Debuting Kenyan-born songbird Naomi Wachira
One of our favourite things, at Diasporan Darlings, is to receive emails/tweets/Facebook messages from our readers informing us of individuals or organisations that they believe other Diasporan Darlings readers would want to know more about. A few weeks back an email landed in our inbox touting the musical talents of oneNaomi Wachira who had launched her debut album, “African Girl” that very day.
We were less than 30 seconds into listening to the title track, “African Girl” when we realised that we had found someone special who could not only sing fabulously but that Naomi effortlessly crooned and shared the challenges of diasporan living. To say we were sold, is a bit of an understatement 
Let us introduce to Africa’s latest songbird phenomenon, Naomi Wachira.
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DD: Congratulations on the recent launch of your debut album! That is a great achievement. Would you explain to the Diasporan Darlings readers what inspired you to create an album and your introduction into the musical realm?
NW:: Thank you it is an amazing accomplishment for me. I’ve wanted to record for almost 18 years and felt that as an artist I had reached a level of maturity where I could finally do something professionally. As for introduction to music, it has always been a part me. My mom says I started singing before I could talk and by age 5 I was singing in my parents’ choir. The first time I wrote as song was at 15 and I taught myself how to play guitar at 27, and now here I am.
DD: What have been the challenges of creating and releasing an album?
NW: Finding the right people to work with has always been a challenge because stylistically I bring something different.
It was hard to find someone that didn’t try to push me into a genre that didn’t seem to fit. Thankfully, the two friends I worked with, Justin Froese and Zach Fluery, were so great to work with because they were careful to maintain the originality of my songs, but also bring amazing ideas to create what you now hear. As for releasing, I’m doing this independently with no record labels or agents, so it’s definitely a challenge getting my music out to the masses as I’m relying mostly on word of mouth.
DD: How can DD readers get their hands on your album?
NW: You can my debut album, “African Girl” on iTunes and Amazon worldwide. I’m still trying to figure a way to make it available in Africa.
*DD readers, please note that as of Tuesday 4th December 2012, Apple has launched its online iTunes store in South Africa.
DD: Where on the African continent are you originally from exactly?
NW: I was born and raised in a town called Kijabe in Kenya.
DD: How did you end up being based in the United States of America?
NW: I moved here when I was 19 to attend college and decided to stick around. 5 years ago I moved to Seattle to pursue a graduate degree and that’s when I discovered an incredible music community that has become my stepping stone for trying to turn music into a career.
DD: As an African diasporan what would you say are the personal benefits of not living in your home country?
NW: Easy access to resources. It’s great that while working a full time job I was able to fund my project, with help from a few friends, and still support my family back home.
DD: If you had to provide three (3) vital pieces of advice to give budding African musicians hoping to release an album or break into the music industry in the diaspora, what would they be?
NW:
1. Find people who get your vision and won’t try to turn you into something you’re not.
2. No matter what, trust your instincts.
3. Learn to trust the process.
DD: Do you have a website? Are you active on social media networking platforms, how can your prospective fans find out more about you?
DD: We have compiled a few incomplete sentences with sections requiring completion, which are denoted by the ellipses. To allow our DD readers to get to know you a bit better:
1. I consider my greatest achievement to be …
NW: Definitely getting to record and release this album and my 3 year old daughter.
2. A country in Africa I have always wanted to visit is…because…
NW: This is a tough one, but right now it would be Ethiopia, because my best friend lives there.
3. My favourite musician / musical influence is … because …
NW: I’ll cheat a little here because there are two musicians I’ve really admired:
a. Miriam Makeba because her magnetism as a performer and charge towards social change have always stuck with me.
b. Tracy Chapman is another one. She was the first black woman I saw playing guitar and her style is so unique. Their songs tell incredibly honest stories with simplicity and deep conviction.
b. Tracy Chapman is another one. She was the first black woman I saw playing guitar and her style is so unique. Their songs tell incredibly honest stories with simplicity and deep conviction.
4. When I get homesick I crave…because…
NW: Good food and the sun! Chapati and nyama choma (roasted meat) are my favourite foods. Because I live in Seattle where the sun makes a rare appearance, I really miss that blazing African sun!
5. To me Africa means…
NW: Privilege.
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Additional Information:
Debut of select songs from debut album, “African Girl”: http://bit.ly/VxjsOQ & http://bit.ly/Up4MAG
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Imanafricangirl
Twitter: www.twitter.com/imanafricangirl
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Imanafricangirl
Twitter: www.twitter.com/imanafricangirl
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