Bruce Melodie addresses notorious ‘drunk’ performance incident and collaboration with Bien
Six years ago, Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie woke up to find the internet buzzing with rumors that he had performed while drunk and even passed out on stage during a show in Brussels, Belgium. Reflecting on the incident, the “Katerina” hitmaker, who was recently on a media tour in Kenya, clarified, “The news spread that Bruce Melodie was too drunk to perform in Brussels.” However, in an interview with Nairobi News, Bruce explained that the real issue wasn’t alcohol but extreme exhaustion.
Before his Brussels performance, the Coke Studio artist had just wrapped up a show in Kigali and then endured an 18-hour flight to Belgium. Bruce, who suffers from aerophobia, stayed awake for most of the flight. Arriving in Brussels with little time to rest, he was drained but pushed through for the performance. “I wasn’t drunk, just exhausted and not myself, but it’s hard to explain that,” he said. Despite the misunderstanding, Bruce has learned to stay grounded, knowing his life as a celebrity is always under the spotlight.
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In the interview, he also shared insights into his career and personal life. When asked what he misses since becoming famous, Bruce mentioned that he misses simple activities like shopping for himself. “I miss going to the market and picking out things for myself. Now, everything is chosen for me. It’s hard to go to public places or restaurants with my kids because fans are always around. I appreciate their love, but I can’t do normal things as I’d like to,” he explained.
Bruce also spoke about money mistakes he’s made as a musician, recalling how he once spent nearly $3,000 (KSh 390,000) on expensive headphones he never uses. He humorously added, “I even think I stole them.”
When discussing the ease of making money as a Rwandan musician, Bruce said it’s possible if your music and management are good, but Rwanda’s small market requires strategic planning. He also compared the Rwandan music scene to Kenya’s, noting that while Kenya leans towards Gengetone and Urbantone, Rwanda features styles like Zouk. However, he emphasized that Rwandans love their local artists but are open to music from around the world.
On whether it’s easier for gospel musicians to succeed compared to secular artists in Rwanda, Bruce believes that genre doesn’t matter. “If you have good music in Rwanda, you have the market. They don’t care about the genre—good music is all that matters,” he said.
