In conversation with Tessy Wachira

This is Tessy Wachira. She’s the Chief Executive Officer of Kenyan Pick, a music collective aimed at highlighting, focusing and cherishing Kenyan music and Kenyan voices. They host weekly acoustic music concerts featuring a variety of Kenyan artists including Kinoti, the Razor-man and Brandy Maina. This is where she first popped up on our radar. But we love a multifaceted girlie and Tessy is the embodiment of the word: she is a singer, a painter, a lawyer, a set designer (I’m pretty sure I’m leaving a lot out because I’m telling you, when I was doing my research on her the most common response was “The real question is, what doesn’t she do, what wasn’t she in?)

So, together with my correspondent for the day, the mercurial Ciku Fernandes (CK): prime instigator and one of Tessy’s best friends. We got some insight into her creative process, how she balances her hopeful idealism with the practical challenges in the Kenyan music scene as well as why there’s something special about a Thursday.

CO: It’s been a long road since that first Kenyan Pick event with itsjustnjeri (she was your first guest at Kenyan Pick); I can imagine there have been some hard knocks since then. What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt since then?

Hmm. Biggest lessons since then.

Heh. (deep Negro spiritual sigh)

I think one, that this line of work is only as serious as you decide it is. Because I feel like when you’re doing what you love, sometimes it’s easy to not take it as work because you love it so much, because you would do it either way, with or without the money. So, when I was starting off, it was because I was given the opportunity by Mutoriah, so I was only supposed to place-hold for three weeks. This was meant to be a three-week gig kama tumefunga. And then it just grew legs! And then I was like okay… maybe not just three weeks. I started seeing the responses and I too started taking it seriously myself. Like as much as I am doing something I love, this can and should also be a business.

But then now also… it’s just an endless cycle of like oh my gosh I love this so much I would do it regardless but at the same time, this is a thing of value and we need to establish its worth and all of that. So, I guess trying to balance those two has been my battle

Tessy Wachira by Melanie Zaja

CO: So, you’re saying that balance between the joy and that discipline that it’s actually work

Yeah! Exactly! Like having to do this show- Let me tell you, when it started it was rainbows and butterflies, now every Thursday regardless of what happens even one second to that show- This actually lesson #2:

Having to show up, even when you don’t feel like it. Like oh my God! Just because I love it doesn’t mean that it’s smooth. Then the added responsibility of hosting as well. Like I also produce Nakili Sessions on Tuesday and at least with that I do the work but I don’t really have to be out there or have my face tied to the thing. But for mine, it doesn’t matter what I’m feeling. I have to go there and I have to show up 100%; for the work, with the artists, with the guests. And it doesn’t matter what crisis just happened 3 seconds ago. Plus, because we’re a two-man team, which is intentional, it’s not like I can tell someone to handle everything and then I just pull up to the stage. So yeah, showing up when I don’t feel like it is a big, big one. And #3:

I don’t wanna say competition, but, competition. Like there are people who’ve been in the industry for like a while and event organizers who have been in the industry for a while and we’re all just working with the same artists, same venues, same crowds and all of that. Thursday for some reason has been the day when everyone is doing an acoustic thing. And at first, I was like, maybe I should change up my thing and try and strike out a niche for myself, but I found out that it’s also important to trust the wisdom of those who came before you. Cause I tried one on Wednesday and the numbers weren’t so great. Guys are like, shy to leave the house on Wednesday. But Thursday comes and people are like “She’s Friday junior so like maybe we do a ka-something.” So, I think that’s the lesson, being willing to learn from those who came before you and that maybe there really is something special about Thursdays.

CO: You said that it’s a two-man team by design. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Sooo, I don’t trust easily when it comes to work. Maybe that’s because I’m kind of a perfectionist. So, I know if I’m doing something, I know it will come out well. I know what I can do and what I can’t do. But then now when you trust someone… or you delegate something and you don’t get it done and you could have done it; maybe with a bit more struggle but at least it would be done, you know?

