People of the Year 2021

Pia Pounds Partied Her Way to The Top

By Lyn Atwiine | December 29, 2021

As the sun sets, the glow of the golden hour washes over Pia Pounds, Satisfashion UG’s Person of the year for 2021. She is happily writhing away from pose to pose, decked out in a custom creation by ace-stylist Tazibone Solomon. The flesh toned dress features sheer mesh, the exact tone of her skin, as well as frayed grungy satin slabs cascading across the bodice and hemline.

“I feel amazing. I feel blessed,” she pauses to tell me. “I feel like God has already answered my wildest prayers, and I feel like lots of love surrounds me, everything I ever desired. I thought money would be everything, but it’s not. I thought that if you got money, everything would be fine. It turns out that the love is the healing we need.”

Pia Pounds has had such a meteoric rise. From doing covers of popular songs while in school, and later trying her hand at being a member of a band, to signing to Eddy Kenzo’s Big Talent Entertainment Label in 2018. This was all before she decided to pursue her career solo. It is, indeed, a testament to how non-linear success can be. At the 2021 Janzi Awards, Pia Pounds, real names Tracy Kirabo, snagged two highly coveted accolades; Song of the Year and Video of the Year awards for her hit song ‘Tupaate’, her first two awards as an artist.

“I have always had dreams of winning an award. I mentally coached myself on how I’d react and feel about it. However, no amount of introspection prepared me for how I felt when it finally happened,” she muses. “I feel like my hustle is finally paying off; all those sacrifices I’ve made, the pain I’ve gone through, and the tough choices I’ve had to make. It all makes sense now.”

She goes on to relive the Janzi Awards moment,” I felt like an absolute winner. For the first time in my life, I was walking to a stage to pick something I won deservingly. Jubileewo!”

What has been your biggest highlight of the year?

When Tupaate first trended on Twitter, it trended number one for like 15 hours. I think that was my cue that the song was going to be big. Another highlight was when I finally met MC Africa. It was such a big deal because he was like my number one fan.

Tupaate was released on 15^th September, 2020 serving as the lead single and title to Pia Pound’s 4-track EP. Months later, the song burst into the mainstream after a viral video of MC Africa getting raved up for Friday’s party scene, with the song in the background, made rounds on social media. This was around July 2021. From then on, the song became some sort of anthem, ending up getting named Uganda’s Spotify Wrapped most listened to songs of the year. 2020 was rough and 2021 wasn’t necessarily any better. Tupaate is one of those songs that had us in party mood all through.

With that, what could be your biggest lesson?

‘Patience pays.’ No matter what’s thrown at you, if you believe in what you’re doing, it shall surely pay off. Just exercise some patience. Look at me, if anyone had told me that 2021 would be my year of soaring, I wouldn’t have believed them. See where we are now!

It seems like a huge price you have had to pay …

There was a time I was some kind of black sheep; somehow everybody felt I was doing the wrong thing and that I was in the wrong camp. I didn’t deal with this criticism well, especially because I was juggling it all with finishing my degree. That kind of threw me off the rhythm. I almost gave up..

When was this?

Literally, every day of my life before 2020! Especially when I signed with Big Talent. Every day was harder than the previous. I just wanted to give up. Sometimes, I did. Sometimes I would simply drop everything and say, you know what, we all shall die at the end of the day, why am I suffering? And somehow, I would hear my song play on radio, or meet a fan, and then reconsider.

Success usually comes with pressure to maintain it. How are you dealing with that?

I’m not under pressure! This didn’t happen in a day; like it just didn’t come through from the sky. We have a lot of beautiful material in the works. I have also managed to carve out my own fanbase, that you can’t take away. So, I have no reason to be pressured.

The pressure, however, could be stemming from dynamics of managing personal relationships. Some people feel like, with success, people change. But, that as well, isn’t a challenge to me. I consider it an eye-opener. I now get to know who is rallying behind me and who isn’t. I’ve definitely changed. I’m busy. I’m not as available as I was three years ago.

What exactly has changed?

A lot! While other musicians were up and about doing shows, I would be home sleeping (laughs). Now, I’m booked and busy, literally. Also, there is more from me to offer. The rhythm is high paced too; from studio to studio then back to studio. This rhythm is something I’m getting used to. It’s real hard work.

What kept you going?

Every single achievement that came my way. Most of these happened without anyone noticing. I would hit tiny milestones here and there, which made sense that there was hope. A picture that was faint became clearer by the day, and that gave me a lot of motivation to keep going. Before Tupaate blew up, I had Taala, which people had loved so much. And that was another pinch me moment.

Let’s go back in time. What was your childhood like?

I was the naughtiest kid – always getting myself in trouble. I would get caned every day, and it was like a daily appointment. (Laughs) However, school was my number one priority. I was serious about my studies.

If you met your ten-year-old self, what would you tell her?

I believe she would be happier to meet me than I to meet her because these were our dreams. Honestly, already at 3 years old, I knew that my place to be was stardom. I wanted to be star. I began singing at like 7 years old. I knew what I wanted from a very young age. I would just whisper to little Pia, “We made it”, before giving her a big hug.

The holiday season here. What’s your plan?

I want to give back to my family! The fact that I’m an only child, all I have are step siblings, and I haven’t been so close to them. I have also been so busy. Now is the time for them to feed off my hustle. These are people that love and care for me deeply. I’m going to be like Father Christmas. I’ll visit every single sibling’s home. I’ll also visit every uncle and aunt. I just want to make them happy. They deserve it.

What’s next for Pia Pounds?

I’m dropping a celebration song. A story for everything I have gone through and everything my fans have experienced. I’m dropping it on 30th December, right after eating all the holiday food. I know you will love it!