Sound of Hills comes of age

After two years of rehearsals and practice, Sound of Hills is a hit on the musical scene in Rwanda. The explosive sounds of the young boys and girls and their talent has twisted the band into a more influential music group.Founded by Mico Marcel, Sound of Hills comprises seven (five men and two ladies). Since its inception, the band has been the backup band during the famed annual Primus Guma Guma Superstar competition. “I used to play often at Mille Colline by myself but I had always wanted to be part of a band because it would be more interesting and would provide a chance to grow musically. After the competition I brought together the artistes,” Mico told The New Times.Sound of Hills plays five nights a week at Mille Colline hotel, and they also have other bookings on Monday and Friday nights but somehow it doesn’t wear them out, instead they see it as a chance to get better. “There are days when we have two shows a day, one in the afternoon and another in the evening. We really don’t mind because we have fun while we are at it. It is also a chance to make us better as you are always on stage, the band members including me have grown musically since we began. “Most bands especially the upcoming ones have trouble sticking together as members grow musically but Sound of Hills has stuck together.Yeti a band member attributes that to the leadership provided by Mico, “He is a leader, he has managed to keep us together and cohesive like a family. Though we are different in several ways, we are like a family in many aspects. We help each other out whenever one of us is facing difficulties. We have also been honest with each other, when one of us is out of line, we point it out early,” Yeti says.Mico doesn’t heap credit on himself for managing to keep the band together, “it is the discipline of the members and knowing what they are after that has kept us together. When we first began some opted out and those of us left have stuck together.”A show that will probably be forever etched in the minds of the band members is a state function that was held at Serena and the band kept dignitaries on their feet for more than three hours. “It was an independence day event at Serena, people danced for three hours when we were playing, I don’t think I will ever forget that,” Mico says.Does it worry the band leader that as they gain experience they may fall out? “No it doesn’t, we all have the same vision and ambitions musically. We understand each other, and it doesn’t keep me up at night. Right now we are focused on releasing our album later this year,” he says as he heads back to take his place on stage.

Leisure

Sound of Hills comes of age