Kleo Artist; The Ugandan girl rapping to greater heights in London.

By Arthur M. Katabalwa

Some have said that she is like a force of nature. She certainly doesn’t shy away from any kind of artistic confrontation. If it is to be creative whether in music or poetry, Kleo Artist forgets about thinking outside the box. For her, there is no “box” to think outside of. There is no “blue sky thinking”. She thinks and creates independently leading with what her creative instincts tell her. This attitude is what has led to her new tune Mazina featuring Double S.

“Mazina is my first time I will be blending Luganda and English with the drums. It has all gone well. It’s definitely been a challenge.  It’s been a big KLEO risk!” She laughs “But I believe in representing who I am. I am a British Ugandan. I am waving the Ugandan flag on this one.”

Kleo Artist, born Katelyn Namiiro was born in Uganda in deeply Christian families nearly 25 years ago. As a toddler, her mother decided to relocate from Uganda to South East London, growing up wrapped around the love of her family. “Sadly I have no memories of Uganda as a child. I have just been shown pictures but when I left I was way too young to form any memories”.

Life for her as a child in South East London was not that different as a child. “We went to church. We went to visit friends, went to school and generally messed about”. Her mother, Sanyu Harriet, with whom they have a very close bond was very instrumental bringing her and her younger brother up. “She worked hard to make sure that we had everything that we could have got. Certainly life wasn’t a bed of roses but we were fine.”

As a young black girl growing up in South London, she faced the kind of prejudice and suspicion that unfortunately has been rife in some parts of London. This kind of prejudice has been a major influence in her fashion sense. “My fashion sense is bold” she says without a flinch “I refuse to blend in. Blending in gets you nowhere.” Kleo has therefore decided to depart from what is normally expected “Its forgettable its goes unnoticed and boring.”

Music is my life

With an acute sense of her heritage, Kleo has been careful to exactly accentuate that “From a young age being a young dark skinned girl in the UK was seen as negative, specially being African. It was normal to bleach and have straight black hair” So this has spawned what we see these days; a riot of colors in her hair. “I guess that’s when I choose to shave my head do my plaits or natural hairstyles and bright simply to break rules and represent dark skin girls.” This has been a formula that has become her signature to date “Luckily for me it worked as a dancer with Unique Hair” That kind of departure from the norm has led to other opportunities for Kleo “I got stopped a lot and I was scouted for hair modelling various amount of times simply because of the unique look.”

Kleo’s foray into music came nearly as an accident. “I was actually first into poetry which I have posted online on YouTube called A Kid Named Kleopatra.” That initial work took her to other heights “From here I was approached by a producer who told me to go studio and jump on the Rick Ross hustle hard instrumental and try write poetry to it.”

The work within a studio environment pointed out that artistic nature in her “It sort of came natural to me hearing my own voice and fixing its pitch.” As a budding artist, she also found that she could start expressing more of herself in different ways “Going to the studio became a way to express my feelings, my anger, happiness, quirkiness and love. From there it was all the way up.”

That love for poetry started leading her into the rapping industry. As a male dominated industry, Kleo knew that she had a mountain to climb with further prejudices. Like the early prejudices with race in South East London, she decided to use those ideas to her advantage. “Having what many called then a baby voice and being dominantly a sexy rapper instead of a muscular rapper I guess I became a threat in the UK. Most female rappers in the UK where very noncommercial, not lady like and sounded very masculine. So I guess for many producers, promoters and fans I was a breath of fresh hair.”

Of her main influences Kleo has been physically likened to TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes “I personally love Lisa. Being compared to her is like being compared to a legend. It’s like being compared to one of the rappers that started the female rapping trend. So it’s always a compliment. However personally to be honest I don’t see it.” She is aware that as young artist many get compared to other legends. “As an artist you will be compared to many but legends are a bonus!” She admits that she doesn’t have “influences” in music as is accepted in mainstream media. “I have people I support! Every artist has a unique flavor. WELL MOST!”  So she supports people like Lauryn Hill and Erika Badu “The music they compose is from within. I find that it has depth to it. It’s not meaningless like some of the music we have in the industry. Lauryn and Erika represent the real woman in a real world. My main idea is to blend the flavors from music. For example my song Come Too Far I also tap into that depth; a real woman in a real world.”

