Henock was interviewed by Bereket of the Music Mayday Ethiopia team.
B: How and when did you start your music career?
H: I used to be a choir in a church but I started my music career in 1997, when I started to attend the Yared Music School. Then I spent four years at Yared Music School to study Piano as a major and I graduated in advanced diploma with distinction. My parents also inspired me. My dad was both saxophonist and vocalist and my mom was a dancer.
B: How do you describe the effect of music in your life?
H: It’s a gift of God. Music is a powerful language by which you can effectively communicate with people everywhere in the world. I use music to express my feelings and perspectives. I use music to point out problems prevailing in the society and ways to tackle them. This gives me a real pleasure because I am contributing something in amplifying problems along with their solutions.
B: What can you say about music’s effect in the society?
H: Art in general has an effect in any society depending on the way of implementation. However, music, as part of an art, is very powerful. For instance, if you want to reach the youth in order to convey a message of any kind, music definitely serves your purpose. You can both entertain them and easily send your messages. I think artistic approach is the best way to address issues more effectively than plain speech.
B: What messages do your songs highlight?
H: The song titled “Ethiopia” raises the irony that while Ethiopia is rich in natural resources and historical background as well, why poverty? Why all these problems? All the problems generate here in the society where the solution must be generated from. We are the problem and solution makers as well. It’s me. It’s you. It’s we. And the piece titled “Ye Arada Ligoch” is in hip-hop style and addresses addiction. This song calls up on the society to create a young generation free from drag addiction. The other piece of my album titled “Sun Rise in Africa” tells us that someday there will rise a sun in Africa resulting in hope, joy, peace and prosperity. It is symbolic. So, particularly these three songs highlight major issues that need special attention.
B: What do you think of Music Mayday and its goals?
H: I am really happy to see this organization established in our country especially for one reason. Young people in Ethiopia have no fertile ground to develop their artistic skills. This organization is a great hope to youngsters who want to make art their career. I know the organization is working to develop in a positive attitude among the youth so as to make them productive. I believe this is a significant contribution to developing our nation. I had been to the B-Connected event of 2003. It was very colorful that resulted in exchange of culture and experience.
B: How do you want to be connected with the organization?
H: I want to work with the organization so as to contribute my share through my profession by performing on concerts and festivals. This way I can also more expose my self to public and forward my messages.
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