How the army played a role in Polycarp's love for music

Piece by: ASCAH MWANGO
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• Polycarp shared that the keyboard is what made him fall in love with music.

Polycarp Otieno alias Fancy Fingers
Polycarp Otieno alias Fancy Fingers
Image: Courtesy

Renowned Kenyan music producer and composer of boyband SautiSol, Polycarp Otieno aka Fancy Fingers revealed how his introduction to music creation took place and what made him fall in love with music growing up.

In an in-depth interview on Clean The Airwaves media, Polycarp shared that contrary to assumptions, the keyboard musical instrument is what made him fall in love with music.

As the 34-year old talented music composer explained he came to discover his passion for music way back in primary in 1997.

While in class 5, Polycarp usually borrowed a Casio Keyboard from his best friend and would play around with the keyboard using jingles from a music book.

"My best friend Dominic's father was in the Kenya Armed Forces and he used to have many instruments in the house. I used to pick up one of his two Casio Keyboards just to pass time at home. It became my routine as I played the instrument using a big blue music book with easy-to-read jingles," he explained.

The 'How I met your Mama' artist fondly reminisced how listening to Lingala music with his father played a big role in shaping his love for music.

"One of my uncle who used to live in The States sent my dad a radio system as a gift. As my dad played Lingala music for hours in the huge radio system, my love for the music grew. I would read the lyrics of Lingala songs from booklets of the compact disks(CDs) as I listened to the genre," Polycarp explained.

Additionally, 'Fancy Fingers' explained that he was an artistic child and used to engage in drawing, carpentry and writing.

He however mentioned that he took a proper interest in the guitar in Strathmore University, way after high school even though he made artistic ones using tins and wood.

"Growing up, I was a handy person. So I used to draw, paint and make art stuff like cars and guitars. I would make guitars with kasuku tins and wooden sticks just as art pieces.

"I however took a proper interest in the guitar through artists Stephen Mwimbi and Robinson Imbungu while in Strathmore"

The now solo entertainer and singer explained further how listening to Kleptomaniax, an old Kenyan music boy group, influenced his passion for music as he had never heard such musical genre and from his peers.

" When Kleptomaniax came out, I was in class 8. One of my cousins who was a music producer played me one of the group's song, Haree before it was released. I was in shock! Their sound was dope! And I had also learnt from a friend that the group was in high school. I was shook. I found their songs world-class and this really shaped my musical journey."

Polycarp was a geek growing up as he maintained a perfect top-three report card all his school life. Studying in Day Spring primary school in Kariobangi South, the talented music producer reminisced how his artistic 'Fancy Fingers' wooed his fellow pupils.

"In school, music became my favorite subject. At the corner of our class, there used to be a first aid box which I enjoyed playing to my fellow pupils during break time.

Everyone enjoyed my rhythm beats and they danced heartily to the tune. I was then(class6 or 7)the class prefect and so during the 30-minute break, I had to make sure we finished the entertainment 10 minutes before class just to cool down," he shared.

Discovering his gift in music, he visioned a music group of five or six members in University.

"Despite having a lot of Math and Science classes in Stathmore, I came up with a music group of five or six members ahead of a church choir contest.

I played percussions at the time while two were voice artists and a guitarist and drummer. We became first runners up in that competition, the winner being Andrew Tumbo."

He felt the irresistible urge to do music all through childhood.

" There is something in my hands that, everything I touch is a success. I know I have a gift in music even though it's not in my voice, but I know there is something I have, given that I'm a handy person. My 'Fancy Fingers."

Polycarp released his debut solo single 'How I Met Your Mama' on October 28,2021 off his upcoming debut album, Father Studies.

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