UP AND COMING SINGER Confy has all his eyes set on establishing himself as one of Rwanda’s artistes to reckon with in 2022, after enjoying an impressive breakthrough in the local music scene last year. The 22-year old, born Confiance Munyaneza, is pushing his way to stardom as his music continues to feature on the local radio and TV stations’ top charts through his songs like ‘Jowana’, ‘Igikwe’, ‘Panga’ and ‘Mali’ among others. People may have started to pay attention to his music but the youngster has been recording since 2017. He gave all he could during his breakthrough and accepted the hustle any upcoming singer goes through to achieve the spotlight he’s gathered so far in his music. Confy’s music started to attract the attention of music lovers in 2021 when he released his song ‘Jowana’. His voice attracted Gabiro Guitar who approached him to record ‘Igikwe’, a collaboration which dominated the local music charts on local radio and TV stations for months. It was a win-win between the former Tusker Project Fame contestant and the fast-rising singer as the song made a big impact on their music last year to the extent that it earned a nomination in the Kiss Summer Awards, despite losing the ‘Summer Song’ prize to Meddy’s ‘My Vow’. But Confy kept celebrating the quick rise he was enjoying last year that the song which, alongside ‘Jowana’ and ‘Panga’, led him to win the ‘Best New Summer Artiste’ beating Papa Cyangwe, Vestine & Dorcas, Symphony and Niyo Bosco to the prize. The industry has now welcomed him as one of the key young artistes of the new generation tipped to raise Rwandan flag high in music. The singer, however, knows that his music will not risemagically if he doesn’t work hard and give his audience the ‘music they deserve’, a target he has already set to achieve in this year in Rwanda, the region and even in Africa. “In 2021, I learned a lot that helped me grow my music career. I am happy with how far I have gone but 2022 must at all costs, be a defining year to show Rwandans and the region the musician I want to be,” the singer told The New Times. “I am happy with what I have so far achieved, the award I received as an upcoming artist and the way my music is growing and cementing a place in the Rwandan music industry. But I want to do more because I still have a long way to go because I want to improve in all aspects of my music,” he said. Born in Gikondo, Kicukiro District, Confy was lucky to grow up in a family that loves music. As a result, his mother has promised to support him so he can achieve his childhood dream of becoming a music star with a big name in Rwanda and in Africa. “I want to push my music at the international level. I want to chase my dream and seeing my family showing me the support I want gives me a motivation that I can make it,” he said. “My mother has been so supportive ever since I told her the I want to become a musician. With her backing, I never ceased to invest my time in music and I am happy it is already on the right path,” he added. The singer, who studies financial management at University of Kigali, recently dropped a new song ‘Mali’ so people can enjoy it while he works on his debut Extended Play (EP) that he will release in February . Music may be his first choice at the moment, but Confy says he could have ended up in painting or interior design if he had not been lucky to find room for music.