For Ochiko, music began long before he stepped into the spotlight. He grew up in a musical family, surrounded by the sounds of his father, Mordecai Odongo, a Benga and rhumba musician, and his mother, who also sang.

But his own journey began with poetry. As a teenager, he attended a poetry audition where he was encouraged to explore singing, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to songwriting and performance.

After completing his studies at Mbita High School, Ochiko moved to Mombasa, where he began working with artistes and producer Shirko. His songwriting opened doors to collaborations with several musicians, giving him a chance to learn the industry from behind the scenes.

Around 2022, he decided it was time to pursue his own music.

As a songwriter, Ochiko sometimes felt other artistes could not deliver his compositions the way he envisioned them. Rather than remain frustrated, he chose to become the voice behind his own work.

Back in Nairobi, he teamed up with producer Modest Chabari on Wuoth Hera, meaning the Journey of Love. The four-track project eventually found an audience, with two songs gaining traction and becoming crowd favourites at his performances.

He later released his album The Footprint, continuing to collaborate with musicians and producers as he developed his sound.

Ochiko draws from Benga, blues, R&B and contemporary urban influences. He believes choosing one genre at the expense of others would limit his creative possibilities.

“I think you can be everything,” he says, arguing that traditional sounds and modern influences can coexist without compromising an artiste’s identity.

Beyond music, his interests in guitar, bass, photography, graphic design and film shape his creative approach. He is also keen to learn from collaborators, including more experienced producers.

His understanding of the industry has grown beyond recording and performing to encompass publishing, contracts, management, royalties and the business structures needed to sustain a music career.

His working relationship with Johnnie Walker has also taught him lessons about corporate partnerships and brand identity. Ochiko says artistes must understand how to create value for partners without losing the qualities that set them apart.

“The brand identity will take you further than anything you ever release because you are the product,” he says, explaining that an artiste’s value should extend beyond a particular song, album or campaign.

He is equally candid about the gap between online popularity and commercial success. Large streaming numbers and social media followings, he observes, do not always translate into ticket sales. In Kenya and across much of Africa, live performances remain crucial to building a loyal audience.

For emerging artistes, developing the music is only part of the work. They must also learn how to build a sustainable business around it.

Ochiko is also open to new technology, including artificial intelligence, which he sees as a tool artistes can learn to use rather than simply fear.

Ultimately, his ambitions extend beyond recognition. He wants his music to make life a little easier for those who listen to it.

“Life is a rigorous journey,” he says. “At the very least, I hope that I can make the load a bit easier and a bit lighter and this life a bit more enjoyable.”

Having spent years helping other artistes tell their stories, Ochiko is now determined to tell his own, on his own terms.