Kenyan singer-songwriter Njerae recently did an interview in which she talks about her musical influences, creative journey, and the risks she has taken to shape her career.
Njerae has recently released a new single “Decide” off her latest EP “Four Letter Word.
While discussing her music influences, she said she blends her R&B influences with her own Kenyan identity to create a distinctive sound.
“Growing up, I was mostly influenced by R&B music. I used to listen to a lot of Tori Kelly, but at the same time, Sauti Sol was coming up. They had a huge influence on my journey in the beginning as well. I was mostly on the singer-songwriter side of life, the alternative/indie type music,” she says.
She felt there was a gap in the market—most Kenyan artists were either deeply rooted in traditional genres like rhumba or the newer Gengetone sound. Determined to find a balance, she sought inspiration from artists who were pushing boundaries while staying true to their roots.
“I knew that just by me being Kenyan, I had to find that Kenyanness in me. And at that time, I feel like there wasn’t anyone who was doing that kind of blend. It was either just gengetone, or those types of music from back then, or rhumba-type music.
“There was no one who was kind of cutting in between. So I tried to just pick pieces from the artists in the country that were making it, that being now Sauti Sol. And then by virtue of me being a woman, I also wanted to find women that I can also look up to that are doing the same thing.”
With Sauti Sol being a big influence in her career, she names Bien as a dream collaborator.
“I think Bien is a huge motivation and pillar of strength for very many Kenyans. He’s doing something that most of us thought would be impossible, so it’s great to live at a time where we can also kind of interact with him.
“There’s not that barrier between the people that are making it, and people that are trying to make it. It kind of makes the journey easier, because we can have these interactions. He’s an amazing guy. I’ve met him a couple of times and yeah, hopefully, that song is going to come soon.”
Pivoting to speak about her own musical growth, she cites the knowledge gained at Sauti Academy – a training ground for aspiring musicians in Kenya. At a time when formal music education in the country was largely limited to university-level classical studies, the academy provided her with the tools she needed to refine her songwriting and stage presence.
“I came across Sauti Academy. Most people that I knew were going to Berkeley, but I didn’t care because I knew I wanted to do music in Kenya and I needed to learn how music is done in Kenya. So Sauti Academy was it for me, and I think that’s where I shaped my career.
“It helped me just mould what it is that I want, to figure out specific goals and whatnot. You can say you want to be a singer, but at the end of the day, what specifically is it that you’re trying to achieve?”
Beyond music, her studies in psychology have deeply influenced her artistry. Initially using songwriting as a personal outlet, she became fascinated with the potential of music therapy.
“When I started songwriting, it was mostly because I am very introverted, so I needed an outlet when I’m feeling an extreme emotion. And because it worked for me, I was like, “Oh my gosh, this thing can actually work for other people who are feeling the same.”
“So psychology for me was my way of trying to learn about music therapy. But then I kind of just fell in love with human beings and human interaction, and psychology helped that. I still have the goal and the dream of pursuing music therapy at some point in my life, because I feel like it can help a lot of people. We’re getting there slowly.”
Speaking about her wildly successful track “Aki Sioni” and its recent resurgence three years after its release she said it was a natural evolution of her career.
“I have to expect to grow. I think those kinds of surprises prepare me for bigger stages. At Sauti Academy, we were taught about doing small things like elevator pitches—always just being prepared. So even at the point where “Aki Sioni” was becoming a hit, I was just like, “Ah, well, it’s about time. I’ve been waiting.” Yeah, I’m super, super grateful. It’s an amazing thing that it’s becoming a thing now, three years after it was released.”
She further spoke about what it means to take risks in her career. Her 2024 EP, “Out With The Old”, was designed to force her out of her comfort zone, particularly in collaborating with other artists—something she had previously been hesitant about.
“I usually don’t like being in a comfortable space. I like to challenge myself, because I feel like change is necessary for growth. Even with the 2024 EP ‘Out With The Old,’ it came out of a space of having always been afraid of writing and collaborating with other artists. It was supposed to be just a completely collaborative project, to pull me out of that space of fear. For me, it’s always to figure out how music can help me conquer the small fears of mine.”
With a packed schedule of performances in Nairobi shared on her social media platforms, she’s optimistic about an upcoming international tour in South Africa.
