Desire Luzinda has been one of Uganda’s foremost musicians over the last decade. She spoke to Monday Times in an interview that gave insight into her life and career over the last few years.
Monday Times: Where was Desire Luzinda born?
Desire Luzinda: I was born in Mulago Kampala
Monday Times: Who are/were your parents (are you comfortable letting readers know who they are/were?)
Desire Luzinda: Mr and Mrs luzinda.
Monday Times: How many children were you in the family?
Desire Luzinda: My dad is Moslem so I come from a big loving family but we are 7 kids from my mother.
Monday Times: Was desire the name you were given in childhood or it was adopted for performance/entertainment?
Desire Luzinda: I have lots of names compared to the rest of my siblings.I don’t know why. Surprisingly, I used Luzinda Racheal in school, a name I didn’t like. I grew up being called Nancy and at some point Desire but I don’t know how it started because I have been called Desire since high school and I loved it because it made me feel special and it brought out the joyful character in me.
Monday Times: How did you find life as a child in the Luzinda family home?
Desire Luzinda: I grew up in a very strict and god fearing family. Morals, house chores, prayers and school were not optional. My dad being a retired politician made him pretty busy, while my mother was equally busy but different from my father’s schedule. Mothers will always be present in their kids’ lives regardless of the busy schedule.
My mother always preached hard work and independence, which is one thing that has kept at the back of my mind. We were not rich but we were very content and very very happy something that has kept us so close and loving up to today. No one can come between us and she urges us to do the same to our kids.
Any free time we got we used to sing a lot something we have not stopped doing until today. Singing binds us a lot.
Monday Times: So where did you go to school from childhood until when you completed school?
Desire Luzinda: I went to Buganda Road Primary School from Primary One to Seven, then I went to Omega college for O’ Level and then Makerere High school for ‘A’ Level. I then attended Makerere University where I did development economics but stopped in year two to pursue my singing career.I later went to Nkozi University to do development studies.
Monday Times: When was your first recording?
Desire Luzinda: My first recording was in 2006 at Fenon Records.
Monday Times: What was the title of that first song you recorded?
Desire Luzinda: Nakowa emikwano.
Monday Times: How did you feel the first time you entered the studio to record?
Desire Luzinda: recording Nakowa emikwano was not my first time in studio but I must say in a good professional studio because that was every one’s dream studio. I had been to several studios because people used to call me to voice for them adverts during my high school holidays. I had a very good voice and was a member of full gospel choir which exposed me a lot. I remember vividly I was so afraid of Steve. I think I was just anxious due to the excitement because the environment was so cool and too professional which caused all this tension.
Monday Times: What has in your view been your biggest song to date?
Desire Luzinda: That is a tricky question because often times am convinced its ‘Mubiite’, then ‘Nyumilwa nyo’ but I think ‘Fitting’ did wonders
Monday Times: Then you have been a television presenter and a radio presenter. Let us start with television, how did you get on TV?
Desire Luzinda: During my High School I used to watch Karitas on Show Time and I so loved the way she was presenting. So every time Show Time magazine ended I would do the same in the mirror.
Presenting grew on my mind and in my Senior Six vacation, having had my baby, I badly wanted to work than leaving everything to my mum. I tried Simba FM and did a few skits but they were not paying so I went to WBS and did couple of screen tests until my luck came through. I cannot thanks WBS management enough for the platform. I enjoyed every bit and got a lot of experience.
Monday Times: How about radio, how did you end up with it?
Desire Luzinda: I believe if one is in entertainment, most of the things in the entertainment industry require the same features for example communication, boldness and so many others. Presenting is the same and only differs in the means for example a TV presenter having other requirements that are constant. Appearance is one key factor which is different with radio because people don’t see you so its comes down to the constant that is to say humour, flow/speech etc.
To put in a nut shell, having worked on TV and with the passion to present, I was scouted by Joel Isabirye who am sure saw a potential presenter in me thus giving me a slot on Dembe FM, something I will live to remember.
Monday Times: Okay.You spoke about having a child. How many children do you have so far?
