IN 2020, the Rwandan music industry gained a new producer who is changing the game by producing hits, steering local music to greater heights.
You may have heard a tag ‘ELEHH’ on your favourite afro-beat hits that dropped last year. It’s so catchy that producers from other parts of the world have attempted to steal it.
Fred Robinson Mugisha, best known as Element first appeared in the music scene after producing ‘Henzapu’, a banger that raised his name to stardom and since then, Element became an item in the industry.
The Karongi-born producer is the brains behind some trending hits in the country now, such as ‘Izina’, the recently released song by Bruce Melodie, ‘Jelasi’ of Mani Martin, ‘Agafoto’ by all stars, ‘Amashu’ by Chris Easy, to mention a few.
For Noopja, founder of Country Records, the studio which Element is signed under, as a newcomer in the game, Element carved out a brand that has been in high demand for the last two years.
Not limiting himself to certain genres like afro-beat, trap or R&B and having an open-ended approach in the studio is one of the reasons that is giving Element props in the game, according to Noopja.
"You can understand the magic he is capable of doing only if you could get a chance to have a studio session with him,” he added.
Another thing, he said, Element is also playing a huge role in making Rwandan music go international which was something that local music lacked before.
"You can easily notice that other producers are using his skills and have adopted his style and touch. The kid is just crazy on the keys,” he said.
Bob Pro, one of the best producers in the country who mixes almost all songs produced by Element said that from the first day he saw the young producer, he knew that something was going to change in Rwanda’s music industry.
"Element came with sounds that gives vibes to everyone not only music lovers. He is probably one of the best producers that Rwanda ever had,” he said.
According to Element, the need to create something new all the time is what drives him to make unique sounds that won the attention and admiration of many music lovers.
The 22-year-old producer said that he makes music as Element not as someone he heard on the radio or a producer he saw on Instagram which is why he makes the best sounds in the country.
If he was to give any solid piece of advice to other merging producers out there, he said, "Do you. It’s all in your own hands. Don’t let anybody hold you back and stick to your sound.”
For Platini P, one of the leading musicians in the country, Element pioneered what he described as urban sound, and is a producer that helps artistes not only in production, but also writing lyrics and creating the best melodies for tracks.
Platini P who recently travelled to West Africa with Element also noted that among the top 10 hit songs in Rwanda, 8 are always produced by Element, something which shows how he is driving Rwandan music to the right direction.
"Our neighboring countries are attracted to his touch and production. It is safe to say that Element introduced good music to Rwandans,” said P.
Ernestine Kirezi, a huge fan of Element and music lover recently told The New Times that Afro Beats started sounding better in Rwanda the day Element started production.
She said, from 2010 to 2019, we were playing songs of the likes of Wizkid, Davido, Ycee and many other iconic Afro beats makers, but this time we are enjoying hits from our own country, something that makes many Rwandans proud.
"From East Africa to the western part of the continent, Element is a household name when it comes to making hits. The kid is simply producing sounds of the future.” Kirezi added.