Singer Venna Music speaks on her rise to redefining the Kenyan sound

Venna, born Vennessa Akinyi, is a Nairobi-based singer-songwriter born and raised in Kisumu County and quickly scaling up the musical ladder and cementing a solid position for herself.

She first started off doing covers of other singers most notably Chris Martin's 'Weekend Love.' But her vocal mastery was more celebrated after she expertly covered Shay Shey's seminal hit 'Right Now'. 

After tinkering with music during the dreary Covid years, where she gained little penetration and publicity, Venna properly stormed onto the scene circa 2022 when she released the single 'Tsunami', quickly proving that she was a force to be reckoned with.

As 'Tsunami' performed brilliantly, the effervescent music prodigy quickly followed it up with 'Feel You' as she quickly embarked on working on her debut project.

Venna's musical proficiency saw her signed by one of Kenya's most notable record labels, CMG Records, where she found a home to pursue her dreams more professionally and with an entire team - producers, beat makers, publicists - dedicated specifically to her.

"It is at CMG Records that my career took a whole different turn. I had been trying it out elsewhere but after the signing, I had a firsthand taste of what professionalism in music was. For once, I had a team behind me, pushing me, pushing my brand and my music. It was a surreal moment, " Venna told Citizen Digital. 

At CMG, Venna continued working on her craft as she solidified her songwriting, matured in her craft, explored wider themes and even sought to incorporate the Luo language, her native language, in her projects.

Early 2023, Venna's debut album 'Teaseher' was released - it was a packed project featuring an eclectic mix of smoky sultriness, soul, deep emotion, jaunty vibes and subtle rhythmic backdrops.

Embracing the diverse sounds and rich cultural influences of the Kenyan music industry, which reflected the country’s heritage through a blend of traditional rhythms, Swahili melodies, and contemporary genres, Venna proved her mettle and claimed her place in the constellation of Kenya's finest singers and songwriters.

"I'm happy to have watched her journey - and the hard hours she put into the project," the US-based CMG Records Label President Stephen Aoll said. "Venna is a vocal powerhouse who's time has come. The project is rich and diverse and will surely place her in the same echelons with the likes of Tems, Niyola and Nneka."

Venna, who in a past interview said that she looked up to Kenyan singer Phy, now says that she aims to create impactful music that spreads positivity, inspires change and leaves a lasting legacy worldwide.

"That's really my deepest prayer - to have a lasting impact for generations, do music that uplifts and heal the world with my sounds and compositions. We're living in a deeply troubled world, the last thing we need is a divisive musical voice," she said.