Only money stands between me and my music – Yvonne

Yvonne Mushimiyimana also known as Sister Yvonne is a student at the University of Rwanda’s College of Education. The 20-year-old is also trying her talent in RnB music and has so far released three songs and one video. Richard Mugarura caught up with her and discussed school and music. When did you start your music? I loved music since childhood. I was born in a Christian family and my elder brother composed gospel songs that we sang in church and that made me love music. However, I started considering music as a career and as a serious business in 2013, when I released my first single, Gasaro, from Narrow Production Studio. Since then, how many songs have you released? I have released three audios and one video. My second single, Ntuzamvamo, and another, Ndabyemeye were produced by Jimmy from Celebrity Music Studio. I am currently working on other songs that I guess will be liked by my fans. I am also working on a collabo with Mister X and very soon, we are going to release the song. Where can your fans find your music? My music is being played everywhere on local radio stations and it can also be accessed online from different music websites where fans to down load and enjoy it. I have performed in concerts in Musanze alongside popular musicians like Eric Senderi, King James, Jack B, Ciney and others. This has given me a lot of confidence while on stage and I expect to perform in bigger events in the near future. Do you do music for fun or as a serious business? Initially, my aim was to share good messages with my fans, but I have since realised that is a serious business. That is why I am targeting performances during various events so that I can also gain something from it. So, any plan to launch your first album? I think in two years from now, I will be launching my first album together with my videos, since there are a lot of songs I am still working on to complete a full album. Any targets? I am working very hard so that in future I get selected for some of the local annual awards like Salax Awards, Primus Guma Guma Superstar and others. That means music is now your top priority. What about studies? Everything is done at the right time and right place. I go to school during week days and to the studio on weekends. I also use some of my time listening to showbiz on radio and also read showbiz news papers to get informed. What challenges do you face doing music? Like any other business, financial difficulties always stand in my way since sponsors are not easy to get for up-and-coming musicians like me. However, I would like to use this opportunity to seek support from private companies and the line ministry to enable me achieve dreams. Producers and the media should also make it easy for us by playing our music and producing music at a cheaper price, because we find it had as students to raise the kind of money charged in studios to produce a song.