US-based gospel singer Albert Ndikumana, commonly known by his stage name as Dr Albert, earlier this week dropped his new song ‘Urahambaye’, as he marks his comeback to the music scene. The song, which is a collaboration with local female gospel singer Precious Nina, is Dr Albert’s very first in seven years during which he has been investing much of his time in medical studies which, to him, require so much concentration. “It’s been about six to seven years without recording a song as I was focused on my studies. It’s not easy here to juggle studies with music, that’s why I had to take a break from music so I could dedicate my time to studies,” he tells Weekender. “Studio sessions require so much time and I couldn’t handle them alongside studies in medicine which also has loads of lectures to attend to, plus I was trying to settle in the United States, get to know the producers. It’s been a long process but I am back,” he adds. The song, loosely translated as ‘You are Amazing’, was produced at Wavelab Studios, a Texas-based music studio owned by Rwanda producer Fabrice Nzeyimana, while the video was directed by renowned video director Cedru who has been behind the videos of popular artistes like The Ben, Meddy and Priscilla, among others. According to Dr Albert, the idea of the song is inspired by the gospel of God learnt from Mark 3:38-39 which, in its nature, describes the power of God. The verses read; Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. “From these verses, I got to understand the power of God. He can speak to the wind, the sun, everything and they listen. That’s why I composed the song,” he explains. Dr Albert, a doctor by profession, is in his final year of his studies at Texas University where he is pursuing a Master’s in medicine. He has been juggling music with studies since he launched his career in 2009. Before taking a break from music, the father of two had been previously involved in different music projects with renowned female gospel musician Gabby Kamanzi, and Fortran Bigirimana and Dudu Niyukuri from Burundi. On his return to the recording studio, he says, he is now ready to dedicate a lot of time to his music as he looks to bounce back after years away. “Now that I am close to finishing studies, I try to spare some time for recording as I try to settle in music again. I am back for good and, besides my new song, I have three more music projects that I could drop any time,” he adds.
