For Blinky Bill, being an artist is less about fame and more about fearlessly crafting music that matters.
“I just want to be a free artist,” the producer and DJ says during an interview with The Star. “I don’t want to be tied to what audiences like.”
Blinky’s creative career, from his early days in Just A Band to his acclaimed solo projects, has been marked by risk-taking and reinvention.
“There has to be someone who is brave enough to not sound like everyone else,” he asserts. “I don’t ever want to be boxed.”
This unrelenting artistic courage is something he wears like armor.
Even when trends demand conformity, Blinky stays true to his experimental instincts.
“We Cut Keys 2 was very experimental,” he says of his 2024 album. “Not everyone in Kenya will like it, but it was honest. It was me pushing the envelope.”
Still, recognition has come his way. In 2019, he was featured in an Emirates campaign, making him one of the first African artists to headline for the brand.
“That opportunity reminded me to keep going,” he reflects.
Even with global visibility, Blinky does not sugarcoat the struggle of building a creative career in the country.
He often reflects on how slow systems and the pressure to go commercial can wear down innovation.
“A lot of talented people quit too early. The grind is real,” he says. “But when God gives you reminders, you know you’re on the right path.”
Having performed at global festivals like Afropunk and TED, he is well aware of the global appetite for rich, layered African sounds.
But he is equally clear that Kenyan music needs to rise to meet that standard.
“I’ve played with musicians from Mali and elsewhere who embrace complexity. Kenya sometimes shies away from that. But we can get there,” he says.
For Blinky, the future of East African music lies in its ability to be both proudly local and sonically progressive.
“We’re the next frontier,” he says.
“Our older guitar music, our happier melodies, they set us apart. If we build our sound patiently and authentically, the world will listen.”
Asked about the difference between performing locally and abroad, he pauses thoughtfully.
“Outside, you make the melody strong enough to connect even if they don’t understand Swahili. But in Nairobi, I don’t have to explain it. They get it. That’s special.”
Still, the Kenyan crowd, he notes, has changed. “
People are starting to become more open. 10 years ago, if you played certain genres, people would look at you funny. Now there’s curiosity. That gives me hope.”
As a mentor and collaborator, Blinky sees promise in emerging acts like Flyer, Muthoni the drummer queen, Lisa Oduor-Noah and Genesis.
Still, he remains open to all who want to make music.
“I want to work with people who are pushing boundaries, who aren’t afraid of sounding different,” he says. “It’s not just about music. It’s about attitude.”
And when it comes to legacy, he’s clear-eyed.
“I hope the next generation finds something in my music. I want to make things that endure, that reflect my personality, and push the future forward.”
His philosophy on art is rooted in intuition and spiritual awareness.
“We’re messengers,” he says quietly.
“And the message is for whoever is going to listen to it.”
With his upcoming releases, Blinky is focused on storytelling that speaks to the soul.
“Every song is a chance to say something important. Sometimes it’s political, sometimes it’s personal. But it must be true,” he says.
In a music industry shaped by algorithms, trends, and fleeting fame, Blinky Bill stands firm in his resolve to make timeless, thoughtful art.
“If I can plant a seed that someone waters years from now,” he says, “that’s enough for me.”
Blinky’s new song, Bella, nostalgic but playful, was
released on Friday morning.
