Museke caught up with Afro-Carribean international music superstar Kaysha Edward Lorenzo Mokolo in the midst of his many travels and asked him a few questions (interview).

Museke: How are you?
Kaysha: Fine thanx

Museke: Can you tell us about your background and family?
Kaysha: I come from an African background, born in Kinshasa, many brothers and sisters, good religious education... Came to France when I was 7 and been around the world several times with my parents and brothers and sisters

Museke: How did you get into music and what was your first break?
Kaysha: I just got in naturally when my mother bought me a little synth to play with, ever since, I've been into music making. I was 7 or 8 by the time...
I used to do beats for my friends, my sister then I eventually did a beat for some French groups and started earning copyrights from SACEM, then I would re invest my money into new gear...

Museke: Did you sing in any bands and how was that experience?
Kaysha: Nah, I've always been the lonesome solo type. I never liked bands because when you know where you want to go and have a strong personality, you tend to not want to hear what the others have to say lol...

Museke: Did you attend any music schools and what musical instruments do you play?
Kaysha: Nah, I learned to play by playing and I got the ear to recognize when the sound is good. My music is just as is, no school behind this except the school of life maybe...
I mainly play keyboards, but I'm an electronic musician, meaning I play computers very good. When I need a guitar I sing it to someone that I hire to play what I have in mind...

Museke: What is the meaning of Kaysha?
Kaysha: It depends, in Portuguese it means complaint. It's also a contraction of Kinshasa where I was born, and it means soul harmony

Museke: Which musicians did you listen to growing up?
Kaysha: Michael Jackson, Celia Cruz, Midnight Star, Commodores, EPMD, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, AHA, Depeche mode, Rochero, Koffi Holomide, Paul Young, Duran Duran, Jean Michel Jarre, etc etc.. Very eclectic...

Museke: Which African musicians do you idolize or admire (presently)?
Kaysha: I admire all the African musicians that have a long career...

Museke: How long did it take you to do your first album?
Kaysha: To record it? Like 6 months in South America

Museke: How many albums do you have to your credit?
Kaysha: Solo albums? I'm finishing number 6 right now. But I also did loads of albums for other people like Soumia, Elizio, Abege, Isah, Thayna, Les Deesses, etc

Museke: Have you featured on any other albums?
Kaysha: Yeah a lot, the list would be too long...

Museke: What are your most memorable collaborations?
Kaysha: Jacob Devarieux. Incredible talent, humility and willing to help the young

Museke: Which musicians would you like to work with?
Kaysha: R. Kelly or Michael Jackson. And anyone with talent

Museke: What kind of music do you do?
Kaysha: Candyzouk, afro electro, metisse musique

Museke: What is the inspiration for the songs you write?
Kaysha: I'm inspired by my life. Relationships, things you don't say at the moment and that will reflect in your songs. Talking about my past, my present, my future, my hopes or my regrets...

Museke: You have performed in many places. Where were your favorite concerts?
Kaysha: I have memorable moments everywhere... Every show is a new encounter with the people that make you what you are when they feel your music. So even the small show with 40 people is a reunion and an intense moment...

Museke: How is your label Sushiraw doing and which artistes are under the label?
Kaysha: The label is doing good, we are already in the digital age with loads of remixes and projects will only be online at kaysha.com and itunes and all the other stores...
In the roster, we have Elizio, Abege, Isah, Soumia, Loony Johnson, Thayna, Shana, Kaysha, Mika Mendes and more thru connections with other labels and cross projects and actively looking for artists around the globe.

Museke: Have you had problems distributing your music to various places in the world?
Kaysha: Yeah, lots of problems... It's very hard to meet serious people around the world. Most of the times, a good discussion never go further...
The good thing is that as more and more people enter the digital age, the physical barrier is fading away so when the whole African continent get access to a method of buying your songs either thru iTunes or a store alike or their mobile phones, this wont be a problem anymore...
I sell a lot of songs in the US using the internet... Technology breaks barriers

Museke: Do you have your own band? What is your take on the live band music debate? Do you like to perform with a deejay or a band?
Kaysha: I don't have a band and I don't need a band. Fuck the debate because it's always a matter of frustrated people thinking that their way is better than the next...
Music is freedom, do whatever you like. If you create your music on computers then why should you have to prove that you're a real musician by changing your music to live instruments to please the real instrument makers?
Computer musicians don't ask nothing to do live artists, do they ask live artists come recreate on machines? It's two different disciplines...
I think people need to create what they create and perform how they want. Playback, live, semi live, band, deejay, computers, it's your music, do what you like...
Personnally, I do live, band, deejay, computers, but the format I prefer is me plus deejay because I come from Hip Hop. I'm a computer musician so if I have a band one day, it will be a band of laptops and pro-tools session

Museke: How do you handle your many female fans?
Kaysha: I handle them with care

Museke: Do you feel there is a disconnect musically between Francophone and Anglophone Africa?
Kaysha: I don't know. what I know is that my music is connected in both lol

Museke: What would you choose: Kotazo, Ndombolo, Soukous, Makossa or Coupe Decale?
Kaysha: I would choose Brazilian Pagode

Museke: What challenges do you face in the Congolese music industry?
Kaysha: I don't face any challenges because I'm not really part of this industry like Fally or Werra would be. I'm part of another industry which is the international afro carribean scene... So this question is irrelevant to me :)

Museke: What is your take on piracy and payola (paying deejays to play your music on the radio)?
Kaysha: Payola will always be there because humans fail by definition and emotion... Piracy is the same thing. Some people will always think that others people hard work should be theirs for free. And with internet, it's like a magical tube where you can get anyone's work for free and no one will punish you since everybody is crying for their right for privacy and liberty when people try to set rules... There is a vast
hypocrisy... In the other hand, the same global piracy is what made me the african icon that I am today because no one bought my songs but since they all have it, I'm touring all over the world... So I can't complain...

Museke: What is in the future of your music?
Kaysha: I'm going digital with my alter ego MrShada releasing all his singles next month only online.

Museke: How can Congolese music expand and sell outside?
Kaysha: It should maybe start by opening itself to other people... Some songs in french or english wowuld be a good start. Maybe also take some lessons here and there and learn from other types of music and mix...

Museke: Do you have any present engagements and works other than music?
Kaysha: Nah, I'm totally into my passion... Composing, making cd covers, directing videos, shows. I might get into short films and tv series soon

Museke: What are your hobbies and pastimes?
Kaysha: I love the internet and gadgets, going to the movies and hangin' with my homies

Museke: Do you have a website?
Kaysha: I have some websites:
http://www.kaysha.com/kaysha
http://www.myspace.com/kaysha2
http://www.sushiraw.hi5.com
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=513129351
http://www.twitter.com/kaysha

Museke: What advice would you give to up and coming African musicians?
Kaysha: Do your thing and don't listen to people unless you love what they do but keep your personality intact at all times... It's better to try and fail than to wait and regret.

Museke: Give us your Parthian shot – last words
Kaysha: Make love, eat salad

You can buy Kaysha's music at Kaysha's online store