![\"After](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/sauti-sol-suzanna.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nThese enterprises, he noted, keep the band\u2019s legacy active and fuel their continued collaboration. For Fancy Fingers, the hiatus marks a challenging yet exciting transition. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve not known any other life than the band,\u201d he admitted, describing the need to \u201cput in four times the work\u201d to build his solo identity. <\/p>\n
Previously defined by his intricate guitar work, he is now exploring songwriting, production, and themes like African fatherhood. \u201cI\u2019m discovering who I am in music, what my brand is,\u201d he said, aiming to make a \u201clegendary impact\u201d by mentoring young artists and advancing the industry. <\/p>\n
His recent solo work, produced in the same Nairobi studio where the interview was recorded, reflects this evolution.<\/p>\n
Fancy Fingers\u2019 journey into music defied traditional expectations. Enrolled in actuarial science, a math-heavy course, he juggled university with Sauti Sol\u2019s tours, often missing classes for months. <\/p>\n
\u201cMusic is very stubborn. If you\u2019re given the gift, it has to come out,\u201d he said, recalling how he paid his school fees through gigs and graduated with honours, though his passion remained with music. <\/p>\n
This persistence, he believes, is shifting African parental views on creative careers, with more families now supporting artistic pursuits, \u201cintrepreneurial spirit. <\/p>\n
\u201cI paid my school fees through music, as little as it was at that time,\u201d he noted, highlighting how his early success eased parental concerns. <\/p>\n A highlight of the interview was Fancy Fingers\u2019 introduction of the Jawaya guitar, the first premium African guitar brand, crafted from African mahogany and spruce in partnership with Canadian company Graphtech. <\/p>\n \u201cThere aren\u2019t African music brands like Yamaha or Fender,\u201d he said, explaining how his childhood dream of building instruments inspired Jawaya\u2019s creation to empower young musicians. <\/p>\n The conversation also explored East Africa\u2019s cultural and musical landscape. Fancy Fingers praised Rwanda\u2019s growing music scene, naming artists like Kivumbi, Bruce Melodie, and Angel Mutoni as global contenders. <\/p>\n \u201cRwanda is doing something right,\u201d he said, crediting their investment in artist development. <\/p>\n He stressed the power of collaboration, noting that Sauti Sol\u2019s success stemmed from projects like their album featuring \u201cMelanin.\u201d <\/p>\n However, he warned against diluting African identity for global appeal. <\/p>\n \u201cElevate it, don\u2019t put it aside,\u201d he advised, advocating for authentic storytelling fused with modern production.<\/p>\n Fancy Fingers described East African culture as unified by language, food, and music\u2019s storytelling tradition. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very melodious, storytellers,\u201d he said, pointing to the region\u2019s choir-influenced, harmony-rich sound. Kenyan music\u2019s edge, he added, comes from Nairobi\u2019s cosmopolitan diversity, where tribal influences blend seamlessly. <\/p>\n \u201cYou just jam,\u201d he said, recalling Sauti Sol\u2019s formation without regard for members\u2019 origins.<\/p>\n As a father to a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Fancy Fingers emphasised exposing children to diverse activities to uncover their talents.<\/p>\n \u201cExposure is everything,\u201d he said, noting that his daughter, surrounded by music, is still exploring her interests. <\/p>\n Fatherhood, he shared, has transformed him, fostering greater empathy and love. \u201cIt brings out a you that you didn\u2019t know was there,\u201d he told Sanny.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Fancy Fingers plans to bring Jawaya to Kigali for an acoustic show, potentially in October, to connect with fans and media. <\/p>\n Watch the full episode on The Long Form podcast.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/sauti-sol-1320x743.jpg\")
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