Not every music label in Austin, Texas, is co-run by a woman and a producer from Arusha, Tanzania, but that's the unique setup at Voice of Maasai. While volunteering abroad, owner Jessey Jansen crossed paths with a Maasai choir that would later lead her to Alex Lobulu.
"It all started over 14 years ago when a few Maasai women sought my help, which sparked my idea of an album for the local choir. Through a creative underground network, I stumbled upon Fnouk Studio, where Alex, an up-and-coming producer, was working. Since then, we have made a remarkable portfolio and are now thriving through our latest collaborative songwriting efforts," Jessey fondly recalls.
Read more about Jessey and Alex's creative songwriting process, from their own words:
Alex, I am very excited about this new collaboration, me as lyricist and you, well you, doing the rest musically! I started writing lyrics about two decades ago, first as spoken poetry, then melody and rhythm, next thing I knew I was telling a story through my musical vocals. But to be at the mercy of singing, well that wasn't something I was cut-out to do. Have you always felt you could compose and sing?
Yes, because I see now it has become a significant part of my life and I like to continue learning and growing.
I love your voice, and feel it is the perfect compliment to my lyrics. Did it come naturally for you to sing to these lyrics or were you faced with challenges or inspired for other reasons to compose?
I was impressed by your lyrics because you have written them technically in an interesting way. It was not very easy to compose because the English words are very technical, meaning they have indirect messages. But because I am very determined, I kept at it until I succeeded.
I have always been inclined to have a male vocalist sing my songs, to break down gender barriers with my work. Men rarely sing songs that women write, did you have any hesitations with me being a woman songwriter?
I don't have any hesitations in working with you, and I am very impressed with your songwriting, you are a very good writer. I love your writing.
Trying to step inside your process a bit, do you find a playfulness in composing to another persons lyrics? Or do you find yourself allowing a word, pattern, or some other theme to guide you in the musical composition?
I like to understand lyrics and compose songs, but when it comes to writing English songs, I feel like collaborating with English songwriters can strengthen my composition skills. I read the words and try to merge the story with cultural context, allowing my voice to be part of a composition that is in line with the modernity of the world.
I find myself allowing a stream of consciousness as I generate creative ideas, the technique of spontaneously writing thoughts, ideas, and impressions as they come to mind, without any particular order or structure. Do you apply a particular mindset as you compose and make choices about style, vibe, genre?
In my composition, when I have been given lyrics, when I read, I start to get ideas for the style of music and after that I try to understand the character of the author by imagining what he/she thought when writing the song, then I get a feeling of how to compose a song that will compliment the writer's feelings.
With all of our truly unique projects and vision for Voice of Maasai over the last decade, do you feel this new creative pursuit will continue to push your skills and creativity?
Yes, the current creativity is good and it will help me a lot to do better because of facing the various challenges of new writing perspectives and the way we mix white and African culture, this will lead to a unique creativity unlike others.
Your talents and accomplishments are many, in and out of the studio. Do you have aspirations as a solo artist or is your heart in the production studio, or maybe you are one of these rare individuals that can do it all. Tell us, where do your dreams take you in 5 years if money were no object?
In the past I tried to be a solo artist and gospel singer and I really liked it, but because of the issues of life obligations I had to go into production. After doing production I found myself coming to love it, because it allows me to interpret the dreams of many people. But I also owe it to myself to be able to interpret my own dreams, so in the future I am thinking of returning to singing as much as the ability will allow.
Thank you Alex – are there other dreams that you’re currently focused on that you would like to share with Voice of Maasai fans?
Voice of Maasai fans should expect to receive new creations in the upcoming projects, because we continue to identify new talents and as we meet new people with different cultures and different perspectives, that's how we continue to create new creations in our music that will be completely different from others.