Before Blu*3 recorded hit songs or collected awards, Jackie Chandiru was a young singer searching for one opportunity to meet the producer she admired most.
That opportunity arrived in 2004 when Coca-Cola Popstars announced Steve Jean as one of its judges.
Jackie had spent years hoping to work with him after hearing his hit song “Fever” while she was still in Senior Four.
Entering the competition became less about appearing on television and more about standing in front of the man whose music had inspired her.
She refused to leave anything to chance.
Rather than selecting a popular ballad or another contestant’s favorite audition song, Jackie walked onto the stage with “Fever.”
The truth is, I wanted to do that before I ever worked with him. I went for the competition specifically because of Steve Jean.
She believed the performance would introduce her far better than words ever could.
I was like, ‘I am going to sing his song, Fever,’ and I just hoped he would notice me.
Steve Jean offered no obvious reaction, leaving Jackie to wonder whether she had achieved what she set out to do.
He does not really show when he is happy about something, but I kept pushing.
The answer came later in the competition.
Steve Jean selected Jackie Chandiru, Lilian Mbabazi and Cinderella Sanyu to form Blu*3, then produced and managed the trio as they established themselves among the biggest names in Ugandan music.
For Jackie, the partnership had started years earlier in her mind.
I always told myself, ‘I want to work with him.’ That is something I had dreamed about since I was growing up.