Dokta Brain is not leaving much room for doubt when it comes to his confidence as a songwriter.
Speaking during an interview with Galaxy TV’s Rewind team, the singer and hitmaker said his creative process is built around one simple rule: a song must earn its place in the studio before he considers it a finished record.
Having written music for several artists, Dokta Brain noted that he has developed an instinct for knowing when an idea has enough substance to become a song and when it is better left as a concept.
“I killed the thought of making a bad song. Every song I write, I first make sure it’s good before I call it a track; otherwise, it’s just an idea.”
That confidence also allows him to write with different artists in mind. Rather than forcing every composition into his own catalogue, he considers the character of the song and the performer who would bring it to life.
Some songs, he explained, simply make more sense in another artist’s voice.
“For me to pick a song and sing it myself, it depends on many things. Some are feminine and I can’t sing them, so I sell them. There are some I make and are rap songs, and I see that maybe Crysto Panda can sing it. Then I can make a personal song and it touches just me.”
For Dokta Brain, songwriting is therefore not only about creating music, but also about understanding where a particular song belongs.
His experience has, over time, made that judgment almost instinctive. He says he can often recognise the potential of a composition before it has even taken its final shape.
And when inspiration strikes, the process can move surprisingly quickly.
Dokta Brain pointed to Pretty Banks’ “Insido” as one example, revealing that the song took him just 35 minutes to complete. He also recalled working on “Babandana” by Grenade Official in similarly swift fashion.
“‘Insido’ was 35 minutes, and for ‘Babandana’ of Grenade Official, it was also done in a short time. I couldn’t believe I managed that.”
For an artist who moves comfortably between performer and songwriter, Dokta Brain’s biggest strength may be his ability to recognise a song’s identity early.
Enock Mugabi aka iWitness is a Journalist, Seasoned Writer and Music Analyst with a passion for sports.
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