Desire Luzinda: I have one daughter named Michelle Heather.
Monday Times: Do you have plans for her to pursue a music career?
Desire Luzinda: I wouldn’t want her to pursue a music career but I wouldn’t want to stop her from doing what she wanted. If she chooses music I will support her and try as much as I can to help her not make the same mistakes I have made.
Monday Times: Okay.Have you got any awards from music?
Desire Luzinda: I have received a few awards and a couple of nominations over time.
Monday Times: Okay. Could you list for readers the awards that you remember?
Desire Luzinda: I was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female Artist during PAM Awards, nominated for my song ‘Kabiite’ in the category for Best Collaboration as well as ‘Nina Omwami’, awardd for Best Afro Beat Single ‘Nyumilwa Nyo.’
Monday Times: What could you point as the main challenges you have faced in your music career?
Desire Luzinda: Being misjudged is the hardest challenge, however, as you establish yourself you get to terms with it knowing you are not the only one facing and going through the same hence finding a way to live happily than to live trying to prove or convince the world that you are actually not what they think you are.
Monday Times: Okay. What is your most valuable possession in life?
Desire Luzinda: My daughter. She is more valuable than anything on this world.
Monday Times: Are you in a relationship at the moment?
Desire Luzinda: Yes I am in a happy relationship.
Monday Times: Which local and international musicians inspire you?
Desire Luzinda: Inspiration changes from time to time and those who inspired me then are not the same that do today, however, I cannot forget that very inspiration I got before I started my musical journey. Whitney and Mariah Carey were a great international inspiration in that I doubt that there are any of their songs released in the 90s that I don’t know.
Locally, it was none other than Juliana. Being the first female artist that appealed to our generation, am sure am not the only female artist that looked up to her. She is amazing and I only hated it when I started singing and they would always compare the two of us but that didn’t stop my liking for her.
Monday Times: What is the secret of maintaining your voice for all these years?
Desire Luzinda: I have had challenges with my voice breaking down couple of times but it was because I didn’t know what it takes to maintain or even better your voice. I had never used anything and with my sweet tooth, I didn’t know I was instead killing it. Having a great voice requires frequent rehearsals and voice training, taking less of sweet things, drinking warm water, exercise and so many things.
We don’t have many vocal training schools or vocal coaches in Uganda and not many take it serious. In my case, I started last year to do the above and that is why my latest songs sound better and am sure with time my voice will be at its best.
Monday Times: Do you plan to have any more kids?
Desire Luzinda: I honestly don’t think about having more kids unless it is God’s plan. I actually find it tough now that I have taken 10 years. I don’t see myself in the labour ward and going thru those 9 months.
Monday Times: Okay. Are you wealthy, have you made a lot of money through music?
Desire Luzinda: Good lord! Do u know what u just asked? When we talk about wealthy people I think of the likes of Sudhir. I am nowhere close to Sudhir but you never know I could get there and I receive it in Jesus’ name. So many people think I have made a lot of money through music and I refute that. Yes I have made some money and still struggling to make money through music but to me music is a platform and a door opener to the many ways I make my money and I make more money through my chains of businesses that I do.
Monday Times: You are not a Muganda. did you find any challenges singing in Luganda?
Desire Luzinda: I am a Muganda and I know Luganda very well.
Monday Times: Okay. If you were not a musician, what job would you probably be doing?
Desire Luzinda: One thing I know and people who know me know that I am a very intelligent girl. My mother wanted me to do law but I didn’t see myself do 5 years chasing a degree (you know the mind of a teenager) and having got pregnant in my S6 I could not keep up with the MEG/Art that I had done in S5 so I changed to HED/Art, and spent most of my S6 home schooling which affected my grades but I still made it to university. Basing on that, I would probably be employed for a while and start my own business because I love being self-employed and still, am such a go getter and didn’t see myself do anything else apart from music.
Monday Times: Okay. Any parting words for your fans?
Desire Luzinda: I just want to thank my fans for being very supportive, Boat desire is still sailing so they should keep on board.
