Late on a Friday night, the atmosphere is charged as the stage at Bar Next Door in Nairobi is set to come alive. Dyana Cods graces the stage confidently, ready to engage the audience with her hit single “Set It,” which has quickly gained popularity in Kenya.
The audience responds enthusiastically, singing along and confirming Cods’ status as one of the country’s most promising talents. “I approach performances with the mindset that I don’t need applause at the start, but I certainly expect it by the end. It’s about earning their attention,” the 22-year-old artist shares with TunesDeck after her performance.
“Set It,” a vibrant dancehall track featuring Ajay of Buruklyn Boyz, is both catchy and bold, showcasing her unique sound. Its official music video has already garnered three million views within two weeks of release. Shot in her childhood neighborhood of Jericho, the video highlights her dynamic stage presence, paired with engaging dance routines that have captivated TikTok users.
While sex appeal is common among global rap artists, it remains relatively rare among Kenyan female musicians. Cods notes, “Most female artists are quite conservative. My lyrics are bold and unapologetic.”
Despite being a new name to many Kenyans, Cods has been crafting music for the last six years, steadily gaining traction in the underground scene. Throughout that time, she has refined her sound and image, feeling completely equipped for her current moment of fame.
“I thought [“Set It”] was significant, but I didn’t foresee its massive success,” she reflects. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.” Ares66, the song’s producer, shares her sentiments, highlighting Cods’ “blend of talent, intelligence, and commitment” as key to her emergence.
Originating from Kisumu and raised in Nairobi, Cods’ journey has been quite unique. She confesses that she lacked musical inspiration during her childhood, largely unaware of the rise of genres like gengetone. Her passion for music ignited while she attended Statehouse Girls High School, where she sang and played the piano during breaks. Encouraged by friends, a pivotal moment arrived when one of them funded her first studio recording.
In the recording studio, Cods discovered her true calling, collaborating with various producers and artists who helped cultivate her musical identity. Her debut single, 2019’s “Gimme Your Love,” featured the well-known Kenyan group Wakadinali, who had been impressed by her singing while working next door in the studio.
Even with positive reviews about her work, Cods faced suggestions to tailor her sound to fit the Kenyan music scene. Being a fan of Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, she initially inclined towards their styles over local sounds, but producers advised her to adopt a more “Kenya-nized” approach.
“I may have compromised initially, but I trusted their guidance,” she admits. “They had more experience, and I believed they knew what they were talking about.” Gradually, she started discovering Kenyan music and exploring her own sound. Cods was inspired to try rapping while working with Wakadinali, who’s unapologetic lyricism sparked her bold expression.
“Listening to their lyrics gave me a sense of freedom in expression,” she recalls. “I realized that if they could push boundaries, so could I!”
She acknowledges her confident stage presence is deliberate, employing an alter ego to overcome her natural shyness. This persona fuels her performances, allowing her to reach a broader audience as she prepares to release a new album in October.
“Music has propelled me beyond my comfort zone. When I perform, I embody this different persona, like Sasha Fierce,” she states confidently. For those who doubt her staying power in the industry, she has a clear message: “Let them wait. They perceive this as my debut song, but this is merely my biggest hit to date.”
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