Many thought November last year was an early announcement when R&B singer Yverry told media about his debut album launch on Valentine’s Day.
‘Love You More’, the album title, was convincingly a clear confession of love among lovebirds who chose to celebrate their love together at the concert.
The singer, born Yves Rugamba, already knew early preparations can lead a successful concert but a few believed a concert from an artiste of his caliber would attract people in big numbers given that his concert coincided with Carribean Zouk Band Kassav’s performance at Kigali Convention Center.
He, however, proved every doubter wrong when he launched his debut album on Friday before a fully packed Kigali Cultural Village.
"It is normal to be worried once you hear that any artiste, not just Kassav, announces a performance on the same day with your concert. But in the end, I am super excited that we all had an amazing turn-up. This is especially a proof that Rwandan musicians are going places and can only progress if people continue to support our music,” Yverry said after the concert.
He had full support from his organizing team to every artiste who performed at his concert, except King James who could not perform due to illness but at least showed up.
Bruce Melodie was the lone artiste on the lineup who did not perform at the concert because he had another performance in Musanze.
The venue’s decoration was totally romantic, from stage lights to Valentine’s dress code among a number of couples.
The concert began two hours later than scheduled on the agenda, as organisers were waiting for concert-goers, forcing traditional musician Ibrahim Cyusa, Andy Bumuntu, Social Mula and Queen Cha see their time of performance reduced from 15 to ten minutes on stage to ensure Yverry had enough time to perform for his music fans.
Clad in red sneakers, a red jacket and white T-shirt and jeans, Yverry was introduced to the stage by concert hosts Kate Gustave and Anita Pendo 10.40pm to give lovebirds a piece of romance around his song ‘Naremewe wowe’.
Backed by latest artistes’ favorites Symphony Band, Yverry performed his love-inspired songs to impose a feeling of romance among his fans, mostly couples, in the house.
The singer could sometimes leave the stage to join his audience in the VIP zone to engage couples seated on tables decorated with romantic candles, to start singing and dancing his songs along and from 'Amabanga', 'Nk'uko njya mbirota' to 'Uziye igihe' and 'Uragiye' among others.
In front of his mother and girlfriend, Yverry spent over an hour on stage and ensured he performed all his eleven songs on the album, old and brand new, to the excitement of his fans in the house, including State Minister in charge of Culture at the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Edouard Bamporiki who gave him a present as an appreciation to the singer’s efforts and progress in music since he graduated from Nyundo School of Music in 2017.
Yverry’s album launch can only be a boost to his music CV and ranks him first ahead of his fellow graduates from the music school before his former classmate Igor Mabano launches his debut album next on March 21.