I was impressed with the Metahua video when I saw it. Yosef Gebre aka Jossy is a very new school Ethiopian musician and has potential to be bigger. The Kora awards already nominated him as a promising artiste. We chatted with him about his music, and his thoughts on Ethiopian music. The interview transcript is below.

Museke.com: Can you tell us about your background and family?
Jossy: I was born in a town named Dilla in southern Ethiopia and I come from a family of total 10 children- five boys and five girls. I am the 6th child. I grew up in beautiful city of Nazret and completed my high school education there. Then I moved to Addis Ababa and currently reside there.

Museke.com: How did you get interested in music and when did you realize you wanted to take up a music career?
Jossy: Though my family generally loved music, my father especially appreciated it. He used to send me out to buy records and I sat with him enjoying different songs. I used to sing daily just for the love of it but it was in 2004 when I decided to make it into a career.

Museke.com: What was your first big break in music?
Jossy: My song titled ‘Enja Yenen’ was the first one that introduced me nationally and internationally. I was nominated for the “Kora All Africa Music Award 2005” in the “Most promising artist of the year” category.

Museke.com: Tell us about your career so far.
Jossy: My career has progressively blossomed and I am immersed in it. I am touring all over the world and enjoying it.

Museke.com: Which African musicians did you listen to growing up?
Jossy: Brenda Fasi has been my favorite since childhood. Dawit Melese and other artists from Congo.

Museke.com: Which African musician do you admire (presently)?
Jossy: I admire the young Kenyan and Nigerian hip hop artists and their on going contribution to the music form.

Museke.com: If you could be one piece of music you've done what would it be and why?
Jossy: ”Metahuwa” is the song I created walking off the beaten path. This song reflects an effort to bring a rare type of music into the popular scene and I am pleased with it.

Museke.com: Tell us about your music career so far. How many albums have you recorded?
Jossy: I have recorded one album and the music videos associated with it.

Museke.com: Tell us about your current single and how different it is from what you’ve already released?
Jossy: The latest single I released is Bati. While the song has its roots in a traditional Ethiopian tune, I remixed it with a dance-hall beat. It is a contemporary piece with a traditional ambience. The main attribute of this song that differentiates it from any other, however, is its music video. It has been a dazzling success both technically and content-wise. All the hard work and planning has paid off and it shows.

Museke.com: What kind of music do you do and why this style?
Jossy: I have used African and Soca Dance Hall styles because I personally love it.

Museke.com: What are the music genres that are particular to Ethiopia?
Jossy: Ethiopian music is generally built on the pentatonic scale and that by itself makes it stand out. What the main defining factor of Ethiopian music, however, is not the genres, but the lyrics. Amharic makes it possible to express all range of life so beautifully.

Museke.com: Is there a generation gap in Ethiopian music? Are the younger musicians more influenced by foreign genres like Hip hop, R&B, dancehall, etc?
Jossy: Yes there is a noticeable generational gap in Ethiopia. People who grew up during the 80s and earlier may frequent older style of music and artists. People who grew up during the 90s and later have been more exposed to more diverse music, especially by dance hall and hip hop.

Museke.com: What have been your most memorable or favorite collaborations with other musicians?
Jossy: I have had the pleasure of performing with the legend, Mehamoud Ahmed. We gave a performance to thousands of fans in Dallas, Texas. It was a concert that brought the energy of the present with the wisdom of timeless songs.

Museke.com: Which musicians would you like to collaborate with?
Jossy: I look forward to working with top African and American hip hop, reggae and dance hall artists. The list is long but distinguished.

Museke.com: Have you been approached by foreign labels and what label are you on now?
Jossy: I am recording my music as an Independent artist, but I may consider working with labels in the future.

Museke.com: What challenges do you face in the Ethiopian music industry (piracy, payola, etc)?
Jossy: Piracy is unfortunately a major challenge. Fortunately I, like many artists, have managed to work out a manageable business model in this environment.

Museke.com: How can Ethiopian music expand and sell outside?
Jossy: Information technology, especially the Internet, is one major advantage artists now have as opposed to in the past. Through its global reach, it is possible to introduce millions of audience to an albums or any other creative work. This of course means more sales.

Museke.com: Do you have any present engagements and works other than music?
Jossy: I am directing video for different productions, as well as endorsing products for different national and international companies.

Museke.com: What are your future plans?
Jossy: My long term plan is to create a recording company while in the short term is to pursue any knowledge and training to advance my career.

Museke.com: What is one interesting thing about you that some of us fans don't know?
Jossy: I take particular pleasure in exploring the details of different cultures of the world, especially African. I go out of my way to learn about and interact with peoples who have kept their ways for hundreds of years.

Museke.com: What are your hobbies and pastimes?
Jossy: I love traveling and admiring nature.

Museke.com: Do you have a website?
Jossy: My main website is currently in the works, but I do have an active myspace page. http://www.myspace.com/jossykora

Museke.com: Give us your Parthian shot (last words)
Jossy: I think the stage is set to expand Ethiopian music in Africa and internationally. We have the means of unprecedented nature, and we need to realize our potential and go with it.

Museke.com: Thank you for your time.
Jossy: Thank you for having me.

Pics from Jossy's Myspace Page