Nicolas Peks in Soul Sessions concert

Nicolas Peks last graced a Rwandan musical stage in 2011 at the inaugural KigaliUp Music festival. The Burundian entertainer has been living in Toronto, Canada for the past eleven years, and it is from there that he hooked up with Mighty Popo, the organizer of KigaliUp. Peks, real names Nicolas Simbananiye, is currently in Kigali to stage his own show dubbed Soul Sessions on Friday June 9. He has curved out a niche not only as a DJ and singer, but also MC and sound engineer. As a musician, he is best known for Ku gasozi ka kure, a song that he recorded some fourteen years ago. His musical style fuses influences of World Music, African soul, and the old school Motown style laced with African traditional creativity. After a long recording hiatus, Peks is back in studio, working on new projects with local producer Pastor P. “My country Burundi is going through some instability right now, so my focus was to take a short vacation with my family just to breathe and reconnect with the artists around Kigali and Burundi as well. So I can say I’m here for vacation but at the same time there’s no vacation for an artist,” he explained the idea behind the project. “Soul Sessions is something that is going to show what I can do. It is going to be my first official show in Kigali. The other times I was coming to Kigali was always for a week or less so it’s the first time I’m really settling down to see what Kigali has to offer in terms of art and music. What I’ll do is work with some of the artists I’ve been working with from way back -Rosette Karimba and Eric 1key and other artists that have confirmed they will pass by and show some love. I will also share the stage with one of the best bands in Kigali-the Kinga Blues band.” 1key and Karimba will perform as special guest artists. The show that is being organised by Rock Events will take place at JJ Club inside the new Park Inn Hotel in Kiyovu. Entrance is Rwf10,000 and the show starts at 9p.m. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Entertainment

Nicolas Peks in Soul Sessions concert