So, initially, me I was going to do this thing alone. I had no plans of ati having a partner or whatever. Maybe like getting to a point that I have a graphic designer for posters. You know, just for specialized stuff like that. But then I met Trevor Sudi, the production manager for Kenyan Pick. I had planned to work with a different camera crew like from a production company; but I think it was a good thing that didn’t work out. I asked them and at first, they seemed keen but they felt later felt flaky to me, like they didn’t have that follow-through. Sudi had been there from the beginning and he first approached me pitching about doing some content for me; and it was something I was struggling with; so, it was just perfect timing. And from that I saw something special; like he was really consistent.

And then, I have to mention that wah, the mentors I have had up to this point… Oh my God! I’m so grateful to them cause now they’ve helped me know what help is usually needed and things like that. So, I handled it in the same way I was mentored when I was working with another person who was above me. So, I asked him, “Other than content, is there anything else you feel you would like to do? Like generally what are your strengths?” …and the reply that came from that was: “Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you asked!” And he had so many ideas, but more importantly, he always had that follow through with the ideas. He was so consistent.

I think a good thing about the partnership is that we weren’t friends before this point. We’ve built our friendship by working professionally so when I trust him it’s genuinely based on the work and not through the existing friendship. And now, it’s like we have the same vision 100% for Kenyan Pick. He’s put aside so many things for us to be running this, and he really did have other things going on for him so this really gave me pause. For me it makes sense when I put things aside for Kenyan Pick but for someone else to also do it? It was a real shift for me. Plus, I really like our work dynamic as well: like when I think an idea is too crazy and I run it by him and it’s actually doable or bringing me to the ground when I’m really out there or even vice versa. I think we’re very complimentary to each other personality wise.

It’s really hard for me to trust with professional work like this. Like I’m almost murderous about this; if anyone messed up at my expense, I don’t even know what I’d do. So, it’s really good to have someone I can trust alongside me.

CF: Side observation to back what you were saying before, but I don’t think you realize the power you have. Like you have this ability to inspire people and make people think it’s a good idea. Like, do you remember, we started bands and we thought we’d go international. Tessy would come with these ideas and we’d all be like, WE’RE IN! No instruments, no nothing: just girls with a dream. Meeting at break-time to practice dances and like harmonies and… And it was always just Tessy’s idea. She was the ringleader. People always used to go like, if she’s doing it then it’s a good idea so let’s go, let’s try, what’s the worst that could happen?

Sorry for interrupting, I just had to add that

CO: You know, that actually brings me to my next question. When I was doing my research on you, I was asking like, “What does Tessy do? What is she like?” And the most common response was like, “What doesn’t she do?!” You’ve been a singer, a painter, a lawyer, a set designer and even way back when in high school, you were in games, in academics, a captain etc. etc. You also headed a law clinic in university as well. So, my question is, how do all those perspectives inform your present-day work?

Oh my gosh, you really did your digging, I feel so perceived right now. But, um it’s a really good question.

Sigh

I think it all stems to like, I really feel deeply. I feel deeply. I do be feeling. And from that deep internal feeling translates to just, creation. So, I think that’s why I just find myself drawn to all these spaces.

CK: Aww! Do you really feel like it’s a channel?

It is! It really is. There are times my friends ask me “have you watched this show? Have you watched this or that?” And I haven’t watched any, and they’re like what do you spend your time doing then? Actually, just creating. I feel like that’s all I do with my free time. Like writing or painting or something like that.

And another thing, that ties to what Ciku said about me, it’s that: I can’t keep things to myself. I’m such an over-sharer: like if something is good and I enjoy it, I will try to put my friends on. I’m also always mixing my friend groups. Like I just feel like if there’s joy and value to be shared then I just have to. I really like it. So, I think that’s also something that carries into all the things I do.

So, those two aspects of feeling deeply to create and appreciate together with that need to share joy and value with others are what really stand out to me. I just have to put it to the world. Does that make sense?

CO: Yeah! That’s really really beautiful actually.

Now take us through a typical Thursday. What’s usually your biggest headache of the day?

