It’s an Incredible Feeling to Be Appreciated for Being Who You Are – Pia Pounds

If you don’t live under a rock, you know that Pia Pounds is having her time. Her song ‘Tupaate’ is the party anthem everyone is dancing to right now. The tune has hovered on top of every chart there is. The remix, featuring Eddy Kenzo and MC Africa, is trending on YouTube. With ‘Tupaate’, Pia Pounds, real names Tracy Kirabo,  has finally earned the spotlight she’s been working hard to get. “I feel amazing, I wake up everyday feeling blessed,” she tells Satisfashion UG.

The story of ‘Tupaate’ is a fascinating one. Tupaate is Ugandan urban slang for ‘Let’s party’. When the song was released last year during lockdown, it was received with praise. Amid the confusion that came with lockdown, everyone needed a song that would restore some hope, that soon life would be normal again. She released the song as part of an EP with the same name, and held a small listener’s party to launch it. In true Pia Pounds style, she arrived at the event wearing thigh-high boots and a faux fur coat. And, of course a slice of the attention was drawn to her fashion choice. 

Weeks later, the possibility of normalcy returning became slimmer. ‘Tupaate’, the party anthem became obsolete because there was no party to play it at. Also, Pia Pounds, being the singer popular for her eclectic personal style rather than her music, never saved the situation. The popularity of the song fizzled. “I didn’t stop creating music,” she recalls. She released ‘Wakikuba’, also off her ‘Tupaate’ EP. The response was average. Then she did a jazz version of ‘Tupaate’ featuring Joseph Saxx and Myko Ouma. Still, the response was average. 

Then came MC Africa, a hype man based in Mbale, who fell in love with the song without even knowing the talent behind it. A Tiktok video of him listening to the song during the day as he hustled, and later showing up at night all hyped up, ready to spend his hard earned money surfaced. Then it went viral. Then the song became a big deal, topping all digital charts from Spotify to iTunes and Tidal. Then, finally, the song attracted the attention it deserved, becoming the party anthem it was meant to be. 

“Well, honestly, it was unbelievable how things turned around. I’m living in the moment,” she says. Thanks to the success of the song, she landed the opportunity to do a remix with BET-award-winning star Eddy Kenzo, together with MC Africa, the man who made the song go viral.

“It was such a humbling experience, ” she says about the opportunity. “Eddy Kenzo is my mentor, and a foundation upon which my career as an artist was built. MC Africa is a great fan who appreciates my art in an incredible way. It was fun, it was so fulfilling.”

Fulfilling is an understatement to describe how she felt, she too agrees. Many years of little to no attention (but a lot of attention on her insane style) and controversy around her relationship with Eddy Kenzo eclipsed her great talent. “I always thought the music world would never accept me for me,” she says. “When you are in such a place it’s hard to be confident about your art. I was full of doubt. But, I had to shut out the noise and brave all the challenges.” 

If there’s any lesson to pick from this experience, for her it’s sticking to your authenticity. “God will always listen to your sincerity, talk to Him. Be as authentic as possible, let no one discourage you. Only you have the power to make your dreams happen, so do it,” she notes. 

About her personal style, a subject of interest because critics have always written her off as a singer, asserting that she would fare better as a stylist or fashion designer. “It’s not surprising even for me. I am a natural style-maniac,” she laughs. “Even as a child, one could easily tell that I’d end up as a fashion star. I’ve always loved putting together my clothes as per my mood,” she recounts. Fashion became a serious part of her life and something to run to for solace whenever life became tough. Away from her hustle as a singer, she’s a brand ambassador for a number of reputable fashion brands such as Iconic UG and Fatumahasha. 

 Now that she’s earned the spotlight she has worked hard to have, her next conquest is an exciting project that will drop before the end of this year. She, however, is very tightlipped about it, and prefers that you enjoy ‘Tupaate’ for now.  “Well, because It’s a Friday,” she chants as she leaves the set. 

Photos by Walter Kabuye of Walter Photography 

Styling by Abbas Kaijuka of Kai’s Divo Collection 

Hair by Sina of Natna Natural Hair

Makeup by Saida Beauty

A collaboration between Kai’s Divo Collection, Natna Natural Hair and Satisfashion UG