For Los Angeles-based Kenyan-Ugandan singer-songwriter Xenia Manasseh, movement is something that has become familiar. She is no stranger to being away from home. Before moving to Los Angeles, Xenia lived in Atlanta where she got her start in songwriting, Boston where she graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and Mombasa for secondary school.
I grew up on the Coast in Bomani–Kikabambala. My entire upbringing has been about the Coast. I went to school there and did my five years of IB (International Baccalaureate) high school education there.
Everybody does music in our family. My Babu’s music collection is huge. He is related to Mzee Ngala, they are cousins. No specific genre stood out for him. We listened to almost everything on top of Kenyan music and African music. It is a world collection. It's not just listening to singers, we listen to a full jazz album and a saxophone album which is instrumental basically.
I have a song with my grandfather called G.I. one of his many nicknames. He just sent me a recording of them (him and grandmother) singing a Swahili song traditionally sung to bid farewell to a bride. I have been asking them for this recording for ages.
I have no idea when I'm gonna get married. These guys, nyanya and Babu are old now, they might not be there when I do. But now I have that audio of them singing that song.
I don’t feel like I have witnessed a lot of marriages being love-centered, often I think they could use more balance.
I wanted to study entertainment law not music, so when I joined Berklee I didn’t major in performance, songwriting, and things like that, instead, I majored in the Music business. I don’t know why I was lying to myself all this time that I didn’t want to become a musician. I thought music was boring
The knack to become a musician began towards the end of my Berkely studies when I started writing songs and then began working with some producers who made me keep going back to the studio.
I returned home towards the end of 2018 and released Niambie and that jump-started my music journey.
I am an independent artiste who only signed to a distribution company but not a label. What I enjoy about being independent is the freedom. I own all the masters (rights) (to my production) so I can decide what to do with it. You don’t get that freedom when signed.
No, I have never thought of selling any of my masters (rights) and I don’t think I will ever do that.
Masters are the reason most artists fall out with their labels because the labels own the majority. Imagine if you are signed to a label and you are not one of the top-shelf artists the label is trying to push for in the market. And even after you leave a label, they will still retain ownership of your songs (masters).
In the songwriting business (in Kenya) rarely have I come across people who want to pay for songwriting. People don't often buy songs, but when they do, you get good money.
What excites me most is whenever I am back home. I can eat proper meals (good food) and also enjoy the good weather.
I don’t know if it’s okay to go back for ‘retirement benefits’ from your ex because to each, their own. To say that I have not, would be a lie.
I love to play football and go to the gym.
Physical touch and quality time are my love language.
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