Hmmm. My biggest headache. I think I would say, that disrespect from the venue(s) and their people. Like, you always expect another day of being disrespected by an enterprise, and the disrespect varies, so you don’t know which one you’re signing up for that day. Ranging from being denied takeaway boxes for the crew cause they were too ‘expensive’, yaani takeaway boxes, for three people; or attracting such large numbers to the venue and we don’t even get a meal not to mention a percentage of the profits from sales as we’re entitled to; disrespecting our vendors hadi we had to get rid of that vending idea; fluctuating the budget constantly and just things to frustrate you in general.

Plus, at times there were security issues which weren’t appropriately addressed. But at least right now, with our current venue, that’s not so much of an issue so that’s a good step in the right direction.

I also used to have jitters about turnout; like whether anybody would come or not. But those have calmed with time and I’ve just learnt to do my job and make sure everything is working and looking pretty and the turnout will sort itself pretty much. Kwanza at the new venue, I’ve seen so many new faces that it’s like wow, who even are all these people? So, basically these days it’s just an attitude of “Whoever’s meant to come, will come.”

CO: And on the other side: What still warms your heart after all this time?

Yaani there’s moments when me and Sudi will just turn and look around and be like: “What? We did this!? This is us?” You know? Like you’re in manager mode but then you go off-balance and you’re like wait, this is us?! Like it’s our show, it’s our baby. Watching this thing come from like, an idea in my head. Like… (points to a really black Sherlock themed book) This book guys, this is my Kenyan Pick book. This is where Kenyan Pick was born, for all intents and purposes. Like there’s a section where I had written ‘Artists I want to work with’ just like, for manifesting. This was even before the show became a concept and fast forward to now and it’s like half have already been and some are in the pipeline to be. Like even when I was trying to figure out what was going to be the name of this thing; it’s all here.

said beautiful notebook

So, like, even hearing people use the phrase ‘Kenyan Pick’ or ‘We’re going for Kenyan Pick’ means so much to me because it transports me back here to when I was sounding all these names out on my own to hear how it will sound on someone else’s lips.

Plus, also people who I don’t know coming for the shows and congratulate me and tell me what Kenyan Pick has done for them. I can’t shake the feeling that someone is lying to me or playing a prank on me. Cause like, these were just ideas on a notebook woishe. Kumbe you guys were serious wah.

These are the reasons I can’t stop and I won’t stop. Like the last couple of weeks, I’ve been in such a slump but this is what carries me through.

CO: That takes us smoothly into my next question. What/who are your pillars? How are you holding all this up?

(Tessy has a tendency of sighing wistfully before answering any question so insert one all the time)

One, I would say my friends, cause the support. The support! It’s crazy, it’s crazy. I feel like the support is what keeps me going most days so one, definitely my friends.

Two, my mentors. Like I’m honestly so blessed to have entered and found people who just want good music. Everyone I’ve been working with has been so supportive with building me up. Someone like Mutoriah has carried me so far. And not even in the soft-life kinda way. Like that first show at Beer District, he told me about it literal days beforehand. He remembered that I had wanted to do a show, saw an opportunity, and delegated all creative control to me. At this point, there was no Instagram page, no posters, no artist on cue; like I had been thrown in the deep-end. But at the same time, that’s exactly what I needed! I had been writing on the book for sijui how long, still castles in the sky for me. Like maybe I’ll do this… or go check out that venue… but all of a sudden BAM! Deep-end. And I was grateful for it. I was glad to have someone pushing me.

Three, Sudi!!! Capital letters SUDI. I don’t even know what to say about that guy. Sudi. Full-stop.

Four, Alice. I would definitely say Alice. Alice, I think was my production manager before Sudi. She’s helped me pick out my outfits and just generally takes such good care of me. She even listens to Ethan Muziki with me… Like she’s so involved. Alice is my auntie/house manager.

CO: There’s usually this voice in my head that sows doubt, or tells me that I’m delusional, or has reasons to not do things. I was wondering whether you have that voice too? And if you do, how do you deal with that voice?

