Over the years the music industry in Kenya has moved from just a source of entertainment for Kenyans to a source of income for artists as well. Sauti Sol lead vocalist Bien Aime Baraza has revealed how he will spend the Sh50 Million handed to him after being signed to Sol Generation.
Speaking to a journalist, Bien said that he will invest part of the money in the next female artiste Sol Generation will be signing come January 2022.
“I want to invest that money in the next female artiste that Sol Generation is going to sign. Sol Generation is signing a female artiste in January and she is going to be the biggest artiste in the world and the woman of the moment, so I’m looking forward to that day and I can’t wait,” Bien said.
On November 5, 2021, the Sauti Sol lead vocalist was unveiled as the newest Sol Generation signer, complete with a Sh 50 million deal.
“What this deal means is that Sauti Sol is signed to Universal and Sol Generation is a label in which Sauti Sol is a director. Bien as an individual was not signed to any entity. I got offers from South Africa, Spain, London and New York.
“As a businessman, I figured that it would not be proper to ask other artists to join Sol Generation if I’m also not willing to put myself on the table. When I sign to Sol Generation the value of the label goes up because of the pedigree of artist I am and the number of years I have put behind my craft,” he said.
The announcement coincided with the release of Bien’s new EP dubbed Bald Men Love Better, featuring the legendary pianist Aaron Rimbui.
The musician’s deal will last three years and comes just after Sauti Sol members launched their solo careers.
Sauti Sol as a group remains signed to Universal Music but Bien joined the Sol Generation roster as a solo artist.
He joins Bensoul and Nviiri The Storyteller who have been making waves in the music industry with songs like, Nairobi and Niko Sawa.
Bien also noted that currently the only Kenyan artiste he would wish to work with is Yaba.
“Kuwork na msee on a collaborative project at the tune of an Album si kama tu collabo za kawaida and ina demand msee akuwe committed to it as much as you are…kuna tu wasanii wenye ningependa kuwork nao na mmoja wao ni Yaba. Yaba is a very good artiste, na sai ako na album inaitwa Rhumbacane go an stream it,” he said.
The Sauti Sol lead singer also disclosed that the Sauti Sol band was preparing for a mega concert in December in Nairobi, which will provide the opportunity to perform the album Midnight Train to a live Kenyan audience for the first time.
“There is a big announcement we are about to make, I can’t say the date here but in December we have the Midnight Train experience coming up and it will be the first time we will be playing the album on Kenyan soil, we are looking forward to that day heavy,” he said.
Speaking on the future of Sauti Sol following the launch of the members’ solo careers, the self-proclaimed leader of bald men in Kenya said that another album was in the offing, with the songs already recorded.