Gloria Busingye, also known as Gloria Bugie, is a breath of fresh air; there’s no other way to put it. The 19-year-old artiste was born and raised in Uganda to Rwandan parents who returned to the country later on. She describes herself as an artistic person because she has always had a passion for art. She is also a first-year law student at the University of Kigali. Bugie spoke to The New Times’ James Peter Nkurunziza about her budding career in music.

Excerpts:

How do you manage to balance school and music?

Well, luckily enough my schedule at school is fixable, because I study in the morning, and dedicate my free time to music. Basically, I programme myself in a way that I do both without affecting the other.

How long have you been doing music, and what inspired you?

I have been singing since I was a little girl. I used to sing in primary school and represented my school at different tournaments. I also performed in church choirs, though my father was against my passion for music. I didn’t give up on my dream and that is why I am here today. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that I started to sing professionally after my S.6 national exams.

Tell us about your songs.

I’ve only one single out. It’s called, "Light the fire”, and talks about the way someone feels when they are in a happy relationship.

We can’t deny the fact that love is something many of us can relate to, and therefore I found it relevant to sing about. The song’s video is underway.

Which artistes do you look up to?

I look up to Rihanna and Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage. I also like Meddy’s music and wish I could collaborate with him.

Is music hard?

From my own perspective it’s not, just give it all you have.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as an upcoming artiste?

I haven’t encountered any major challenge, perhaps because I’m still new in the industry. But, I’m aware very many upcoming artistes, especially girls, face a lot of challenges compared to their male counterparts, and as result, some decided to quit. The challenges include; demand for sexual favours from music producers and promoters. It’s so frustrating! Unfortunately, most victims suffer silently, hoping they’ll be able to penetrate into the business.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself as one of the big names on the local music scene, with several tracks and albums to my name. I also visualise myself having several collaborations with some of the top names in the region. I also want to inspire young people to preserve our culture through music.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com