Founder of Country Records Jean-Paul Nduwimana popularly known as Noopja, has said that Country Records is coming big and bigger this year regardless of challenges it faced in the past few months. Noopja was speaking to The New Times about future plans of the label, artistes it eyes to sign, as well as where it stands after parting ways with producer Element who played a big role to take Rwandan music to another level through the record label. “I have a big team of talented youngsters who are going to keep supporting the local creative industry and take Rwandan music to greater heights. We are coming big and bigger this year,” Noopja said, adding that the challenges his label faced in the past gave him historical opportunities and great lessons to keep pushing in the industry. Among the big developments Country Records have this year, Noopja said, is the signing of producer Kozze who is already producing mega hits in the local music scene. “Kozze is already making things happen at the studio but not only as a producer, but also as a great video director. Even my 8-year-old Paul Legend is already a great producer. I have a great team of youngsters that I have been mentoring and we will share more names soon,” Noopja told The New Times on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Asked about producer Element’s rumored exit from the label, Noopja confirmed that he left Country Records a few months ago and got signed under 1:55am entertainment. “Yes, Element left Country Records by choice but he went in an unprofessional way. We were still in hard times of losing Kinyoni and all he did was to leave unannounced”. Another thing, he said, Element (ELEEH) is Country Record’s brand that he is using to promote another company which is illegal in the business of music. “All the songs he is releasing now were Country Records projects, but he is releasing them under 1:55am. He is really making big mistakes,” Noopja added. Country records remains one of the best studios and record labels to ever exist in Rwanda given how it raised stars and pushed Rwandan music into the international arena.
