Tracy Kirabo, known professionally as Pia Pounds, is a Ugandan singer-songwriter of electronic dance, RnB and afrobeat music, and a performer, Fashionista, actress and businesswoman.

Pia Pounds
Pia Pounds during a radio interview at Record Fm in Kampala in 2019.
Born
Tracy Kirabo

(1996-11-08) 8 November 1996 (age 27)
NationalityUgandan
EducationInternational University of East Africa
Alma materInternational University of East Africa
OccupationMusician
Musical career
Genres
Years active2011 – present
LabelsAfrican Bureau of Music - ABM (current)

She is the first Ugandan female artiste to have a single ("Tupaate") featured in a Netflix series (Young, Famous & African).[1] She is also the co-founder of the African Bureau of Music (ABM).[2][3]

Early life and career edit

Born on 8 November 1996 in Gomba and raised in Buziga by her auntie after the death of her mother when she was 2 years old. Pounds grew up doing odd jobs in order to sustain herself, raise money for school fees and also get money for her music career. She demonstrated her musical talents from a young age through music dance. She has preformed live in Uganda, UAE, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan.[4]

In 2011, Pounds was first recognised on the music scene at 14 years while in high school with her song titled "Just the Way You Are" which featured Ragga dee. She took a hiatus in music and returned to finish high school.[5]

She returned into music while she was a sophomore student at university in 2017.[6] She was signed by Eddy Kenzo’s Big Talent Entertainment label in 2018.[7][8][9] Under Big Talent, Pounds' biggest releases were Tubawe and Wawangula.[10][11]She refused to renew her contract with the label and exited Big Talent Entertainment and started releasing her music as an independent artist in 2019.[12][13] She later teamed up with producer Kuseim and founded Pia Pounds Limited and co-founded the African Bureau of Music(ABM),[2][3] where she released a string of singles and albums like Tupaate and Bitimba.

In 2020, her EP titled Tupaate topped Uganda's hit list chart up-to-date example "Apple Music Top 100 Uganda 2023" , her song "Tupaate" is part of the soundtrack for the Netflix show Young, Famous and African. [14] "Tupaate RMX" (featuring Eddy Kenzo and McAfrika) was Trace Muzik "Song of the Year".

Discography edit

Singles edit

  • "Tupaate"
  • "Bitimba"
  • "Taala"
  • "Tupaate" (Jazz edition)
  • "Wawangula"
  • "Wankikuba"
  • "Tupaate" (feat Eddy Kenzo and McAfrika)
  • "Wanting me"
  • "Selection"
  • "Kasonda"
  • "Slay Farmer"
  • "Byompa" (feat. Fik Fameica)
  • "Wuuba"
  • "Big love"
  • "Yo body"
  • "Delicious"[15]
  • "Sili Muyaaye"
  • "Easy"

Achievements and awards edit

  • 2021: Janzi Awards; Tupaate – Outstanding Song of the Year.[16]
  • 2021: Janzi Awards; Outstanding Video of the Year[17]
  • 2022/2023: ASFA (Abryanz); -Most stylish Female Artist[18]

Advocating for Uganda Premier League (UPL) edit

In her tweet on 7 April 2024, stressing accessibility and air play of Uganda's biggest soccer uganda Premier League. FUFA president Moses Magogo Hassim pledged support for her for supporting and posting about Uganda Premier League.[19]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Nsereko, Ranell (20 March 2022). "Pia Pounds Tupaate features in show Young, Famous & African on Netflix". Pulse Uganda. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "African Bureau of Music – To extend throughout the world the African culture through the African Sound". Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ruby, Josh (31 May 2021). "I'm still under ABM but I need a new manager - Pia Pounds maintains". MBU. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  4. ^ Benjie (20 March 2024). "Pia Pounds shares personal struggles and musical journey". MBU. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ^ Ruby, Josh (10 May 2018). "Ragga Dee inspired me - Pia Pounds". MBU. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  6. ^ Ruby, Josh. "Ragga Dee inspired me – Pia Pounds". Mbu. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  7. ^ "All you need to know about Eddy Kenzo's new hot girl". Scoop. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. ^ Ibanda, Paul. "Kenzo signs new artiste Pia Pounds to Big Talent". PML Daily. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  9. ^ "All You Need To Know About Big Talent's New Signing – Pia Pounds". Uganda Music. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  10. ^ Ortega, Ian. "The Video: Tubawe – Pia Pounds". Sqoop. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Video: Sexy Pia Pounds releases Wawangula". Big Eye. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  12. ^ Ssendaza, Ismail. "The Short-Story of How Pia Pounds Got Famous Will Make You Love Her Even More". Lifestyle. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Eddy Kenzo to renew Pia Pounds' contract". Radio 4. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  14. ^ Nsereko, Ranell (20 March 2022). "Pia Pounds Tupaate features in show Young, Famous & African on Netflix". Pulse Uganda. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  15. ^ Muriisa, Habre. "Is Pia Pounds' New Song 'Delicious' A Reply To Rema's 'Sili Muyembe'". Chano8. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  16. ^ sqoopadmin (14 December 2021). "Full list of winners at Janzi Awards – Sqoop – Get Uganda entertainment news, celebrity gossip, videos and photos". Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Janzi Awards 2021 in Uganda: All the winners". Music In Africa. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  18. ^ Ruby, Josh (18 December 2022). "Full List of Winners: Who Won What at the 2022 Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (ASFAs)?". MBU. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  19. ^ https://twitter.com/MosesMagogo/status/1776968343884308592?t=0gdCjnMwqkF97qwiKn7CbQ&s=19