Valerie Kimani’s “Baisikeli”
December 10, 2007 by Seasons
I attended Valerie Kimani’s “Baisikeli” Album launch last evening. This was a close event with family, sponsors and close friends invited. Valerie personally handpicked the attendees. I guess the idea here was to “test” her performance with people who would support her through anything.
If you can recall, Valerie won the inaugural East Africa Tusker Project Fame early this year.
In the interest of fairness, I will start with the positive. The band and decor were excellent! Hellon directed the musicians and managed the music direction to perfection. The decor was well laid out and reflected well for the Tusker Brand.
Unfortunately, Valerie truly lacked the stage presence you would expect at this level. I have no idea who is guiding her music career but they are doing her a disservice. There is confusion as to the genre of music Valerie is trying to do. Is it Afro-fusion, Rumba or Neo- soul?
You can tell she is “packaged” and not truly in her element. You see, this girl is 21 years old but she is being asked to act, sound and look 45!! All you have to do is look at her album cover to see what am talking about.
Her target market is obviously not the youth in Kenya but if it is the 25 to 50 AB of the social economic grouping like me, then she will not sell. The album is an eclectic mix of Rumba and Afro-fusion and she sound pretty ordinary.
The show was meant to tell her story but failed miserably as she kept talking about her Mum-who was in the audience and you can tell she had rehearsed some lines but forgot them. For someone who was once a good stage actress, she really disappointed. It is a good thing that the media was not invited for this launch.
Valerie is your middle -class -girl -next -door type and comes across as a really nice person but am not sure whether that is enough to sell her.
She has enough funding with Gallo Records and Tusker behind her and I truly hope this helps her. We all know that with music, talent is 20% with Marketing being 80% and so with enough publicity and promotions, the Album may sell in Kenya.
She may have won Project fame but the jury is out or her sustainability as a serious musician.
is she trying to be an all rounder? not a wise idea since she needs to mature as an artist before she attempts such a mature segment. i have heard only one song from the album and it was neither bad nor remarkable, forgot it ten seconds after i had listened, then the cd was selling at 1,500 bobs which i considered too steep considering twende twende by the eminent Eric Wainaina which is a GREAT album is 800 bobs!
Your verdict was in the decor comment…wish her the best!
is she on you tube? ama where can i listen to any of her songs..sadly and shadily of me (whichever) i don’t jua her lol i need to you-tube her..then come back and re-read.
I will wait till I hear some of her music before I make any comment about her ability. I would definately like to see her succeed
haven’t heard her sing except on the show, and she has/had talent (you can’t lose it, just misplace it), but i think the confusion will let her down. she needs a good and honest check into her career, pick a direction and die with it. She struck me as a puppet…
I know you critiqued my post about the talent shows, but i think there should be a better way of making only the best win. Valerie has a weak voice IMO. Anyway i hope she makes it and stops being a Puppet
I also attended Valerie’s show, but I disagree with ’seasons’ views on her album direction. Whilst I agree reality music shows are a tricky way of launching ones music career (with a few exceptions in the US and Europe), Valerie does not seem to be trying to be older than she is. I was thoroughly entertained (i mean where else does one see a 3 horns section on a young urban Kenyan musicians band???). As for her music direction, Yes it may have been a bit experimental, but she did songs with Super Mazembe, Eric Wainaina, Jack Odongo Jnr - Surely give her some credit where due. Name one local artsist who has achieved this feat. This is thankfully not a Kapuka album. And who exactly says an artist has to be fixed into one music category??
I was one of the 1st to buy her album at the Nu Metro and i think she did it justice during the show. Additionally, she has apparently been touted as the fastest selling local artist at Nu Metro to date and she has only been selling for 3 weeks (by the way aegeus it is 1,000 bob not 1,500).
Anyway, i remember her manager commenting that she was off this week on a tour in S.A supporting a Grammy nominated artist….i mean, c’mon guys. We really need to support our own surely. that is the only way the music industry in Kenya will progress…
It is evident that i am a die-hard fan, and whilst I may have my own reservations about certain aspects of the project, i think it is one of the best local offerings in quite a while.
Valerie’s ability to get a 3 horns section is based on resources availed to her by record label and sponsors and not her ability as a musician. Her CD will sell because of the PR and marketing funding around it. Which local artist has had ads running on movie screens? And isn’t it because Nu metro is also a sponsor? The chance to open for a Grammy artist may be a job done by a good manager- I understand David Mureithi is her Manager-now that is an accomplished person in the industry and will help her project succeed. But i cant see Valerie sustaining. Now imagine if all those resources were put behind a artist like Eric Wainaina or Atemi. Those guys would do better. Lets not begrudge Valerie her rights as winner of PF but she is ordinary. Am glad it is not a Kapuka project!!
i have listened to her jam and i still think Alvan should have won PF
I agree with you. Although it is good thing he did not win- coz the drama!!! I hear he disappeared.
Me never heard her sing since Tusker days…
Happy Hols R& S, n pass ma love to da gals..
I thot she was not vocally talented. Linda had a very rare vocal talent & it was sad to see her lose to Valerie. I think we all should learn to support ability in such matters & not be carried away by people’s nice personalities. Now we can only imagine how kenyan music would have changed if linda had won all that funding & support.
i think she has a great voice its sexy,silky and can be aggresive ……her album is well arranged i think the songs are are a little out side many ears( and she might not get as many sales as she would like) am an up coming misician so i see more positive than negative but i have to agree that, she will not get the buzz from the teens unsell its the ones that want to look with it……….but then what is there to make you want to associate yourself with her? am left to wonder…….i am i the group pentamony so i have faults too we are not perfect…….val if you ever read this…..hang in there.
haters. ofcourse none of yall spittin hard can do wat she does.
give credit where its due.
Mr Kemboi,
I will correct you there. Just because one criticizes does not mean he is negative and labeling a hater is shallow. We are consumers of music and as consumers are entitled to judge the product.We don’t have to be musicians to appreciate music. I assume you are cook coz you eat.
She is gonna go places! Listen to the album carefully! The girl CAN SING!!!!
Seasons,
As much as I don’t agree with all your views, i must agree with you that opinions have to respected (see comments on Nick). As Kenyans, we need to be tolerant of divergent views. Its what keeps the peace. Do you feel me.
On Valerie, I can only say that I hope that when she does succeed where others haven’t, and you eventually see her talent for what it is, you will be man/woman (?) enough to accept it on your blog. There is a tumour that Hugh Masekela and Herbie Hancock may work on her next album. Howzat?!! A possible Grammy in the offing????
I will be man enough to acknowledge her talent when I see(hear) it, not when she wins a grammy! Lets not forget Milli Vanilli won a grammy once. But working with Herbie and Hugh Masekela..woah now that is big and I will give David Mureithi/Gallo props for that>>>does that prove talent for our Valerie?
Keep up the good work.
rumour not tumour….. LOL