The music scene in Rwanda would be ahead of its game had it not been for the low production standards which have for years been blamed for seeing some local songs rarely given power play on renowned international tv channels and other platforms.

To prevent the vice, a number of local artists have been travelling outside the country to get their music projects recorded in bigger production studios.

However, Alex Muyoboke doesn’t see any reason for them to worry since Ishusho Studio opened operations in Kigali earlier this month.

The multifaceted studio operates in a two-storey building near Ste Famille Catholic Church, with a set up  that brings together a high-standard recording studio, a video production room and photography department.

Muyoboke (R) was earlier this month appointed the Managing Ditrector of Ishusho Lts. / Courtesy

The complex also has a liquor store and coffee space on the ground floor where people looking for service can be served.

Muyoboke was earlier this month appointed as the studio managing director based on his experience in the music business in Rwanda and beyond the borders.

From audio recording to video production, Muyoboke said the studio is set up with a production package that every artiste desires for the success of their music projects.

"The studio has all the materials needed to make music and their videos of high quality so they no longer have to go outside the country looking for a similar service. Bringing the studio within their reach will help artists to reduce the costs of their music production,” he told The New Times.

"All we want to care about is quality which we believe would help push our music to the next level,” he added.

Ishusho studio is owned by Martin Karangwa, a businessman who is not familiar to many in the music industry. He might be new in the music business but his love for music pushed him to set up a studio of Ishusho caliber to bring production solutions to the local music industry.

Muyoboke and his boss Martin Karangwa tour inside Ishusho's recording studio

"Some artists are going out to record some of their music projects outside the country while big companies also go to countries like South Africa to have their advertisements recorded and produced from there. But I don’t think they need to take their projects outside any longer since our studio is ready to provide the same service,” he said.

With quality production standards, Ishusho is already positioning itself among East Africa’s best studios which, according to Muyoboke, every African musician can proudly go and record their music.

"Some artists’ music projects are handled by producers from their home studios and, consequently, feel nervous to go to such a studio in case an international musician accepts to record a collaboration with them. But I think Ishusho would be the right place to take an artist and record a song together with pride because it has all that an international artist may need,” he said.

The studio has, for instance, a recording studio with luxurious recording equipment including high standard mixer and keyboard, both of which are rarely used in Rwandan studios.

The recording studio has a recording room which can also host choirs for live performance.

It also has a video production area where people can do interviews and documentaries.

Bora Shingiro, one of Rwanda’s renowned video directors, has been hired to handle video production services at Ishusho Ltd.

Other than the video director, Muyoboke revealed the company is also looking to hire one or two of Rwanda’s music producers to work in the recording studio to ensure that the studio only delivers the best to the music world and to the production clientele in general.

According to Muyoboke, the studio is more of music production as people can use its services in making video documentaries, photoshoot sessions and interviews.  

With the current set, Muyoboke said Rwandan artistes will longer need to move outside the country to look for better quality cameras to use in the songs’ video production.

A recent music project that Ishusho Studio handled was Mico The Best’s latest song ‘Amabiya’ whose video was shot and produced by the studio’s directors.

Besides business, he said the studio is there to help local artists produce the music that can compete at the international level.

"Rwanda has many talented young boys and girls, who can compete with other African singers if given a chance. I am sure our studio can play either a direct or indirect role in pushing their music to the world’s music stage.

In May, Muyoboke paid a visit to Diamond Platnumz's Wasafi studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to take a sneak peek of how a studio of Wasafi caliber is managed for him to ensure a successful management at Ishusho.