closest decimal point or degree/
Uh, why don’t we explore/ why do we/
Assume that we know everything there is to know/ why do we/
Ingawa
yalivyo/ si hivyo (5times)

Chorus:
Won't you put your money on me/
Won't you bet your money on me/
Won't you place your money on three/
Have some fun and faith I'll surprise you

Won't you put your money on me/
Won't you bet your money on me/
Won't you place your money on Muthoni/

Uh, why is it every time they ask/ what's your name/
Its followed by where are you what do you do/
Uh, why do we always state a job/ why do we/
Think that it covers who we are/ uh, why do we/
Assume we know- why do we/
Everything there is- why do we/
Of a person by a title/
lakini
yalivyo-si hivyo (5times)

Chorus:
Won't you put your money on me/
Won't you bet your money on me/
Won't you place your money on three/
Have some fun and faith I'll surprise you/

Won't you put your, bet your, place your, money/
Money!/
Wont you put your bet your place your/
Money!/
Won't you put your, bet your, place your, money/
Money!/
Wont you put your bet your place your/
Money!/
Wont you put your bet your place your/
Money!/

Uh-uh-uh
Have some fun and faith I'll surprise you/
Money!/
Uh-uh-uh
Have some fun and faith I'll surprise you/
Money!/
Uh- uh-uh
Have some fun and faith I'll surprise you/
Money!

Chorus:
Won't you put your, bet your, place your, money/
Money!/
Won't you put bet place money/
Money!/
Won't you put your, bet your, place your, money/
Money!/
Uh-uh-uh-uh/
Uh-uh-uh-uh, I'll surprise you/
Won't you put your, bet your, place your, money/
Money!/
Won't you put bet place money/
Money!/
Won't you put your, bet your, place your, money/
Money!/

Have some fun and faith I'll surprise you/

ROUND OFF: The story

Yes, put everything that is orange in the orange box. Yes. Everything orange in the box labeled oranges. Because orange equals oranges.
Yes? What?what do you mean not orange? Well, that’s a shame.
But that’s fine we are accommodating, we know that Yellow is really just trying to find its way home. To orange.
And then we add it to the oranges.
Thank you.