5 Things with... Kibrom A. Birhane
Kibrom Birhane is an "All African Music Award" Nominated Musician, Multi Instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, Record/Mix engineer, arranger and radio host for Coke Studio Radio Africa. Passionate about Ethiopian folk, world, Jazz, pop, Ethiojazz and gospel music. Kibrom started his musical career in a very early stage of his life; after he finished high school he joined a private music college "Mekane Yesus school of Jazz music" and received his Associated Degree in music performance in 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
EC: Take us back to your childhood what was your real first musical experience?
Learning how to play Kirar from my older brother Abrham and his friends, a five or six-stringed traditional Ethiopian instrument, at age of 8, I found myself enthralled by Ethiopian Orthodox Kidasse. My first musical experience was trying to play one of Ethiopian traditional instrument Kirar, I remember I was 8 years old and saw my older brother Abraham and his friends playing and singing and wanted to play so bad so I did. After that I found myself enthralled by Ethiopian orthodox Kidasse.
EC: Making music is different for everyone. Talk us through your process. Where do you work/get inspiration/decided direction and assemble the right musicians..?
I record my ideas at my home studio and then I choose the right musicians for the songs, after that I might do the final recording at my home studio or a different studio. I usually get inspiration from moments, like going to different places, from what I see and observe and how I feel about life in general.
EC: Who has been the biggest inspiration on your journey and how/why?
My older brother Abraham. he first introduced me to musical instruments like keyboards and kirar as I mentioned above and I grew up seeing him play so he is my biggest inspiration.
EC: What to date has been your favorite performance and if you could replicate that performance in another country/city where would that be and why?
Last summer I played at African Jazz Village in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I would love to replicate that performance in other major cities in Ethiopia. The reason is, I want to inspire the younger generation through my music.
EC: A difficult task we know but give us five reasons why everyone should listen to this new recording