Most people ‘discovered’ Patricia Kihoro when she was a contestant in the popular music competition show, Tusker Project Fame. She is hardworking and this quality has taken her along several career paths including: singing, acting, hosting a radio show among others. I got a chance to sit down with her to chat about her music career, books that make her cry, dating and a whole bunch of other interesting things. Read on.
1. One thing that you and I have in common is getting too attached to characters in books to the extent of crying after the story is done, what is the last book that made you cry and what character was it?
I haven’t cried over a character in a book in a while. Not since I finished “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold about a year ago. But I’ve been reading Grace Jones’ memoirs and yo! She is so intense. There is a chapter where she describes a conversation she had with a friend while smoking marijuana in Jamaica and I honestly felt as though my mind was altered as well.
2. You are a beautiful African woman and one of the things that stands out is your skin. What is your secret?
Thank you very much. To be honest, my skin is not necessarily the clearest or the smoothest. I am slowly working on getting it to where I want it to be. I still suffer from breakouts and unevenness but I will say that over the years I’ve also learned how to use make up to my advantage, without going overboard.
3. What is the one physical feature that you struggled with as a child and how have you overcome it?
As a child, to be honest, I really wanted to be lighter and to have straighter hair. I honestly believed that being Caucasian was best. Now, I look back and realize how much I love being in my own skin and the hair I have. I’m glad I don’t experience the world as I did back then.
4. What did 100 days of African music mean to you?
I really just wanted to share amazing music by amazing African artists that may not necessarily be mainstream but are immensely talented. The fact that foreign artists can get acclaim and praise just by virtue of being from abroad, yet we have artists here that are just as, or even more talented than some foreign artists baffles me and makes me quite sad.
5. Who do you feel is underrated as an artist?
Wow. Where do I start? Kuna wengi sana. Just A Band, Mayonde, Blinky Bill, Dela, Silas Miami, Kato Change, Lisa Oduor Noah, Don Ngatia, Jim Chuchu, Atemi, Suzziah, Athieno, Kwame (there are two of them) among others. This list goes on and on and on. I could really go on all day.
6. What song are you obsessed with now?
Just A Band – Winning In Life
Rihanna ft Sza– Consideration
Don Ngatia – Solitude
7. What have you been up to musically?
I’m working on recording some stuff this year with Blinky Bill and Dillie. A little nervous to be honest. It really took me a while to figure out what I want to say with my music. At the same time, all that time I spent away from the studio allowed a lot of doubts about my singing ability creep in. So it’s a bit of a conundrum right now but I’ve got some great support.
8. In your opinion how is the Kenyan industry doing and what can we do better?
It’s growing. Growth is hard and with growth comes growing pains. What I choose to focus on is the fact that artists are still out there creating and sharing. They are expressing themselves, experimenting, pushing the boundaries and collaborating and releasing their art. That’s encouraging.
9. If you were King of Africa for a day what would you do?
One day? I honestly do not know. Did I want it? Had I been planning for this day for ages? If so then I’m sure I’d have a list of things ready. If it is a surprise, given my nature, I’d probably sit down and think long and hard about what to do. Then I’d go online and read a ton of stuff about governance and leadership and look for TED Talks but end up distracted on Facebook and Buzzfeed and Youtube. Then I’d probably spend time on Snapchat goofing off in the King’s palace. Then I’d freak out and end up procrastinating about doing what would need to be done. Then I’d probably call some of my friends over and have a chill out session which would end up being a party and then wake up the next morning having done having done nothing. I would honestly be too overwhelmed to pick one thing or even prioritize a list of things to be done in just one day. I would make a really horrible King.
10. Which foods are you guilty of bingeing on?
I don’t really binge eat but does Amarula count?
11. You are a radio personality, singer and Actress and all three demand a lot of time, how do you spend your down time?
In bed. Or hanging out with a friend(s). Or binge watching movies and series. Or all of those at the same time.
12. Late last year the Guardian did a piece stating that it will be more than 100 years before women can expect equal pay with men, what are your thoughts on that?
That it’s a really sad world we live in where prejudices and inequalities still exist. Of any kind. That this is still a topic of contention is really disheartening. Makes me wonder just how evolved we believe we are as humanity.
13. If you could go back to age twenty what would you do differently?
Nothing I can think of really. Everything happened as it did for a reason, I think.
14. What is the one accessory you would not do without?
My three brass rings. One has a big green stone set into it, the other is in the shape of Africa and the other is just cool. I don’t know how to describe it. They are always on my hand.
15. Do you have any tattoos we do not know about?
None. I don’t know what I would commit to having branded on me for the rest of my life.
16. You have admitted to loving hard. Are you dating now?
Let me say that I am happy, and really enjoying the space I’m in right now. A little unsure about the future, but I’m taking it a day at a time.
You can catch Patricia on Homeboyz Radio (HBR) 103.5 every Sunday from 11AM to 1PM where she hosts a show, Afrocentral which puts urban and contemporary African music on the map. She also shares her insights on various topics on her blog patriciakihoro.com.