michael ross
Born to a family of fourteen children he started out as a dancer at the age of 8 years to beats of Usher Raymond,Michael Jackson, and Bobby Brown and later we used to mime songs of ‘Boys to men, David Campo’ when performing at Campus shows and at school shows Michael Ross aka Kakooza Michael is a Ugandan RnB Artiste. Ugamuziki’s Andrew Israel Kazibwe caught up with Michael Ross.
Q: When did you start your singing Career?
A: Professionally I started singing in 2002 thats when I released my first Song ‘Senorita’
Q:What inspired you into singing?
A: At home our parents used to buy alot of music and we would select what we wanted to listen to. RnB was my favourite and I used to listen to lots of it-the likes of Baby Face, MC Hammer and much more and as I grew,I picked up what I wanted. My family has been really surpportive from the beginning.
Q: Tell us about your school life in relation to your career
A: Being a dayscholar really helped me alot more especially keeping with the trend,being updated about what was going on,what was hitting as regards music.
Q: What was the first song you did?
A: Senorita was my first and thank God it was a hit,I was blessed working with Steve Jean-one of the best producer by then. This song to me was a breath of fresh air,the only English song by then and people really embraced it.
Q: What orther songs did you do?
A: ‘How do you love somebody’,’You’re the one’,’It’s over now’, ‘Yooyo, ‘Nalulungi’, ‘Nkwetaaga’, ‘Cloths off’, ‘Tell me ft Navio’, ‘Hooked on you ft Miss Jojo’, ‘Follow’ among others.
Q: How do you describe your performances in music?
A: With me singing and dancing go hand-in –hand,when I put them together,you have a good package and when I look on to my role models, for long Iam able to make it what it is today.
Q: How many Albums have you done so far?
A: I have one Album so far called ’Yo the one’ which comprises of fifteen songs. My second was supposed to have been released last year but we went on a European tour with Vamposs and by the time I came back I had to go back on the drawing board,plan again and also set the right time for releasing it.
Q: How have you managed keeping on with your music-maintaining it?
A: First of all I didn’t get caught up with fame, unlike other artists. I just knew I had a long way to go,I had a long way to go still so, I had to calm my self and work harder. Also am one of the very few artistes whose music is unique; my songs are differnt,my videos are different and also my peformances-I try to stay as unique as possible. I also give my songs time for people to listen to them by not releasing many at the same time.
Q: How did you manage handling both school and your music career at the same time?
A: First of all when I was doing school I already knew what I wanted to be. I made up my mind that I had to finish school first and I made sure music couldn’t affect my education-I had to find a way of balancing both.
Q: Have you done any collaborations?
A: Not many,I’ve done a collabo with; Radio and Weasel called ‘Adinini’, ‘Tell me’ ft Navio, On Fire ft Vamposs, and ’Hooked on You ft Miss Jojo of Rwanda’
Q: What are the challenges involved in making collabos?
A: First of all when you do collabos with some artistes here,they don’t want to share the costs-which include; making the video,promoting the song and when you do performances with them,they want to be paid abnormal sums of money. Another thing is that to do a collabo you have to blend with some one so as you don’t clash-the chemistry should be there in the song,I really take good consideration when it comes to this.
Q: How have you managed to keep good hold your profile unlike rangles heard among some artistes?
A: It all comes up from one’s character. I try as hard as I can not to beef with anyone by utilising all my time by building my career and also minding my own business.
Q: Who is your manager currently?
A: Right now,am managing myself,am yet to find another manager.
Q: Isn’t it hard managing yourself?
A: No,it’s okay because I know what I want and I know myself best and where I want to go, so it all fine.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: They are actually three; Usher, R.Kelly and the Late Micheal Jackson.
Q: On your last European tour,how did you find it?
A: Wow!, we didn’t know we had such big crowds,Sweden was massive,Denmark was superb, Norway too. It was over whelming.
Q: Any challenges being face in the music industry?
A: Yes, mainly we don’t make good money like we are supposed to because of piracy. People don’t buy albums but just download the music. Also Ugandans still have a long way to go as regards suppoting their home grown talents is conserned,they will only go for the big names. In Nigeria for example local talent is supported at large thats why it is leading. Also the local media here is mostly supportive to Artistes who pay them to play their videos. They generally don’t mind about quality. An artiste has to pay for his/her music to be played. At the end one doesn’t blame the fans.
Q: What should your fans expect coming up?
A: Am planning on shooting another video of my new song called ‘Give me tonight’,hopefully two this month and three to four more videos by the end of this year. Also next year I want to tour through East Africa as I promote my music.
Am still working on my second Albulm with fifteen songs ,it will be called ‘Unstoppable’,I will be releasing it this year
Q: Any advise to upcoming artistes?
A: Yes,especially on promoting your songs,I advise Artistes to aim at making good videos for their songs because once the video is good,it definately promotes the audio,it can promote you even across boarders since it will definately be played on most televisions.
He is a down to earth guy,so reasonable-wish all musicians c’d take examples from him!!!