Eric Mucyo studied sociology at ULK, Gisenyi Campus. After graduating, he hit the streets of Kigali looking for a job. When he went to Hôtel des Mille Collines, he found a resident band, with which he quickly made contact; asking the band leader if he could join.  

His request was accepted, and Mucyo was given two months of trials. After passing the test, he was handed a performance contract, thereby landing his first job. Moses Opobo caught up with the singer back stage.

How long have you been in music?

Ten years now. I started playing music professionally at Hôtel des Mille Collines in 2007.

I worked at the hotel from 2007 until 2012 when my contract ended and moved to the Golden Hills Hotel in Nyarutarama, where I still play today, besides the Kigali Serena Hotel. I play at Golden Hills on Sunday afternoons, and at Serena on Friday evenings.

What does music mean to you?

It’s my job, my life. My life is all about music.

Tell us about the Light Band

This is my band which plays with me at all my concerts. We are seven members in total, with me as its leader. We have three singers; me, Manuel, and Fiona Mbabazi. The rest are instrumentalists: Thomas Mukanda on the solo guitar, Pashington on the bass guitar, and Deklos on the drums.

As a band, we do many styles of African music, including Kinyarwanda, Congolese, and even French and European styles. All of us used to play separately at different venues, but when I got Hôtel des Mille Collines contract, I convinced them to come and we start Light Band.

You studied sociology at university. How did you end up in music?

My music journey started from my childhood; when I joined the Restoration Church, in Gisenyi. I begun as a dancer of traditional music, and later became a trainer of other children. As a choir we did many albums.

In 1998, I recorded a music album, Tuze kukuramya with my cousin Faycal Ngeruka, Codo Ngabane, Ndagiyimana Peter, Shyaka Raoul, Baby Gasana, and Muhozi Alain – seven people in total. Together, we called our group Brothers, because we lived like a family.

Why did you choose to work in hotels over other concert venues?

In the hotels, there is a lot of opportunity for professional exposure. For me it’s an address, a place to find my fans and people who want to talk business.

You are credited with pioneering a new musical style – Gakondo Fusion — in the local music industry. What is Gakondo?

It’s basically a mix of our authentic local music styles with Western musical influences like Hip Hop, Rn’B and Blues. The idea first came to me in 2009-2010, when I thought of how to come up with an original product that would define who Eric Mucyo is to his fans. I believe that this style is even more original than Rwandan pop music, although it’s harder making money from it at the moment.

What are some of the songs done in Gakondo Fusion style?

They are four; Smiling, Bwiza, featuring Jay Polly, Ubwuzu bw’Imbaga, and Tubyine.