Many have been wowed by her sultry voice and mellow tunes. Well listening to her talk in her calm unhurried way gets you captivated as well. It's no wonder she commands a large fan base. She has several hits and a couple of awards tucked under her belt. This 28 year -old sensation scooped the most coveted award of 2009- the artist of the year award when she became the first female in the history of PAM Awards to win artist of the year. Find out in this interview what it is like to be Juliana.
Who is Juliana?
JK: Juliana is a 28 year old Mutoro from a family of seven; born and raised in Kampala. I have a six year old son, Keron Rafael Kabugo.
You have come to great heights with your music. Tell us about your music Journey.
JK: I started singing in 1996. I was just doing Karaoke then. My music career officially started in 1999 when I did my first song; the millennium song. I was with I-Jay(Iryn and Juliana) for a year. I went solo in 2001. It's been a number of amazing things.
What has been your lucky break in your music career?
JK: I have had two lucky breaks. One is when I did a song with Bobi (Tata w'abaana). It gave me a whole new identity. People didn't know about me so they said I was lucky. I needed to prove to them I was capable of making it alone.
My second break was "Nabikoowa". It was not even meant to be the lead song on that album but it became a hit. People loved it very much.
Are the songs you sing about your life/love experiences?
JK: I don't know why people connect my songs to me. Why can't they connect Abarungi Balumya to Bobi? Music is a language that brings the world together. I sing songs that are about things that have happened to people.
Other than your voice, what has made you successful? Some people have actually said it is your looks rather than voice.
JK: The drive, the passion and the hunger to succeed. Devotion and the voice of course matter. I couldn't see my self falling. When you love something you do it with passion. I don't do music for money or for fame. I do it because I love it. May be the looks have contributed....but I don't count on my looks. If the fans appreciate the looks, I'm grateful.
You are a beautiful woman and anyone would want you. So do you get stalkers?
JK: I have stalkers and the funny part is...some of them are women.! I even wonder how they get my number but somehow they do. Sometimes they go beyond.
How do you deal with ''big'' people; loaded guys and those in power? They are not that easy to put off.
JK: First of all I'm lucky I have many of them who are just friends. I respect myself and it becomes hard for you to say something silly. So what if you are big or rich. There has been such people but I would talk to them the same way I would do to a high school boy.
There has been talk that you are pimping for Amon. How true is it?
JK: Excuse me! Did you say pimping. How can I start pimping for Amon? I'm really busy...I mean I can't do that. It has no value for me. The only thing Amon and I talk about is KERON.
Are you seeing anyone?
JK: I'll disappoint you. I won't give that kind of information.
Are you Freinds with Iryn Namubiru?
JK: Let me define for you a friend; I have a few friends-my mother, my best friend Sharon. The person I'm in love with is a friend. Our relationship is: you are doing your thing I'm doing my thing. That thing that people have of us...I don't know where it comes from. I don't know about her but I don't have any negative feelings towards her. I wish her the best in her career, her family.
Tell us about Mujib.
JK: I need to set the record straight.You people have given me so many menand I hate it when the media uses me to say whatever they want to say. Mujib is a very special person to me. I won't say why and I'll keave it at that.
