Moja kwa Moja na Tabbie f0r Life

Forlifers, assemble! 💜 As one of y’all, I’m beyond honored to do this interview with the one and only Tabbie on this Moja kwa Moja special! She’s been putting in work in the game for a minute now, and my own love story with her music started with Rebel. Four years and four projects later, she’s still serving, still doing it HER way. So get comfy, because this one is unfiltered: we’re going deep into the journey, from Rebel to SD Aura For Sale.✨ 🔥

1. Let’s start with the big one! Who is Tabbie/Shaka Donna?  Introduce yourself to the people in your own words!

Hi my f0rlifers it’s Shaka Donna here, basically the baddest girl in the game. A rebel flower just like Mother Ri.

2. Take us back to the beginning. What music were you growing up on, and how did those sounds shape the Tabbie we’re seeing today?

Growing up I listened to everything and I think it shows in the music I make today. Everything, everywhere all at once. Les Wanyika, Them Mushrooms, Angelique Kidjo,Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba,Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Nas, Sanaipei Tande,Stella Mwangi and I could name a hundred or a thousand more, these legends shaped me deeply.

3. You’ve said before that you don’t want to be palatable to anyone or boxed in as an artist. You just want to drop music and connect with your fans. Tell us more about that mindset!

I think it’s very easy to get swayed into giving into what the masses want and not just the fans but the people behind the machine and the machine itself. It is important to sometimes block out all that noise and focus on self expression this way the supporters who love you as a person automatically relate to the music because they can see aspects of themselves in you that they connect to. A mirror.

4. Content creation is everything right now, and your YouTube channel is a Forlifer favourite. How important are your vlogs in keeping you close to your fans, and do you think every artist needs to be creating content?

I make vlogs because I always made them even before the music. I personally like to cater to my tababies and I feed them a few minutes into my daily existence when they ask me to because it’s something we’ve always shared. I don’t think it is necessary for every artist to make the same content because what may work for me may not for the next.

5. Let’s talk hustle! We saw you putting up your own posters for your show at Red Liquor Maseno. Is the hustle culture instrumental for an artist, or is it just part of the grind?

I put up the posters because I had no one else to do it. I was in my hometown and I’m a part of the team so I had to sell the show somehow. I may not be able to put up the next a thousand posters in the near future but I do it with joy now because I can and I really have no other choice.

6. Real talk: what are the biggest challenges you face as a female artist in this industry, and what keeps you going anyway?

Need investors with the best cars in their latest models. I think a lot of people get sceptical about putting in some money to push the art especially when it’s a woman. However, it is important that you put in all the work that you can to prove this narrative wrong. We work just as hard as the men do and deserve more than half the chances we are accorded sometimes. It’s always going to be my f0rlifers, these people are at the core of my artistry.

7. Are you signed or completely independent? What’s it like navigating the industry either way?

Independent and that means more freedom to express as I please. This freedom however, may just be as limiting as being tied to a company. I think because colouring outside the lines could mean you don’t fit into the picture at all. In my rebellious nature though, I feel it’s a blessing to be able to figure out everything as I go, not the easiest task but possible to work the game.

8. Now let’s talk about your new body of work, SD Aura For Sale! What does the title mean, and how has the journey been creating this piece of art?

Two and a half years of dedicated crafting. Putting into words experiences that I have lived from the start of my musical journey.  A final piece of the bridge into my debut album but a declaration and confirmation of awareness. Awareness over my sense of self as an artist and also the awareness of the influence I have over the game, hence SD AURA FOR SALE.

9. You worked with producers like Tasla, Oddz, Jaeye and more on this one. What did each of them bring to the sound of SD Aura For Sale, and how did working with them shape the vibe of the project?

Tasla is kind of like my main co-pilot. Our brains are in sync at this point, he easily translates and fills the gaps to the music straight from source. We must have tapped into the same cloud while creating cause our joint effort is otherworldly. Odzz co-engineering ‘Mimi nawe’ was such a blessing and I’m grateful that he helped me birth that beautiful banger of a song. Jaeye and I been locked in since BeAR and the tracks we made are proof of just that. Pepa helped me create some crazy jams and helped me meet the amazing Nico and M3 the prod, these tracks beautifully took space on the mixtape and I’m so proud. Blvcq gave me my second international producer placement and I’m excited to explore that some more cause look at the jam that is ‘Wickeda’. These guys are geniuses in their own right and I have to say how grateful I am to be in their presence and catalogues.

10. You’ve collabed with Femi One, Ajay, Steph Kapella and Katapilla, and honestly, the list is crazy! Which collabo stood out for you, and how did you get these amazing acts on your projects?

I cannot pick out a favourite. Femi One fulfilled my childhood artistic dreams when she asked to get on a song with me, I could not believe it cause she’s done so much for the female rap game and I’m honoured to even have her bless my tape with that inspirational verse. Ajay slid so perfect onto our song and I been the biggest fan so when I asked and he said yes? he’s so cool what! Steph Kapela is such a goat in the game and having his expertise and advice come alive on that track is so heavenly, forever grateful. Katapilla and I have so many songs together but every time we make a new song it just feels greater than the last and that chemistry is to die for love him down. Full circle for me cause I’m finally living out my wildest dreams.

11. Dream collabo time! Who is on your wish list within the Kenyan industry?

STL,Victoria Kimani,Nyashinski,Kapitani, Bien, Timmy Blanco and damn near everyone else, the game so goated.

12. Away from the mic: what does Tabbie do outside of music, if anything? Any hobbies or side hustles we should know about?

I love to paint, draw, make vlogs, travel and make money so I run businesses.

13. Let’s look ahead! What are your goals as an artist in the near future, and where do you see yourself in the next few years? 🚀

Global main stage. Yankee stadium with the Jayz and Kanyes, I wanna fill up ASK dome someday and the 02 arena too. In a few years it’s gonna be more f0rlifers a bigger family then, and bigger bags and biggger stages that’s all I want to do for life.

14. Last one! Dreamers Experience 2 is coming up on November 13th at Mass House. Plug the Forlifers: what should we expect from your set, and who else is performing? 📍🔥

First live set in two years so y’all better show up and show out. I can dance now too, well a bit so come see mommy do the do. I promise it’s gonna be a good time and we’re gonna sing our lungs out and make some rebellious memories. See you soon