He may be Bobi Wine’s younger brother, but singer Dax Vibez is carefully carving his own path with a sound that is entirely his own.
As his star continues to shine, Dax remains grounded in authenticity, choosing growth over shortcuts and purpose over pressure.
In this raw and reflective interview, that bossip.ug’s Habre had with him, the fast-rising artiste who is self-aware and very intentional about both his music and his growth, opens up about resisting the early pull of music, the spiritual connection he feels with it, and the personal challenges and battles he has had to fight to prove himself in the music industry, among other things.
On Friday, August 29th, Dax real name is Ivan Bugembe Ssentamu, will take to the stage for his long-awaited maiden concert, a moment he describes as the “beginning of a new chapter.”
Dubbed All-White, it is more than just fashion. To him, it is a statement of identity, readiness, and evolution. With only “55%” of his artistry revealed so far, Dax promises a show that will blow his fans’ minds.
Could you please describe yourself without mentioning your stage name or anything concerning music?
“Badddest” (repeats the word three times)
Tell us a bit about your journey, how music became your passion, and how you got your moniker Dax Vibez.
First of all, I was born in a musical family, but then I think it’s like a spirit that gets into you, so the spirit was always calling. I tried to avoid singing, but whenever I went to the bathrooms, I used to shout for people at school. At the end of it, I found myself in the studio. When I tried it, people liked it, and it kept me pushing until now.
Then the moniker, I was born Dax, Dax was nicknamed me by my brothers because we used to have a kibanda (Luganda for local cinema/video hall), and my brothers were video jockeys (VJs), so they named me Dax. There was a Dax (a movie character) who was like a warrior, and he was charismatic, cool and talented. So as I grew up and started singing, people used to say that I have good vibes, so when Dax has good vibes, what’s that? Dax Vibez
There must have been a moment when you realised, “I am pursuing this music thing as a career. No more fun” Tell us about that moment.
I think when I did “Believe”. Before it was just passion and all that, it was not businesswise; it was just a calling for me. When I knew it was a career, is when I believed, and people started calling me for shows.
What would you say sets you apart from the hundreds of other musicians in Uganda?
It’s not one thing; there are very many different things. Maybe how I write my things, maybe how I sing, differentiates me from other people. I think my style is my style; I don’t know how to explain it.
Your sound has that rich Afrobeats flavour, yet it still feels deeply Ugandan. How do you achieve that, and how much input do you have in the studio?
I think through research and knowing my target. My target is Uganda, the young Ugandan, the urban Ugandan, the updated Ugandan, so I do a lot of research, I listen to different kinds of music, and my target is to make sure I first hit here in Uganda and have enough ground for myself. If I have good roots here in Uganda, it will be easier for me to go out there.
How do you stay true to your sound while also trying to appeal to a much bigger audience?
I think having the discipline. Sometimes I am pushed to try out new sounds, but discipline, my team helps a lot because we argue a lot before I release a song. I have very many ears around, so we sit as a team and decide how my sound has to be, though I also have a big head.
Coming from a musical family, especially being Bobi Wine’s young brother, how did that influence you to do what you do?
The major thing it did was to pressure me more so that I come out the best version of myself. I already had star brothers, so there was a lot of criticism for me, but I had to do double work. Everything everyone is doing, like once I had to do it times two. Doing that extra helped me to discover my potential.
Who or what are your biggest musical influences?
I think obviously Radio (RIP), Ragga Dee, DJ Micheal and Micheal Ross. There is some uniqueness in them; everyone came with their own style. I like uniqueness; they came up with something that was new to my ears, and it inspired how I created my music. In fact, when you listen to my music, there is something somewhere about those I have mentioned.
What is your creative process like when you are writing or recording a song? Do you write all your songs?
I co-write my songs. It’s freestyle, it’s just a vibe. Now, like “Good Idea” (collaboration with Elijah Kitaka), we wrote it for 40 minutes, then other songs can take like 2 to 3 sessions. We can write a verse and get tired, as long as my brain gets tired, I stop; it’s just good vibes. When I have good vibes, I create what I can, then I leave. I co-write majorly with Nessim.
You have been blowing up lately. Why do you think you are getting more attention than you got some years ago?
I think my time has come, and I am using it well. I feel like it has come when I have matured musically, am more organised and concentrated, and I have a good team, and it’s like God has also blessed, and I think my music is good.
Are there any downsides to that sort of attention?
Now there are too many cameras on me, before I used to sit on boda boda and move around but nowadays I have to put on a helmet, there are some things I cannot say now and some people expect a lot of things from me you know, try to put pressure on me “what’s next” and all that but you have to fight hard to be on top but I don’t feel I am yet on top.
What would you say was your breakthrough song?
Creating a fan base was, I think, “Until I Met You”, then the one that really liked boom boom boom was “Believe”.
Our music industry is not as lucrative as other markets that have earned from royalties or digital streams. There is a good number of singers who have left Uganda for greener pastures. Some ventured into other enterprises to afford to take care of their financial needs. What are you doing in that regard?
I am trying as much as possible to invest the little I get so that when my time is over, I can stay big balling. I am trying to make sure that a percentage of what I get, I eat and the other percentage I invest.
What is your dream collaboration?
