I’m inspired by several artistes

Julie Nakki.

What you need to know:

Julie Nakki. You have probably seen her sing at one of the gospel concerts in town. Julian Nakatto aka Julie Nakki has been singing since 2009 and she opens up to Esther Oluka about her gospel music and personal life.

How comes that we have not heard so much about you as a gospel artiste?
Probably because I have not come out so aggressively with my music. But I know that many people will soon get to know me with time.

When did you start singing?
In 2009, I sung Omukwano gwa Yesu. In the subsequent years, I did other songs such as Ntunula (2012), Biribyange (2013), Kamuwane (2013) and Tukutendereza (2014).

Have you done any music collaborations?
Yes, I have. Some of them include Nazuula Oyo which I did in 2013 with Isaac Morgan, Kankwagale which I did with Abra Were in 2013 and It Is Well which I collaborated with Pamela Ssenyonga also in the same year, 2013.

Why did you settle for the stage name Nakie?
I got the nickname Nakki from home. At home, we are three pairs of twins. Each of the other two pairs also has a twin called Nakatto. So, whenever one of my parents would call out Nakatto, we would all respond. It was really funny. In order to differentiate each of us, everyone at home just started calling me Nakki. We call my other two sisters by their Christian names, Tina and Jana.

Do you do anything else apart from singing?
Yes, I ‘m a wedding planner and a part time fashion designer.

What are some of the challenges you go through as a gospel artiste?
The biggest problem is limited finances. Recording a song is quite expensive. A song alone can take about Shs500,000. People’s expectations of me are high. Most people always expect me to be good all the time yet I cannot. I’m a human being with weaknesses just like any other person. At times I’m at my best while on other occasions I’m at my worst.

Take us through the process of making a song.
Well, once one has the words (lyrics) of the song, they go ahead and discuss with the producer about the beats to go along with it. At times, one may sell to the producer the idea of how they want the song to sound, but then, he may think otherwise. Production is usually the toughest stage.

How much do you earn from singing?
It depends. For instance, at concerts, I charge between Shs100,000 and Shs500,000. Then, if I’m performing at a private function around town, I charge between Shs500,000 to Shs1m. Outside town, I charge above Shs1m since I incur many expenses during the movement.
How long does it usually take you to record a song?
There are certain songs that are too simple and these take a few hours to record. Then, there are those that are too complicated for instance, they may need various live instruments to record. These can take about two months.

Do you write your own songs?
Yes and I draw inspiration from personal experiences. I also have other two people; Moses Ssozi and Godfrey Ssenyonjo who write for me.

Are you married?
Yes, I’m a married with four children who include a pair of twins.

Who do you look up to in the gospel industry?
I cannot single out any one because I draw inspiration from every artiste in this industry. There are days for instance you will find me listening to only Judith Babirye’s music, other days Pastor Wilson Bugembe and then there are moments, one will find me listening to only Cece Winans.

Any special events you are a part of?
Yes, I have one dubbed The Hymn Experience that will take place on April 17, at Serena, Victoria Hall. Silver tickets go for Shs20,000 while gold go for Shs50,000. It starts at exactly 5.30pm and ends at 9pm.

What should your fans expect?
They should expect an encounter with God through hymns.

Who is Julie Nakki?

Julian Nakatto was born in 1981 to Rinah Nassali and George Philip Wasswa(RIP) at Mengo Hospital. She attended St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Naggalama and Taibah High School. In 2008, she joined Aptech Institute for a computer training course. She dropped out a year later, in 2009 to pursue her dream, gospel music.