Steph Kapela's Timely Check In With The Address
"Artists for pay are usually just about the fame glitz and glamour. They’re not so focused on changing reality as much as they’re focused on getting the most attention."
"Artists for pay are usually just about the fame glitz and glamour. They’re not so focused on changing reality as much as they’re focused on getting the most attention."
- Steph Kapela
I would say that the midmorning of September 1 was going well. Except it wasnt. It was filled with what mystics might call flow. So it wasn't just going well,it was a present out of the Now. And the present came with an opportunity to converse with Steph Kapela. We had the chat remotely via messages. I had the urge to connect with Steph, following our pedigree of mutually fulfilling interactions in the past, dating back to 2019. He is in the middle of a new single roll out. All the more reason behind this catch up.
So our exchange went a little like this.
The Address:I wanted to start this conversation by finding out how
excited you are to share your new music with the world.?
Steph Kapela: Ummm.. yes I’m excited to share some new music, I know a lot of fans have been waiting requesting and demanding new music and it feels amazing to give them what they want.
TA.This seems to be time window where alot of music is getting released locally and abroad. How do you usually decide on the ideal time to premier your new music?
SKTo be honest, I wasn’t paying attention to any math or
timing, just felt like it’s time for some new shit. Plus we’ve been in the
studio a lot, so we just want guys to see what we’ve been up to
TA.Nairobi rapper,
Nene K recently shared a tweet saying that this is an interesting time for
Kenyan HipHop. Do you share the same sentiments towards Kenyan HipHop in 2021?
Why?
SK:Yes, I think hiphop is definitely more visible than it
has been in the recent past. Shout out to everyone’s efforts to put hiphop on
the map. Truth is though, music these days is a blend of many genres and
sounds, even hiphop ain’t all the way hiphop, know what I mean?
TA.What have you
been keen to pursue in 2021,creatively and in life? Hows that working out for
you?
SK:2021 has been good and bad. Sometimes it feels like it’s
been worse than 2020 and that was a bitch! I’ve been in the studio of course,
many studios not just mine, also running a business and also getting more
family time in. Been living you know?
TA:Life often looks
and feels different for artists. I mean, most artists are always trying to
paint a picture of the reality happening around them. Do you feel like art and
philosophy often go hand in hand? In the sense that artists are in a perpetual
struggle to articulate their perception of reality. Please describe
SK This sounds like an essay question buda haha. The way I
see it, there are two types of artists, even though each group varies in
intensity, it comes down to artists for pay and artists with a cause. The
latter is which I’d say struggle to articulate their perception of reality.
They are deeply persuaded to shed light on their environment and beliefs, and
it can be quite difficult to get it just right. Artists for pay are usually
just about the fame glitz and glamour. They’re not so focused on changing
reality as much as they’re focused on getting the most attention. I also
believe however that both groups have some of each other’s traits and desires.
Hope that makes sense.
TA:Usually when
freestyles come around, they mark the onset of a major musical out. Should we
have any reason to look forward to a new
body of work from you?
SK: Haha a project will come when it comes, these things are not to be rushed. There will be enough music from us to keep the craving in check though.