As for having an influence, her pull to do her “own thing” makes it difficult. “I don’t have particular influences! If you’re different you want to be in a league of your own. People can try catch up and follow but it will be very difficult! Luckily for me I come as I am! People are excited to just see and hear what I do without any influences! I have been told there is gap for me in the UK and the Ugandan market!” She laughs.

Ugandan music is also important to her and she has a number of artists she listens to “Yes I listen to Sheba Karungi, Irene Ntale, A Pass….. A lot of them really. I am Ugandan so I have to listen to my own. I support my own people.” Recognizing their strengths as well she accepts that she doesn’t draw a lot from them artistically “I am not drawing anything from them simply because I feel we are all different artist.” Her locality as a Londoner presents different feelings and experiences from which she draws from. “Essentially I am a UK rapper from East London.” Although of Ugandan descent Kleo realizes her sound is basically English. “I also know that many are singers.” So on artistic references, Kleo knows that in many ways they will sound different.

Working and creating within the London music scene doesn’t come easy. “The local music scene in London is BOOMING right now. There is talent everywhere. .You have to be different to stand out. Hence why am introducing the Ugandan flair.” 

She advises those trying out as new either in London or in Uganda; “Stay relevant, be unique but stay classy. Being relevant, being current, being famous does not mean you go where the wind takes you or to follow what the industry says you have to do. Do what makes you happy. Once you forget the fun in music and start following the money and success I feel you are in trouble. You will hit dead ends due to desperation. Have a plan have a team and pray that God protects and pushes your movement.”

Many people look at musicians with envy. The expectation is that one reaps a lot of benefits; a lot of wealth and fame. Kleo is trying to keep focused “Yes most musicians like fame. I also want it but I want to do it my way. I want to help my team grow want to give back. I do music simply to make people dance enjoy themselves! There are different ways of looking at success! Many will have different levels to success! I feel like I have succeeded already! The fact I make people happy the fact I can pay what I have to support my team makes me content and happy. If one is a greedy artist, people are a put off and they begin to think they are worth more than they are. It’s wrong.” 

Kleo reckons that she gets her “loud” style from her mother. “My mum styles me and my grandmother was a designer so I guess it got carried down the family. I and mum always try to challenge what’s on trend. My mum does not like normal. She has an unusual, uncommon and eccentric sense of style. So dressing me is easy for her. I do my hair and she works with whatever I do with it. Having a young Mummy is a BONUS!” She trails off in her heavy East London English accent. “From a young age I was fascinated by her sense of style. The colors and change of styles weekly amazed me. But ideally with my height and body structure people struggle to find clothing that fits my upper and bottom part” That is where her mother becomes very instrumental “She knows where to go and when to go.

Kleo modeling a Gomesi with an interesting twist to it.

She knows every inch of my body from parts that need to be covered to parts that needs to be enhanced, what heels suit me, what jewelry goes ,what colors what theme. She’s amazing!”

Her mother as well is the most singular important person in her life “We have been close forever. She is my mentor, she is my supporter, she is my rock. She knows every step I take in my music. Coming from shows to outfits to upcoming songs, She helps me plans songs and tells me if Ugandans will understand what am saying if am pronouncing things right. My mother helps me calm down when I start stressing especially where people delay, mess or tamper with projects. She’s basically the best mum an artist could ask for. She is also a well-respected patient loving Christian woman that judges no one but loves everyone.”

Her mother who has been listening in to the interview quietly but firmly adds; “Kleo has been a very smart girl from a young age so I know she will be ok in the music industry. As a kid, she was very creative I predicted she would somehow be in the entertainment industry.  I have no problem with it. God is in control and I know she will and is doing great.” The two have a double edged relationship as a daughter-mother relationship but to her mother, being a mom comes first “My relationship as her mother is first. She’s part of me. So anything that hurts her affects me. I try not worry and put all my trust in God to protect her and give her guidance. She knows what she is doing.”

Plans are afoot for her to visit Uganda in the near future. “Yes very soon I should be coming to Uganda this year in the summer. I will be shooting four videos. I will also visit some schools, visit my village. I may do a tour. I also want to finally see my grandmother and just enjoy my summer back in Uganda. It has been a long time.”