A 19-year-old music producer who aspires to join the army
Steven George O’Keng saved up to Shs3.5 million before his Senior Six vacation to set up a studio. His parents topped it up, to help him achieve his dream. PHOTOS BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA.
What you need to know:
He might be in his Senior Six vacation, but, Steven George O’Keng, an audio producer, has a story to inspire fellow youth. As his friends spent their pocket money on stuff young people buy, O’Keng was frugally saving to put up a recording studio that has become his vacation job, though his dream is to join the army on completion of a degree in political science
At a quarter past midday, 15 minutes after the scheduled time for the interview, I arrive at Trocx Records, a studio owned by a 19-year-old student, Steven George O’Keng, who is in his Senior Six vacation, based at Ntinda Avenue, Plot 64. When I enter the studio premises, the first thing I notice is an assortment of pairs of shoes outside. I listen to the instrumental playing while nodding my head and that’s when he notices my presence and warmly welcomes me with a grin.
Before he asks me to sit, he rejects a phone call that seemed to be coming in from a client. I take my seat, next to an artiste who is rehearsing to the instrumental that is playing. O’Keng plays me various songs he has produced like Stressin by Errah Zamani, See you there by Ivurn Lexx and Do yo ting by Preacher Man (a new dancehall artiste). The songs are inspiring and they get me wondering why they are not getting airplay. He also plays me adverts that he has done with Preacher Man for different deejays from various radio stations including Deejay Gero (Hot 100), Johnny Deejay (Magic 100), New Jerusalem (Record FM), Deejay GXL, (NTV Xpozed) and so many others. The studio has strict rules like, “No alcohol or any other illegal substance shall be allowed in and around the studio premises.”
The owner of this neat studio O’Keng is also known as Producer Steve-GO. Born on June 3, 1993, O’Keng is a son to Bosco Onyek, a radio manager at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and chairman, National Council of Sports, and Ms Miriam Onyek, a self-made fashion designer owning Miriam African Touch Boutique, Ntinda. He went to Ntinda Primary School, Turkish Light Academy and Bethany High School for his primary school, O-level and A-level respectively.
O’Keng studied History, Economics, Geography and Divinity from 2011 to 2012 and scored 15 points. He hopes to pursue a Bachelors degree in political science and then, join the army. “Joining the army is an alternative if my passion (audio production) fails to work out,” he says. O’Keng believes that joining the army is the only way he can serve and reward his community.
Passion for music
“I had passion for music since my Senior One. I used to mime on every talent show at school, Rap battles were the order of day at Turkish Light Academy. We used to battle after classes and preps and I used to beat my colleagues,” he recalls. O’Keng has also won a couple of awards including Artiste of the Year in the Turkish Light Academy Awards (TLAA) and Junior Achievers award for best graphics designer. He has participated in the Sprite Basketball and Hip hop contest and emerged winner in the rap category from his school which he represented at the YMCA.
The genesis
Learning production was not necessary for him because he had moved to different studios like Gong records, Urban Arksent and Back Yard Records all based in Ntinda from where he acquired some audio production skills. He also downloaded various tutorials from the Internet that enhanced his beat making skills.
“By the end of my vacation (S.4), I was able to make a complete beat,” he says. “I remember taking one of my beats to Gong records, they played it but they could not believe it was me who had made it since I was just 16 years. They did not expect such a beat to be made by me because it did not sound Ugandan.” “They actually said I downloaded it from the internet,” O’Keng reminisces while spinning in his cozy office chair. It was then that he got the urge to own a studio in order to prove he had skills.
“I had to figure out means of raising money for the studio. Since I was still in school, I had to starve and save every single penny my parents gave me as pocket money,” The money he raised through savings helped him convince his supportive father to contribute a bigger proportion of the capital to buy and import the equipment from South Africa. By the start of 2012, the equipment was already in Uganda but he was still in school, it was during the holidays that he fully learnt audio production since the machines were at his disposal.
Parents’ approval
O’Keng’s parents fully supported him and were always behind him. “The first time I told my dad I had savings amounting to Shs3.5m, he was so shocked; he could not believe I could raise that sum of money. He was willing to help me out but he insisted he would do so only after finishing and excelling in my A-level finals. My mum actually helped me convince him.”
Genres
Inspired by Lexx Lugger and Samkleff a re-known Nigerian producer, he can produce hip hop, RnB, Zouk, Dance hall and Afro beat. He has co-producers he works with so the studio produces vast music genres.
Charges
O’Keng declined to reveal the studio charges claiming he does not have a standard charge. “Currently, Trocx records is just starting so I don’t have a fixed charge, I negotiate with my clients,” he says.
How his day goes
“I wake up at 6am then prepare, by 7am, I am already at the studio. I clean the carpet, dust the equipment and mop the veranda. My first session with a client starts at 8pm and ends at 12 noon and the second starts at 2pm and ends at 5pm. If I do not have a client, I utilise that time to edit some projects,” O’Keng narrates. Clients have to make appointments with him in order to get studio time. His co-producers then take up from 5pm to 7pm to edit their unfinished projects. He leaves the studio at exactly 7pm. It is from 7pm till midnight that he gets time for his family and friends. Editing and completion of some projects is done between 12am to 2am in the night, then he heads to bed after.
How much he makes
“I may spend two to three days without receiving a client but what I earn is enough to clear all the expenses and save the balance,” he says. He currently has a contract with Record FM.
Clientele
O’Keng is currently working on a project with Big Trill, one of his “old boys” from Turkish Light Academy. He has worked with numerous new artistes who he calls “big” in their different capacities. “You cannot look down on artistes like Errah Zamani, Preacher Man, Ivurn Lexx and Nemesis. They are very young and talented new artistes and believe you me, they are definitely going to be Uganda’s finest artistes,” he adds. He is currently in talks with Steven Kiggundu alias King Steven (Kid Fox) who is in Japan and hopes to work with him immediately he gets back to Uganda.
Challenges
Like any other producer, O’Keng has constraints. “Some people come when they cannot even sing and it is really hard working with such people,” he complains.
Future plans
O’Keng is hoping to do something bigger than what he is doing currently. He wants to expand the studio to a big record label with video production too. “I plan on recruiting young talent. There are children out there who have the talent but have no money for studio time that is why I’m here; to fill that gap,” he adds. He hopes to work with bigger artistes like Cindy and Rema, P-Square and D-banj from Nigeria.
