We recently connected with Catherine Obanda and have shared our conversation below.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

Most people on social media know me as Cwezy, the musical artist. In recent years, I started to get into the profitability aspect of the craft.

I run a mobile music studio, a record label (CWEZY MUSIC), and offer consulting services to upcoming artists from Africa who do not have a huge fanbase. I teach them how to profit from their music by giving them tools for distributing, publishing, syncing, and copyrighting their music globally.

CWEZY MUSIC, the record label, is based in Nairobi, and I offer ghost songwriting and production services through this platform. We are open for business globally and guarantee billboard charting success. I just thought I’d put it out there if you’d like to collaborate sometime!

However, Cwezy is more than just music. I am a well-rounded person in multiple spheres. Cwezy is an infinite entity. I am not limiting myself to only one career path, but rather exploring different things that spark my passions.

Catherine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I have. It wasn’t easy at first being an independent artist. No matter what anyone out there tells you, no manager can want a piece of the pie if you do not have something to bring to the table. Running a music business requires lots of learning and unlearning. I registered my record label in 2020, so this is my second year in business.

Among the steps I took was upgrading my studio equipment to accommodate client production and songwriting needs, which I did in 2021. My first vision was to own a studio space within my house where people could visit on appointment only, but my ambieverted self enjoys lots of alone time and my home is a sanctuary. Owning a commercial space at the time did not seem fisible after an evaluation from a business consultant who factored in the rate of inflation. They gave me the idea of running a mobile studio instead. They also guided me through a proper business model to have investments multiply whatever passive income was coming in. 

If I was to do anything different from the start, it would be to seek professional advice sooner. In the same way, I offer consulting services to upcoming artists by sharing all the important information I have garnered over the years. Artists starting out do not have to make the same mistakes I made.

The takeaway is, you may not know everything straight off the bat; it will need a lot of learning and will consume lots of time. If you wish to earn money from your music, seek some professional advice to get the bigger picture in a shorter time, and it will save you the hustle.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had decided to work as a full-time creative, but I soon realized that capitalism was robbing me of the joy of creating. Working with deadlines and rules just didn’t sound like art. This had me reevaluate my path.

Aside from that, I lost my grandfather to cancer in January of this year. He was like a best friend. I won’t lie, I was pretty hurt and my spark to create was channeled into something darker than I had anticipated. Financially, I was tanking because my family had already faced a lot of financial strains from hospital bills and even the joy of celebrating any little success from any small wins seemed non-existent.

No creativity means no projects. If it weren’t for the passive income, I’m not sure how I’d have survived that dark cloud. The period before my birthday in February just needed strength, faith, hope, and realignment. I had been learning lots about forex bots and stuff and decided to finally give bot trading a try. I was able to create and finalize my first trading bot in March, and some friends got the first test-run. All I can say is, so far, so good. The infinite bots are now available for purchase. 

Realignment is also one of the reasons I decided to put on hold the idea of founding a women’s-only creative association in Kenya (WOCKE). As much as it is a grand idea, after a case study, I discovered there’s much more to be done on paper and on the ground. If it is meant to be, it will be. Do not beat yourself up when the universe leads you towards another path. Sometimes it is a blessing in disguise.

For now, I choose to passionately follow my purpose as it aligns with me. Getting more involved in community work, mentoring younger artists and helping youth create financial wealth through music and tech.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Let me debunk this: “You need to be famous to make it as a musician.” A musician can make a living even if they’re not famous. Also, most people assume you need public validation or approval to make it as an artist, but some artists don’t even own social media and still earn from their craft.

Secondly, extend grace to your favourite creatives and support them by sharing and buying their work. Art is fluid. Allow your favourite artist to diversify if they wish to. Let them try out new genres, let them take as many breaks as they need, and understand that, just like you, they also have a life beyond their artistry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cwezy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcwezy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwezymusic
• Linkedin: https://ke.linkedin.com/in/catherineobanda
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamcwezy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC30KB8Yab0SUu09zTLSDt5g
• Other: Support me: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cwezy