Justin Bieber and locally, I think Mikie Wine (one of his elder artiste brothers)
Have you had any challenges in building your name and fame independently?
Yeah, but it has helped me stay independent; there are no strings attached. I have had the challenges of doing and discovering things for myself, but it has helped give me space to know all my potential, all my strength. I didn’t know that I could do some things until I had to do them alone.
How do you balance the public expectations that come with your name and being your own artiste?
I don’t take it so seriously because I have seen bigger stars before me, so I don’t take it so seriously. I just try to enjoy it and live my life the way every day comes. No stress
What are some of the things about the Ugandan music industry you think need to change?
The leadership and government involvement. I think the government should not trample on the industry; it should just support the industry, invest in the industry and leave the industry to be independent. And we need to change the leadership of the industry.
Your family name carries weight, especially in Uganda’s socio-political space. How do you navigate being an artist with that legacy?
Man, it’s hard. I just try to live life. I don’t know how to explain to you. I just try to do the best I can to do the right thing.
Has there ever been pressure to “tone down” your messages in music or public appearances?
Obviously, my music has been limited somewhere because I am related to Bobi Wine, but I have discovered that music is one of the strongest things; it has broken many walls, you know. Some people enjoy it and don’t know me, some people enjoy and don’t like me or where I come from, but music stays strong.
If you could send a message through one song to the current leaders in Uganda, which song would it be and why?
I have two songs, one is “Change” and the other is “Bye Bye”.
Afrobeats is now global, but Ugandan music still fights for its place on the big stage. What do you think needs to be done to push Ugandan sound forward on the international scene?
You need to support Dax Vybez because when you support Dax Vybez, he is going to open a door and support other artists to come.
August Concert. Your long-awaited MAIDEN concert is just a few days away. Why now? What are you most anxious about?
Why now? I can pause a question. Why not now? I feel every cell in my body feels so ready, feels like this is the right time, and I have planned it since September last year September and I feel like it was good timing. I am most anxious to see the people, to see me perform. I believe I have been judged a lot and have not been understood, so I want the people to see me perform. I want them to see what Dax has to offer
You dubbed it the All-White immediately after we heard that you were denied access to the initial venue. Why All-White?
You know, when something bad happens, something good comes out of it. After being chased from Hotel Africana, sitting with my team and Fenon, we came up with an idea of putting something that will make sure it’s a real party. So, we came up with the All-White concert because this is a new generation, we have to try out something that is going to give you a good feeling, you’re entering the show and going out and having the memories because from the stage to everywhere, it’s going to be All White.
Is there anything you do before taking to stage?
I pray, then I become so nervous. Whenever I become so nervous, things turn out good.
In your opinion, what is the right time for an artist to do a concert?
I don’t know, every artist has their own journey. Some artistes may be maize, another one may be cassava, another one may be jackfruit, so you cannot ask what time a fruit has to ripen or a plant has to bear fruit, so I don’t know man.
How do you want people to feel after leaving your concert, and is there a deeper message behind this concert?
I want them to feel the vibes. I think this is the beginning of a new chapter in my musical life. The next songs I’m going to release after this will give them the other side of me. For now, they have received around 55% of what Dax Vibez can offer, so after the concert, I am going to give them the 50.
Tell us more about your initial concert venue (Hotel Africana). We heard your concert was stopped from happening there all of a sudden. What exactly happened?
I had an agreement with the former management, but when the former owner passed on, I think the management and ownership changed, so the new management said I was not qualified to have a concert there. Then I explained all the expenses and agreements I had with the former management, but it was all in vain. I accepted the loss and moved on, but I found a better place, better location, better parking, better security, better vibes and yeah.
We are increasingly discovering that away from the spotlight, celebrities are lonely and battling things that end up in depression and an alternate reality often created by drug abuse. Are there moments you have felt that loneliness or emptiness?
I didn’t get that chance because maybe I have seen and learnt from many examples in the past, because I have grown up around a musical family, so I got a lot of help and guidance, and even my wife helped a lot.
What’s the most awkward thing a fan has ever done or said to you?
A fan slapped me because they loved me so much.
There is a young artist out there who looks up to you. What would you say to them to prevent them from making the same mistakes you made?
Make sure that you keep your mind open to learn every day; a mind that learns every day becomes better. You will see the magic when you try and be open-minded and learn.
What legacy do you want to leave behind? And how much of that story have you written so far?
Like 20%. The legacy I want to leave behind is that you can make it the right way; you don’t have to sell your soul to Satan or do wrong to make it right.
A few weeks ago, you and your elder brother were arrested in Jinja. What was the story?
I prefer not to even talk about it. We were attacked by some NRM youths, Mikie’s car was attacked, so he called me when I had already left. I found them at a police station, then the same boys tried to attack us at the police station, so in self-defense, I pushed him back, and I was arrested, but after the footage came out, I was released.
You talked about Fenon Records, what is your relationship with them and are they doing your concert’s production?
Yeah, I am humbled that they are going to be doing it. We all want good things. They found a good artist, and they are a good production company, and we have a good working relationship.
Dax, this has been powerful. Thanks for sharing your story. We wish you all the best in your career and at your first concert.
Big up yourself, you done know she on the 29th of August, I am waiting for you.
