Martian254 Perspective on Gimilo

I grew up as the only child in a very religious single-mother household, and so I became extremely close to music as one would be with siblings. My first encounter with music was with the likes of Don Moen type of music as you would guess, given the religious environment i was in. Also, my mother was a praise and worship enthusiast (even to date), hence I followed in her footsteps and got with the instrumentalists and learned piano and drums in church. However, as I got older and further from her household radius, I got introduced to newer types of music by my peers. That's when I got to know of RnB and Hip hop, popular at the time in my home country, by iconic acts as Chris Brown, Rihanna, Jay Z, Trey Songz, Beyonce, Alicia Keys and so on. I leaned more towards the RnB sound, as it was more similar to my early interaction with music. 

Born and raised in the urban parts of Sahara, including Nakuru and Nairobi, I would listen to so much RnB and Hip Hop music from the US and the UK by iconic artists such as Chris Brown, Rihanna, Wstrn, Vibez Kartel Beyonce, Drake, and so much more. These acts took the African scene by storm when I was growing up, before the advent of Afrobeats in the wake of the digital era by iconic African stars such as WizKid, Davido, Burna Boy etc. Hence, as an artist, I have found my sound very much influenced by a variety of sounds, I like to call the resulting sound an Hybrid Afrosound. 

This song in particular carries elements of Rnb/Hip Hop, especially of the UK scene, found in highly percussive Afro-dancehall beat. The sound is also uniquely defined by our local Kenyan scene of the recently emerged Urbantone and Gengetone sounds by Gen-zers led by Lil Maina and Ethic. 

Hello world. My birth names are Brian Kibet, stage name goes by Martian254, an Afro-fusion artist from Nairobi Kenya. Basically, I am a musician, singer and songwriter, doing urban fusion of Afropop with popular genres such as; Contemp RnB, dancehall and soul music. Also, I have developed other abilities surrounding music such as; dancing (choreographer @ #YellowPirates) and a bit of sound engineering and studio director with a BA degree in Media and Mass communication. 

I remember the first time I realised I could actually sing, that was in high school at a talent show where I performed Chris Brown's New flame hit while dancing to it. I became famous instantly, in a school of more than 2500 students. I didn't take it seriously until my English teacher then, Miss Irene Mukamwa, gave us an assignment to write a poem after class. As you can guess, my piece emerged top of our class and I won a prize, hence catapulting my desire to get to the creative industry. That poem inspired my first ever original song, as I would later go on to record it in the holiday break. I have never looked back from that moment on to now, and I will never look back in the future. I know this that I was born to do this. 

Gimilo is very special to me, as it is a representation of my sound evolution from my RnB/soul roots to a more accomplished sound that perfectly highlights my African origin, Afrobeats and Afropop. So far, it is the best single for me because of it's wide range of influences of the genres that describe the Kenyan culture, Nairobi especially, looking back at my life journey. You can hear RnB/soul melodies while also catching those dancehall carebean vibez with a very consistent Afropop percussive rhythm in the instrumentals. Also, the second verse by my producer @Og Grammz, displays that Hip Hop prowess, commonly referred in Kenya as Genge/Arbantone. Honestly, I don't think I can fit it into a particular genre box. However, the best way for me to describe this sound is; #Urban musical style. 

My sound has evolved alot in the last three years owing to the global success of the African music, especially the Afrobeats/Afropop and its corresponding subgenres. When I started out, all I could wish to achieve is sound like Chris Brown's of the world as my creative essence was still very close to RnB. Not to say that I have outgrown RnB, but enriched it. My sound has now that exotic flavour of RnB in an African style and fashion. I really am so proud that this growth of the African music locally and globally has seen a more dynamic styles in music spanning from the new generation of superstars. 

I am mostly inspired by the greatest of all commandments, Love. It's a no brainer that this is the backbone of the survival of the human race. It pains me as an artist to see that people no longer celebrate love, like we used to in the golden olden days. It is definately a complex subject that takes eternity to understand, but I believe it is the answer to all our pain and misery. I explore this theme from its very basic elements, to it's most complex.  Love is a beautiful thing, and I am here with a handful of other artists to celebrate it as I dissect it's darkest and brightest being based on my personal experience with it. My career is essentially #MyLoveStory. 

Internationally, that would be Chris Brown without a doubt simply because, I don't think I would be doing music maybe if not for inspiration from his pure artistic allure. He made me really want to do this, and for that he is my forever icon. According to me, he is greater than Michael Jackson as much as he argues not. Everything in my creative approach, from his love themes in songwriting to extraordinary dancing, is attributed to this greatest showman of all time. He is the GOAT for sure, and going on a tour with him would be my biggest achievement yet in my musical career. 

Locally, I would say Nikita Kering. I have deep affection for her passion in music and her ability to stay humble at the same time. My affection goes beyond her art to her brains. I love her business acumen and am looking forward to not only going on a tour with her but working on the longtime, kinda like Jay-Z n Beyonce. Les GOoo 🇰🇪 

Chris Brown's music is fun, energetic and full of life and vibez. 

Martian254's music is also fun, energetic, urban, mellow and contemporary. Also, don't forget to dance while listening. Finally, the nostalgia is really impactful.

I would attend Chris Brown's performance because it's always been my dream to see him live, but unfortunately I have not. I missed his Mombasa show because I had exams then, but I know I will still attend one day. I love to his energy, especially the dancing on stage, and be a part of such charismatic energy.

My favourite song I've made is Roses, featuring my best friend ever and manager. I made it out of extreme rainbow of emotions. I made it about the love of my life at a time when we were drifting, hence everytime I play it taps into the raw emotions of that fateful moment in time when I experienced the biggest loss of my life yet. She is the mother to my child, so you can imagine the gravity.

Chris Brown, WizKid and Wstrn. Because they are very versatile in their sound and not monotonous. 

My dream performance is on that Grammy stage, where the world would be watching. Although, it doesn't have to be at the Grammy necessarily, could be also be the BET or AFRIMA. It just has to be a world stage where I will reach the millions of people at a go and receive a global appreciation for my art. 

I would really love to get in the studio with my musical idol, Chris Brown, and work on the biggest Hit of the time and go head to head on the dancefloor to create the most vibrant music video of all time.

Also, I would love to work with maybe WizKid or Wstrn, whoever comes first or both. These three are in my top three list of favourites of all time. God bless my dreams. 

This will be super duper weird, but I once discovered an artist on the rooftop. When I was in campus, I used to really love getting high on the rooftop of our hostels alone or with a close friend(s) while free styling on beats. Then one time, I was heading there in the evening when I heard the sweetest voice I had ever heard singing and humming, it was Dhahaboo. From then on we became so close and bonded, and ended up dating for a short while making music together. Since she cleared school, we haven't kept contact and I really wanna see her again, maybe even sign her to my record label. 

I would like people to just be tuned into their inner self/world, and tap into those raw emotions of the complexity in humans from a love-theme perspective. 

Soulful, Contemporary and energetic.

I love sharing my music through very influential playlist, influencers and blogs. However, as long as it gets to the right audience, any way is my favourite.