FENA GITU: Bolder, better

Musician Fena Gitu is currently riding high with her new single Doing Her Thing Tho, an anthem for women she feels are doing exceptionally well regardless of their circumstances. The “fenamenal” woman spoke to Hillary Kimuyu about her ambitions of an acting career and expanding her brand

Doing Her Thing Tho is an anthem for the ladies. Through our journeys we tend to meet or come across naysayers, people who want to put you down or people who misunderstood you. But when you wake up you know you are out to get it. The song is for us young women who are hustling and grinding every minute no matter the situation. We are out here to do it.

As an artiste I am allowed to be satirical with my lyrics.  I had to give a shout to a few ladies who have made it out there despite what they have been through and the misconception of the society. Take for example Huddah Monroe, she is out there grinding, she is running a very successful business yet people still put her down because of who she was before. If she listens to all the negativity she gets from people who do not know her she wouldn’t be doing her thing.

I was happy when I received a special message from Lupita Nyong’o after she heard my song. She sent someone to deliver the message and I hope one day I will meet her. I also mentioned Victoria Rubadiri in the second verse and I just like the way she presents herself. She is very classy, simple in a nice way and she seems like such a nice person. It was a good addition. The two Kimani’s who I also mention in the song (Edith and Victoria) are doing their thing and they were very supportive when they heard the song.

I curtain raised for Wizkid when he performed here three years ago and I will also be on stage later this month when he returns. I feel it will be a whole new experience because he has grown so much. I’m also hoping to sit down with him to talk and interact.

Event organisers should accord local artistes respect. During the Omarion concert that was held recently I had to let my frustrations known. There was a lot of commotion back stage when he was ushered in, everything changed. Artistes in the lineup were not allowed to go back to their tent to get their stuff including me. I was frustrated because I was at my own concert which I had performed and I should have been allowed to go back to my tent. This was not the first time it had happened and I’m pretty sure it will not be the last one. I hope in the Wizkid concert there will be order. For me there is a certain courtesy you extend to an artiste who is performing at that kind of platform.

I’m a bit shy. I would like to be an actor one day but not do reality television shows. I’m too shy to do a reality show. I’m an introvert. In fact I’m the most introverted person I know.

At the moment I’m the brand ambassador for Denri Africa which is a Kenyan brand. I have ventured into branding and it is both business and personal. I took a long break last year to just restructure and strategise, to rethink my plans and my goals. I wanted to work on myself and come back bolder and better. I’m also targeting corporate brands either Kenyan or international. I’m also working with Marini Naturals, Pauline cosmetics, Fenamenal itself is a brand and a few others.

My goal is to be one of the most sought after female acts around the globe and that is what I’m working towards. Excellence and consistency will get me there.

My music genre is urban soul. I normally say it is a fusion of genres that I grew up listening to and also has a touch of soul. I go from rap to reggae to RnB to Afro-soul. So basically I put my signature, the ‘fenamenal’ style, in my songs.

I can do any genre of music. I do not want to settle on only one. That’s the charm, being able to morph in to different genres. As a musician, it’s a new challenge every time. Last year I started with Sema Ng’we, Kama Kawaida, Party Nation and now Doing her thing Tho. As you can see all the songs are of different genres. They are not the same and that is the way I like to do my music.

The reason I did Jiactivate which features RedFourth Chorus was to be neutral from any political party. I’m in the corner of spreading the good message as opposed to fighting politics. It is a platform for the youth to do the right thing. I was called to write the song and I really had to pick my brain because I’m not that vocal on politics but I can explain myself better through music. I was asked to name a few people who I would like to collaborate and pair with. I chose RedFourth because I knew they would bring that element of the song out. I have always admired them, and I’ve always wanted to sing with a choir.