It is with so much excitement I share this article of the beautiful and talented Mimi Mars aka Marianne Mdee with whom I had the pleasure of meeting a few years back. Her progress so far is not only inspiring, but she is the type of woman who epitomises tenacity and how if one is persistently working hard to perfect their art then the steady strides of growth and success will come.
Read how she is slowly becoming Tanzania's darling and a household name.
1. Who is Mimi Mars, the artist? How did you come up with the name?
Mimi Mars is loud, witty and bubbly and this transcends to the music sound produced.
Mimi Mars are both my nicknames. Mimi is a nickname that is from my adulthood and Mars is from my childhood. Both this names are very personal to me, combining them made perfect sense and in the end were a perfect couple together.
2. Musically what is your sound? What type of artist do you typically want to be known for?
I am still searching for that perfect sound; It takes a while till one gets there ideal sound and I am still in the process of learning but I know in time I will figure it out which one in particular it is. Though for now, I would describe it as youthful fun.
I typically want to be known as the truth, the one who speaks about matters that are going on and is not ashamed to put them out in a song. I want my fans and supporters to know me through my music, what I am growing through and my actual reality as it unfolds.
4. You are Vanessa Mdee's sister, and she has really done well for herself. Watching her propel and grow must have surely helped you in carving out your own path. What would you say is the greatest lesson you've learnt from watching her journey in the music industry?
She has taught me to always be professional in everything that I do from making music in the studio to creating videos, to professional meetings and even appearances.
Professionalism is the Key!
5. Together as siblings, you have formed Mdee Music - Tell us a bit about the thought process behind this concept and your vision for it.
This is a family baby and it’s a family label. This is in memory of our father, who was a great man and he did great things. After his passing, we didn’t want his name to just fade away and we wanted something that will allow us to keep our family name alive.
We want to make an empire with his name, and we as his children want to continue making his name even greater. So look out for the many big plans we have for Mdee Music.
6. So far in your career what has been your highlight? And do you care to share with the CCL readers, what will be a great achievement for you to experience in the future?
When my first single Shuga came out, the response was so huge and it continued to grow bigger with every single I released. This led to the opportunity to perform at ‘Fiesta’, which is one of the biggest shows in Tanzania. There were so many other big artists who’ve been in the game for a long time performing too. As an upcoming artist experiencing it within my first year was an amazing highlight for me. Other highlights include being nominated for Best East African Female, being in the top 20 charts to the increase in views for my videos. All these moments happen so unexpectedly and they all keep shocking me daily and fill me with so much joy.
I must say that everything that happens to me is always a highlight and I can’t really focus on just highlighting one thing. I want to make sure that what I experience always feels like a highlight and I never want to lose that feeling because that will mean the fire in me has gone and the fire in me must keep on going.
My greatest achievement to tick off my list will be attending the Grammys.
7. You have released a new song Sitamani, which is a really catchy song and I can totally relate to what your saying - my favourite lyric in the song is “Usijependa usipopendwa mpendwaaa”. Where do you get your source of inspiration for songs?
Thank you, Lush! Sitamani was a song written by Young Lunya, and I love the fact he gave me the song at the perfect time because what I singing about is what I was going through at the time.
All my songs are inspired by the truth of my own reality, those of my family and/or friends. As said before speaking the truth will always be the core basis of all my music. The intent is also to help or inspire someone who could be going through the same thing.
8. Over the past 5 years, there has been a serious paradigm shift for African Artists, whereby they are now internationally recognized. Now as a new growing artist, has this made it easier or even harder to find your place in the music industry?
It makes me happy that we as African artists are getting more internationally recognised. We have access to a bigger platform and a bigger crowd that we can touch with our music. In every country, we get fans, which increases our chances of growing in the music industry, and this also means they get to grow with us.
The fact that our music can be listened to worldwide, is a bigger challenge but it just makes it easier because you can break boundaries and you can make music that you love and stop worrying about what your culture and/or the society your from will think about your sound and the fact that your breaking away from the “society’s norm”.
It has also made it easier in the sense that there is more space for everyone. Artists can confidently put out their taste and flavour, as there is no longer a limitation in the type of music produced and shared.
9. 2018 is now very much with us, what can we expect from Marianne Mdee aka Mimi Mars this year? Any plans to visit Kenya again for a show?
I love Kenya and I had a blast last year performing at the B Club Pool Party. I got such a great response from all the Mimi Mars supporters, so this year I definitely plan on coming back.
We have great plans in 2018 for Mimi Mars and the team, but the man above is the one who puts a tick through each one of them, and if he blesses us to do so, then it is going to be a great year for Mimi Mars, the team, the crew and the fans.
My best advice would be they need to understand that they should not come into the industry with the mentality of trying to compete with anyone because everyone does they own thing, has there own sound and own music. They should only compete with themselves, for that way they will always get better and do better.
Be true to yourself, enjoy the process and have fun growing as an artist. You might even win people over, more so for whom you are outside your music.
Lastly, make sure you have the passion for it because that’s the drive you need to be able to do greater things. The passion will also keep you from not giving up because it will be a challenging journey.
11. Lastly kindly share with the CCL readers a motto/ quote you live by that encourages you and keeps you motivated.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
You must learn to put your insecurities aside and do what you have to do! You are your biggest cheerleader and supporter. Someone can only make you doubt yourself if you let them. Always know that it is all in the mind and the only one who should have power over what you believe in should be you.
Thanks for reading and may this be the matchstick that lights up the fire in you.
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