By Eriah Lule
If you visit John Paul Lwanga, alias Japy-T, on his social media platforms, you won’t be shocked by the amazing songbird that is trying to penetrate the music industry. With videos of him rhyming to different melodies and beats at his own leisure, reluctantly. One would come to the conclusion that the lad has a bright future ahead.
Yes, growing up in a strong Anglican family where his parents were church ministers in the choir aided Paul in developing his talent from a young age.
“I started singing as early as Sunday school, but my mother’s lullabies were a strong inspiration to me,” he said. “Singing became part of me just right from childhood.”
Paul, a second-year student pursing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, would see this as a big diversion from the talent he holds dear, but to him, it’s an opportunity to learn how best he could monetise his career with such skills.
“I am hoping to one day become a professional musician but use my business skills learned in school to monetize my talent,” he added.
No road is straight to success, but the former nominee of the Ug Teens Award for best male artist of the year 2020 with his song “Gone” and the second runner up in the Guild Talent search for 2022 will amaze you.
With various projects he has worked on over time, Paul has only hit the studio once, and that was with his yet-to-be released song “Ninze.” But even his “Gone,” which he recorded using his phone in his leisure time, then sent to the studio for production,
“It’s only my recent unleashed truck that I hit the studio but I used to record myself with my smartphone”, he said “Due to lack of capital, I do what I can through my means”.
With a bunch of two old friends from secondary school who believed in his talent, one took on the managerial role as the other took on the distribution and promotion.
Gum Authur Carlos is the Director of Ug Teens, a youth space that promotes talent and skills in various aspects. He is the brain behind Paul’s music distribution and promotion.
“Paul is a good person to work with; he is talented and well-behaved and will listen to any kind of advice.” “With his kind of talent and discipline, I know he is going to make it in the shortest time.”
Born to Dr. Sentongo Robert and Ruth Lutabi in Mukono District, Paul is the last born of the couple’s four children. The family owns a commercial farm, where he spends most of his holiday time supervising the day-to-day running of the farm.
According to Paul, this gives him time to even think about and write more songs, a strategy he thinks is double-gaining.
“Me being a farmer, that’s a big skill I always learn on a daily basis, as well as using this ambiance to write my songs,” he said. “As I am selling milk and eggs, I am also thinking of the lyrics of the next song.”
Paul’s music is across all music streaming platforms, and some times it is even played on media stations.
