The Hen House Prowlers are the American guys whose rendition of Eddy Kenzo’s Sitya Loss went viral on social media. Darius Mugisha talked to them when they visited Uganda last week.
What’s your name?
My name is Jon Gold Fine.
And your colleagues?
We have Dan Andree, Ben Wright and Starr Moss
How long have you guys been performing?
The band started 12 years ago. Actually 12 years ago today. Me and Ben the banjo player have been in the group for the whole time. Dan and Moss have been with the band for about a year now.
So you started as two guys?
We had a few other guys who left.
Why do you all guys play guitars? Where is the variety?
No, not all the instruments are called guitars.
One of them is a guitar, I play the upright bass, Ben plays the banjo and Todd plays what is called a Dobro, it is a type of guitar but it is played differently.
How did you even come up with an idea of doing a song that is in a language you had never spoken before?
We first came to Uganda last year, we knew that it was best to perform a song that the people know which would grab their attention and make them more willing to listen to other songs we have to play. We were told that Sitya Loss was a very popular and very loved song and Eddy Kenzo was also a very loved artiste, so we decided to learn that song. It’s been a very good thing. We play it here in Uganda and everywhere we go and people love it.
Did you reach out to Kenzo before you decided to perform his song?
No we did not, but we were able to perform with him last year.
Where?
We were on NTVand also to the National Theatre…..we would love to record a song with Kenzo if the opportunity ever came up.
I heard you perform P-Square’s Chop My Money. How did you come up with the idea to do that?
We travelled to Nigeria two years ago and we asked people what popular song there was so that we should try it and they suggested P Square’s Chop My Money. We also had the opportunity to perform with Peter from P-Square.
While recording these songs aren’t you scared about the Copyright Law catching up with you?
No because we let everyone know that we have recorded our renditions of their songs.
When out there on your other music tours do you still perform these songs?
Yes we perform them everywhere and we tell people about our trips to Uganda, Nigeria and everywhere we have been.
What is your arrangement with the America Embassy?
The American government has programme called American Music Abroad, where it sends American musicians to different countries around the world for cultural exchanges. We applied and auditioned for that programme and they accepted us.
We have been to 10 different countries in Africa and we have also been to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Have you won any awards?
We have won some local awards in Chicago.
But you have not won a big award like a Grammy?
No nothing like that.
Any nominations though?
Not yet, I hope something comes up.
Have you thought about doing big shows like in countries where you have re-done songs by original composers who are big there?
We would love. I hope it happens some time.
What do you think about the Ugandan music industry since you have been here twice?
It has been wonderful getting to meet Eddy Kenzo and Bobi Wine and people here clearly feel the music it’s very amazing.
Did you guys attend music school?
Dan, studied music in college and the rest of us just kind of learnt through having private teachers.
About your other songs, how many albums you have?
We have about four albums and its mostly original bluegrass music and comes from the American southeast.