Q&A With Yellow Light Machine’s Sam Guchu

UP’s Q&A series is back with a bang in 2015. We speak to Sam Guchu of Nairobi band Yellow Light Machine, who define eccentricity. We asked him about how the group handles fights, make decisions and how they came together. Here is our exclusive interview with YLM’s Sam.

UP: Who is YLM?

Sam: We are a music band based here in Nairobi. There are 8 members: Ngare, Ricky and I play the guitars, Ondi, Mo and Wangui are our amazing vocalists, Wairimu and Samantha play the keyboard and drums respectively. Everyone here is extremely talented.

UP: How did YLM get together?

Sam: (chuckles). It is a funny story. I kind of stalked Ondi around campus after I glimpsed her walking in campus with her guitar, and having only ever seen one other person with a guitar on campus, I kept an eye out for her and when I saw her next I was on the 7th floor or something and I flew down the entire seven flights of stairs and caught up to her. We jammed together with Ricky, who was also in the same campus, and the rest is history. I did not attend Penya Academy as a student, Samantha and Ricky did though I sat in so many classes that Natalie (Lukkenaer, director of Sauti Academy, the music school where YLM honed their craft) should give me a certificate.

UP: Is there a hierarchy in the band?

Sam: Above all else, we are friends. We all have, in broad strokes, the same goals and ambitions. Artists have very strong opinions and positions, and it does not help the creative process to constantly have someone you consider a peer barking orders at you. We have a democratic way of doing things- every voice is equally valid. though of course Lydia (Byarugaba, the groups’s manager) keeps us all on our toes!

UP: How do you resolve disputes in such an eclectic group?

Sam: Compromise is key. friendship comes first in the group- we try not to let the sun go down on any drama. Disputes disrupt our work- we solve them as a group when necessary. We are a bunch of hippies and you know the hippy mantra- love is everything!

UP: And how do you deal with the less fancy elements of being a band- finances, logistics and everything besides the music?

Sam: In the beginning we did a lot of gigs for no pay. As we started to actually look like we knew what we were doing we began to get offers to perform and get paid to do it. We had a problem initially going up to organizers and promoters to ask for pay, until Lydia(Byarugaba) became our manager last October. She has been an organizational marvel. When deciding how much we shall charge, we look at various things- transport, refreshment and the crowd we shall be playing to. We weigh all these factors when we are figuring out how much to ask for.

 

UP: Even hippies need to eat, obviously. With such a diverse group, how do you manage your time? Are there any scheduling secrets you can pass on?

Sam: The reality of modern living means we all have day jobs and/or other commitments which put a strain on the time available to practice and rehearse. We all have different personal schedules and so trying to find a tie for common practices and rehearsal has been a task. Lydia organizes it, ensuring that the band had adequate time for all this. In an ideal world we would be able to support ourselves comfortably with just our music and spend all day practicing and creating, but now we have to make sacrifices to succeed. Don’t get me wrong - we love the work, so the sacrifice is really the separation from family and friends- that’s what is really gut wrenching. We plan 2 months in advance and try as much as we can to balance our time and plan around performances, practice and rehearsal.