Zil Nantamegwa started his music career in Masaka and he draws his inspiration from Jamal. Photo by Joseph Kiggundu
Early dreams: He is only 25, but for him, it is already a story of grass to grace. Zil Nantamegwa started singing in his Senior One at just 13 years and together with a group, they were performing at student parties. He recalls stepping out of class once in a while to just go and sing in the toilet.
For Ronald Nsubuga aka, Zil Nantamegwa, composing songs and singing is a talent from God.
Zil is in a good temper and is quite the talkative kind. He has been writing songs since his childhood, although when he started recording, he had to climb a mountain to hear them play at radio stations.
At 25 years old, he has risen from grass to grace, being behind hit compositions such as Ninda by Dr Hilderman, Ndikaliba by Iryn Namubiru featuring Gravity, among others.
“Music is unpredictable. You can compose as many songs but getting that one hit song to market you worldwide is not easy,” he says.
He adds that while in Senior One at Masaka Secondary School, he discovered he had a talent at the age of 13. They formed Thunder Heights Group and started singing at student parties.
“Sometimes I felt the rhythmn hit me while in class and one day I rushed to the toilet with an exercise book and started singing,” Zil said.
One would assume that his parents, Moses Miiro and Ruth Nanyanja, would have supported his music dream, but he says they were criticising him instead whenever they heard him singing at home.
However, he credits them for educating him in luxurious schools; Aunt Rachael Primary School, Masaka S.S, St Henrys College-Kitovu, Archbishop Kiwanuka, Makerere College and Kyambogo University.
When he recorded the Mpatikana song in 2013 at Amir Records, Masaka, all he got were recurring praises from friends and fans, who saw a song full of inspiration. The song was targeting hawkers, hustlers and everyone who works tirelessly to earn a living.
Today, the Masaka born lives a free life, sings reggae music, zouk, ragga, and RnB. His Nsanganga Biyise song which he recorded at Alan at D.Records, has attracted him a female fanbase.
The self-made singer said many established music producers such as Dig Buar of Sound Cover Records, have granted him the luxury of recording songs whenever he wishes.
Zil says he has been working with Dig Buar since 2013: “Zil is a natural singer.”
In 2015, Lugaflow singer Gravity Omutujju asked Zil to join his Trouble Entertainment crew, a place the singer says has exposed him. In fact he has since recorded songs including, Masasi Kunyama Tereera Nkwaase, Mpatikana, Sinalya and others.
Zil says the music Industry is expensive when it comes to shooting a nice video.
“I try to meet all these costs but it is not easy. For a song to be highly recognised, it must have a good video and nice composition,” he stated.
Five years from now, Zil who now resides in Bulenga, in Wakiso District, says his dream is to write songs for songbird Juliana Kanyomozi as well as Bebe Cool.
He draws inspiration from singer Jamal, and his favourite of his songs are Omusomesa and Abakyala Balabye.
This year, he is working on projects for artistes such as Eddy Kenzo, Sheebah and targets a BET Award in singing and writing category in future.
Zil’s major breakthrough in the industry
When he recorded the Mpatikana song in 2013 at Amir Records, Masaka, all he got were recurring praises from friends and fans, who saw a song full of inspiration. The song was targeting hawkers, hustlers and everyone who works tirelessly to earn a living.