I do, I do. And it’s so strong. When you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing it’s so hard. I know what I feel. I can see where I want to be. But I don’t know what this in between is supposed to look like. So, I start asking myself questions like “If it was gonna be done, maybe it would have been by now already. Maybe there’s a reason it hasn’t. And people have come and failed and I am not any special or any more hardworking.” And there’s pressure from having my father as a lawyer. Plus oh my gosh, all my friends are in corporate. My friends are working like, office jobs; my friend daktari hapa as well (Ciku) so it’s like am I doing the right thing? Everyone is doing the conventional option, and there’s probably a reason. It’s a bit more stable. Here, I’m just broke all the time! But I love what I’m doing. But I’m broke. So, yeah, those are the conversations going on in my head but I’m a heavy journal-er.

So, when I started catching myself having these slumps and thoughts and stuff; I have like a journal specifically for Kenyan Pick related stuff.

So even when I’m at my highest, especially when I’m at my highest, I make sure I note that stuff down. So that like when I’m in a slump, they are my pick-me-up.

CK: You just changed my life!

And like I’m glad I designated a Kenyan Pick journal separate from my personal one. It’s exclusive to the highs and lows from Kenyan Pick so every time I need to feel something in relation to that: this is the outlet. Plus, when I’m listening to music I dissect. I’m usually in deep analysis, like are you hearing what she’s saying to her or who is that back there with the flute?

(Conversation devolves into chaos as we share how much we love music and life)

But back to the question: I write because when I go through past journals and these music analyses, I see that I wasn’t crazy when I was going through this or that, you get? This is coming from somewhere. And I feel like this for a reason. And that is why I should keep going.

CO: Oh my gosh, yes! I feel that so hard!

My next question is what advice would you give that one artist just fresh from high school with big dreams but very daunting hurdles: what would you tell someone just starting out?

This is going to sound very cliché but like, you have to believe in yourself to the point where everyone else doesn’t have a choice other than like to believe in you. Yaani, you just do your thing. Cause at the end of the day, you’re going to end up doing your thing. Don’t waste your time. Like, when I was starting Uni obviously, I didn’t know all this was coming, but if I took time -like I wanted to take a gap year first to figure out what exactly I wanted to do- if I did that and I started learning about this managerial stuff that early… Like I could have even done BCom. or Business Management or something; and I’d be so much farther right now. Now, I’ve done the degree and then…? Like, I feel like I’m just starting. Ndio kuanza, you get? Don’t waste your time, just start.

But then at the same time, its like… actually, never mind. There’s no other way… Just do. You just do. Just do your thing. But then also, it’s extremely important to surround yourself with people who are doing what it is you want to do, but they’ve already started. Yes, you have your peers and stuff but it’s even more important to walk with people who’ve already started. Get out there!

And also, I could add (no shade of course) but back when I was in law school, yes, I used to go for these events with my friends and it was fun and everything; I could only ever see myself as a consumer. Like I couldn’t ever see myself in the chair. I knew I had a really strong appreciation for it but not to the point where I’m at with Kenyan Pick and all. I used to just post on my stories and that was it. But at some point, I started going for the events alone. Then from there I started hanging out with the artists and it changed everything. I was inside! No longer looking from the outside, I was in there. I was in it. That’s also why I found it so easy to start because like I understood what it is that the artist needs and what the consumer wants; so, it made it easier to work under event organizers and all. So, the biggest thing is to immerse yourself… to be proactive about immersing yourself in there. I’m not saying you have to have a plan but don’t stop. Don’t rest. Like, just go, go, go, go.

CO: Now one for the drama! Who has been your favourite guest so far? You have to pick one.

Best in… What? Define best.

CO: Your favourite one, who bambad you the most, who was THE best?

CK: Do you mean the performance she personally enjoyed the most? The vibe of the person? The artist that the audience enjoyed most? You can’t just ask a question like that? It’s uncertain

(Dear reader, they were trying to weasel and lawyer their way out of a direct answer. But do not fear, your brave interviewer had to get to the bottom of this)

CO: Add up all those things into one metric and give us the overall best. At the end of the Kenyan Pick year, who will win best Kenyan Pick artist.

