\u201cI’m kind of a conscious rapper,<\/em>\u201d he explains, \u201csometimes I talk about myself and sometimes I talk about social issues. I talk about politics, religion, lifestyle, and how it impacts human life.\u201d <\/em>Ecko\u2019s work explores violence, religion, drug abuse and poverty in the Ugandan slums, but face-to-face and off the stage he seems much more preoccupied with loftier ideals (ignore the scent of Holland\u2019s most popular flower filling the room).\u00a0\u201cIn my meditation,\u201d <\/em>Ecko meanders, \u201cin the time I\u2019ve given to myself, I understand more and more about love.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the rattling bass and machine gun kicks, it\u2019s more a matter of unconscious inspiration than industrial aesthetic. Speaking of the gnarly productions that rip forth from his songs Ecko explains, \u201cif it inspires me, I go with it. I don’t really care how it sounds. I don’t care if it’s just a dot. Like that *<\/em>gestures a flick*. Like one drop, a bit. Just one ‘twing’. So long as it inspires me,<\/em>\u201d he continues, \u201cBecause when you let the beat get into you, it tells its story and then creates a feeling. And that feeling is what you build on together.<\/em>\u201d Though, it might be easy for him to say as Ecko finds himself in the Shangri-La of East African inspiration, where good beats and forward thinking productions flow like a river of honey. A member of the Nyege Nyege collective from the early days in 2015, Ecko states plainly that the unifying principle of the sleepless and psychedelic collective is \u201clove for music. Yeah, the love for music, that’s what I believe<\/em>.\u201d adding definitively, \u201cgood music.<\/em>\u201d That and a taste for nightlife and dance. \u201cIn Kampala, any show organized by Hakuna Kulala and Nyege Nyege is always packed because Kampala is a very vibrant city and people are always happy and they love partying. So yeah, the vibe is always hyper,<\/em>\u201d Ecko states with a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hyper but purposeful. Partying and the catharsis of the dancefloor remain central totems but there\u2019s also gold in them there hills. \u201cI do music for a reason. I believe there is a very good reason why I am me and why I have life and why I’m conscious like this. I believe that what I’m doing is a purpose I’m serving here during my time, you know?<\/em>\u201d Ecko clarifies after a detour on frenetic bass and hedonism. \u201cYou can live a purposeful life. Those full moments and a life of no regret, a life of no violence, a life of happiness and joy. If you can only understand where it comes from. If you can understand where that joy comes from, you can have it and life will always be sweet.<\/em>\u201d There\u2019s a minor glitch in my brain as I think back to the full throated chaos I witnessed moments earlier on stage, but Ecko\u2019s sincere smile and post-show bliss makes me think this is a Zen koan I\u2019m not gonna unlock with reason alone. \u201cThe creator and the energy that created me, give me the consciousness to manage and understand the concept of life. I want to pass it on to other people through my music, and maybe we can spread more love among people’s hearts. We will understand exactly what life means and the purpose of living.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Ecko-Bazz-live.00_21_50_15.Still007-copie-1010x568.jpg\")
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