So, who is Liam Voice?
My real name is Willy Zisabusolo; I am a Muganda. In fact, Willy is [short for] William and that is where Liam comes from.
Has your family been supportive of your career choice?
Like any other parent, we live in a country where parents think music is not a business; they think when a child joins music, that child is going to get spoilt.
They believe every artiste uses drugs, but actually my [mother] was happy because she is this kind of a parent who supports her children in any way. If you have a talent, she supports it. So, for my real family, it was okay, save for the other clan members.
Tell Quick Talk about your education journey.
I went to Trinity Children’s Centre in Wankulukuku, Lubaga, then joined St Augustine primary school in Kabowa. However, I grew up in an unstable family; so, my education journey was kinda difficult.
I spent my secondary school life at Kitebi Secondary School, until my S.4. But by S3, I had started joining music and was a dancer, performing in different videos for artistes. As you know adolescence, I started doing a lot of stupid things and performed poorly and was promoted on probation to S4, which I also performed poorly compared to how I used to perform in the early classes.
When I reached S5 I was given school fees but I spent it on myself and couldn’t sit for the exams taking me to S6, so when Mama heard about my repeating S5, she was disappointed and did not pay for me fees again and that is how I branched into music.
Who inspired you to join the music industry?
I inspired myself, because right from the start, I always had my own dreams; however, there are those who set an example, but [I wouldn’t say] I was inspired by them.
What was your breakthrough song?
I think that is Bus. I released it nine months ago.
Among your songs, which is your favourite?
My favourite is not yet out, but coming soon next year. But currently, I think it is Love Olinnoonya, my latest song, because it is a true story of my life.
Ohh…? I take it you do not have a girlfriend then?
I don’t have one, because I have just mentioned my favourite song, Love Olinnoonya [meaning, ‘love, you will look for me’]. I don’t have a girlfriend but maybe with time, I will get.
Your voice sounds like Mowzey Radio’s when you sing. Who writes your music?
That’s what many people say, but my voice is very different from Radio’s voice. What I can say is that we share some notes and tones, which are somehow related but the voices are far different. I write my own music.
Your song Omwoyo is really trending in TikTok challenges!
Not only on TikTok but countrywide. I feel so happy, because it has always been my dream to do a song that everybody enjoys. Sometimes I find people vibing to the song and I am really happy and appreciate the TikTok family for the love.
Do you have a manager? How do you market your music?
Yes, I have a manager. I am signed to a record label called Cloud Africa and I’m managed by Mama Baba Entertainment. I have two managers – RS and Selector Reason.
Actually, it was a blessing in disguise because I got my management team in the first wave of Covid-19; so, it was not so hard for me because the management was already in place. As a person besides music, I was struggling, but my music was catered for.
How has the lockdown affected your young career?
Lockdown affected all of us, not only me, although it was a blessing in disguise. God has blessed me during the most difficult time that right now we are spending a lot of money yet we are not earning any. Our expenditure is too high despite the income rate being low.
How do you cope with criticism from people who say you are a copycat of the late Radio?
It is okay!! At this early stage of mine if someone compares me to a legend who has been singing for more than 15 years, it is really a [compliment].
You know what it means to be told you sing like Radio, who made it for 15 years, yet for my case it is hardly one year. I am not here to replace anyone, I’m here to set my own career, dreams, my own way.
I worked with Radio [before he died] and I think that is the reason why people say I sing like him; we share the same teacher. I was taught by Chagga and it is the same Chagga that groomed Mowzey Radio; so, we have that similarity.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
That question is difficult for me to answer; I have no answer to that. It is God who can help me on that. I just pray that in five years may my dreams come true because I didn’t know that even in one year, I would be here; so, I can’t determine what is coming up in the next years.
Who is your favourite artiste?
Locally I love Jamal and internationally I listen to Johnny Drille.
Besides music, what else do you do?
I only do music and my personal job rotates around music. If I am not singing, at least I do production. I am a songwriter and write for other artistes, so, this is business for me.
Any hobbies?
I love swimming, but I fear water [hmmm, Quick Talk is still trying to make sense of this].
Have you also been to Gulu to see Gen Salim Saleh?
No, because I don’t know the main reason why artistes were going to Gulu; so, I see no reason as to why I have to go to Gulu.
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