Bruce Itahiwacu, popularly known as Bruce Melodie, has said that the Trace Awards held last year in Kigali, Rwanda, was a great platform that exposed him and provided opportunities that his music career will enjoy for many years to come.
The artiste, who is considered by many as the biggest export of Rwandan music and the only local musician to win a Trace Award, said on Tuesday, February 20, during a radio talk show hosted by podcaster Calvin Mwanguku at Trace East Africa studios in Nairobi, Kenya.
During the chat, which reflected on the recent Trace Awards and the artiste’s just concluded US tour that reached Dallas, Miami, and Portland Maine, Melodie revealed how nobody knew him when he first visited the Trace studio in Nairobi but was welcomed like a big celebrity when he returned to the studio three years later.
“It was funny how people didn’t know me when I first came here. I remember one person in the studio saw me coming with my team and asked who Bruce Melody was. I was shocked,” said the “Katerina” hitmaker.
However, when the Trace Awards came to Kigali last year, the musician highlighted that he got a platform alongside other Rwandan artists like Bwiza and Chris Eazy, and used it to debut on the international stage.
“The fact that Rwandan artists were given a place at these awards pushed us to present ourselves on the international stage. It was a very big event for us.” Melodie narrated
The celebrated musician landed in Nairobi with his team in the wee hours of Tuesday, February 20, just days after happily announcing that he was back in the studio after a break to record new music.
“I also have artistes I’m working in Nairobi and I’m here to finalize our projects and also expand my musical boundaries to this beautiful country full of talent,” said Bruce Melodie.
The artiste also noted that he will be visiting various radio and television stations in Nairobi to promote his previous projects and reveal his next move in the music industry he has been a part of for the past 12 years.
Melodie is in Nairobi with producer Kiiiz, one of the best at the moment, and Sens Magazine understands that the duo will be producing collabs with some of the best musicians in the country, including former Sauti Sol member, Bien Aime.
Born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda, Bruce Melodie has made a name for himself with his diverse talents as a singer-songwriter, composer, and producer. Known for his distinctive blend of R&B, Pop, Afrobeats, and Amapiano, Melodie has achieved remarkable success on the African music scene, winning a host of awards including the Superstar Award from Primus Guma Guma 8, Rwanda’s most prestigious music competition, and the Trace Award 2023 Best Rwandan Artist.