Are you going to put this in the final post?

CO: Wha-? Yeah, of course I’m going to put this in the final post what do you mean? (I laughed at this for a while, she’s really funny)

CK: Girl, you’re a lawyer it’s time to do your thing. Lawyers say no comment or advise their clients to say no comment ama?

CO: She’s not getting out of this one imagine.

From the foregoing, I should state in uncategorical terms that I am in no place to judge who the best Kenyan Pick artist is. That is, and has always been the privilege and preserve of my beloved audience and the Kenyan Pick Instagram followers. But since you have brought this question to me; What I will say is that I am blessed. I have never seen such talent, poise and grace on a stage as much as I have seen on that Kenyan Pick stage. The amount of talent, the size of talent, the rawness of talent that has been shown under the banner of Kenyan Pick has been incredible, unparalleled and incredible again. Time and again, Thursday after Thursday, they have shown me and given me their all. But-

CO: But-

But if you had a gun to my head and made me choose just one. As you are doing right now.

CO: As I am doing right now.

Then it would be Razor-man. I would say Razor-man.

CK: Can she say why?

CO: She can give me a reason, yes

…

…

…

I have the answer in my head as a picture but I’m finding it hard to translate.

CO: Of course. Language is an imperfect medium for holding and communicating human experience. Take your time

…

Razor-man. He just understands the industry. He’s actually what I wish the industry was, you get? I wish everyone could learn something from him. Yes, of course he’s talented and creative; but he also has that value towards himself, he doesn’t perform just anywhere. He doesn’t sell his merch really. He protects his space, knows his worth; but still one of the best creators I know. Just generally a very real person. I think real is the best word. His music… let’s not even get started. That’s too crazy. Yeah! And then like, when he came for the show, we did the show and everything and then now a few days later I was talking to him about the payment logistics and all that and he was like “Wait…you’re paying me?”

And I’m like… What? What do you mean?

This is after the show and we’ve finished tumemalizana. So he had remembered me complaining in a rant about how we were getting such a small budget to work with and all that nonsense. But at the time of that rant, I hadn’t even asked him to be on the show at that time. This was way before; I hadn’t even planned the line-up. I was just telling him… And I wasn’t even just telling him, I was talking to a group, just generally complaining about my day.

So, like, based on this he figured cause of the issues we were having when we were starting out there, budget was a problem. But for him that wasn’t really an issue. He just wanted to perform for me. I was so so so touched. Like aaawww! …But no bitch, paying by exposure, we don’t do that here so obviously I’m going to pay you. I’m not quite there yet to properly afford you, but you have to take something.

So, yeah you get? He has that… You know? I don’t know what to tell you.

CO; He’s Him.

He’s Him! He’s who he thinks he is.

CO: Alright. We’ve come to the end really. But before we go, what comes next for you, you think? Just plug yourself really. Anything you want people to look forward to?

I think I want to start exploring the production management side of things. Mostly I’ve been working under Mutoriah, my mentor, but then a couple of artists have been approaching me on managing them or being on their teams and such like. Really like flattering offers, which I’m really excited about, but I’m not sure I should say for now. But fire is about to drop.

And on the Kenyan Pick side of things, if I can just secure a sponsorship like this… Y’all aren’t even ready.

CK: Aww, imagine 10-year-old Tessy seeing you right now. She would be so excited! She’d think you’re so cool. Like go you!

fin.

who? what? where?

Mutoriah- Afro-electro pop artist producer. @mutoriah on Instagram

Nakili Sessions- Nakili is a community that values Kenyan artists’ music and have shows every Tuesday. @nakili_sessions on Instagram

Trevor Sudi- production manager at Kenyan Pick. @trevor.sudi on Instagram

Ethan Muziki- Artist, producer and sound engineer. @ethanmuziki on Instagram

Beer District- hosts of the first ever Kenyan Pick show, the birthplace. @254beerdistrict on Instagram

Razor-man- afro-fusion recording and performing artist. @therazormann on Instagram