One-hit wonders: The puzzle of hitmakers who faded from the spotlight

When Kaveve Kazoze was trending online sometime in June 2023, everyone wanted a piece of the viral hit, including politicians who met with the artists behind the now-faded song.

This brings us to the discussion of one-hit wonders in Kenya's music scene.

With the ever-evolving local music industry, competition has intensified, making it crucial for artists to constantly up their game if they want to stay relevant.

Whether they run out of creative ideas or lose the inspiration to write, many promising artists fade away after a strong start with a massive hit, leaving fans wondering what went wrong.

For a brief moment, Mary Wangechi, also known as Ngesh' wa Vasha, the hitmaker behind Kaveve Kazoze, took the music scene by storm.

Her infectious, upbeat track had everyone dancing, and it seemed like she was on the path to stardom.

But after that one hit, she slipped out of the spotlight, leading many to ask: was she just another one-hit wonder?

In an interview with Nation Lifestyle, Ngesh opened up about her journey after Kaveve Kazoze and why she has not released new music since.

"People say I came with one song and disappeared, but I will be back when the time is right," she explains. "Right now, I cannot find that time yet."

Reflecting on her time in the industry, Ngesh says:

"I enjoyed when it lasted. I was all good," she says about the brief time she was trending.

But despite her popularity, making money from her music was not as easy as it appeared.

"It is very hard to make money," she admits.

"Even when you are trending, it does not always translate to financial success."

She says that life in Nairobi, or “Kanairo” as it is affectionately called, proved to be difficult for her.

She eventually left the city and returned to her roots.

"I am still in Kenya, but not in Nairobi. I had to step away for a bit, but I will be back soon."

When asked about her life post-music, Ngesh is vague but hopeful.

"I am doing well. I cannot say I am in music but I am surviving with the little I have. People will talk, but I am not letting that get to me. I am still here."

She also reflects on the promises made by those she met in the industry, particularly during her brief rise.

"Some people were not kind, and I had high hopes. But you learn not to put your faith in empty promises."

Despite the challenges, Ngesh has not completely given up on her music career.

"We will go back to music but we need support to distribute it and make money from it. You can’t just release a song and not know what is next. That is where I am at right now, figuring out the next step. I did not even make a shilling on platforms like YouTube with my hit song. Let me just say, I lacked good mentors about how to do music as a business."

Ngesh still holds her fans close to her heart.

"I miss them so much. They are my everything. They are the ones who supported me."

As for the pressure of being a one-hit wonder, Ngesh is unfazed.

"People think I have something to prove, but I don’t. I will return to music when the time is right, and when I do, I will be ready to stay."

Willis Raburu

When he released his hit song Kalale, Willis Raburu was on the path to becoming a musical force.

His third song quickly resonated with fans, garnering 8.5 million views on YouTube, and yet, after that success, his presence in the music scene dwindled.

Raburu explains what truly led to his break from music.

"I know four years is such a long time but it was not a one-hit," he emphasises with a laugh.

"It was like my third song, but I had to step back. Life just went on."

He says behind the scenes, he has been working on an EP, with several unreleased songs waiting to be shared.

"I have songs recorded, five or six of them, but it is just that life and other things got in the way," he reveals.

"I think by December or January, they will be ready. It is just a matter of releasing."

But why has it taken so long? For Raburu, the challenge was not consistency.

"It is more about finances," he explains.

The financial side of being an artiste, especially without constant brand partnerships or gigs, can slow things down.

"If artistes don’t have the money to keep going, it becomes difficult."

However, Raburu believes the landscape is changing. With the rise of YouTube brands and more frequent gigs, staying consistent is becoming easier for artists.

"These days, I get three or four gigs in a weekend, and that is money I can reinvest into my production," he says.

As for his place in the industry, Raburu remains humble.

"I would not call myself a full-time artiste,” he says.

"There are people who dedicate their entire lives to music. I am more of a part-time artiste, even though I still get YouTube checks from my popular song, Kalale and other content."

For upcoming musicians, Raburu’s advice is simple:

"Be consistent, but also smart. Have a marketing plan, know where your money is going, and build relationships in the industry. That is the key."

Stoopid Boy: The rise and fall after 'G Baga Jat'

Stoopid Boy, born and raised in Tassia, Nairobi burst into the music scene with his hit song G Baga Jat, capturing the attention of music lovers and propelling him into the spotlight.

But soon after, he faded from public view, leaving many wondering what had happened to the promising artiste.

Castro Omondi, Stoopid Boy’s close friend and a member of the Kipawa Centre, sheds light on why some artistes like Stoopid Boy disappear after one hit, citing indiscipline as a major factor.

"Fame is a tricky thing," Castro explains.

"Not everyone knows how to handle it, and even those who do often struggle with the pressure."

He notes that for Stoopid Boy, the sudden rise to fame brought with it expectations from friends, family, and the media.

"When you wake up and see your name trending or your video on the news, it is overwhelming. It is a lot for any normal person to process, let alone someone who has not had the time to adjust."

Castro has known Stoopid Boy for years and worked on several projects with him, giving him unique insight into the artiste's personality.

"Stoopid Boy is talented, he can freestyle like no one else, but the problem is, he is more comfortable with freestyling than writing. He does not sit down to write lyrics, which makes it harder for him to produce polished, marketable songs."

Castro says Stoopid Boy’s personal life has also played a significant role in his downward spiral.

He’s a father of two children but his relationship with their mother has been strained.

Stoopid Boy’s inability to handle his rising fame compounded the difficulties.

"Fame came fast, and with it, everyone wanted a piece of him. But fame without discipline is a dangerous thing," Castro says.

Castro believes Stoopid Boy still has a chance to make a comeback if he can find the discipline and focus necessary to sustain a music career. "He is talented, no doubt. But talent alone is not enough. You need to have the willpower to keep creating, to write songs, and to stay out of the distractions that come with fame.”

For now, Castro says Stoopid Boy’s future in the music industry remains uncertain.

His talent is undeniable, but without the right support system and discipline, he risks becoming another one-hit wonder.

"He has the potential but it is up to him to decide what he does with it."