Alright, let’s set the stage for this short Tatiana Kruz biography with Kiwelelwele (the song below). There are chances that the melody sticks in your mind for quite long.
Tatiana’s story seems like the happy ones we like to learn about. It is that of a young girl with a passion for music who is making her dreams come true by becoming one of the most promising next generation of Congolese female musicians. But first things first, enjoy some good vibes.
Kiwelewele (crazy) by Tatiana Kruz.
Back to some learning now. Nathalie Kulebana, also known as Tatiana Kruz, is a Congolese musician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We will use Tatiana most of the time rather than Nathalie in order to avoid any confusion. She was born in Kinshasa around 1988. I do not have much information about her birthday yet but will update you when I do. She’s the fifth of a family of 7 children.
It Always Starts Early In Life
When she was two years old, Tatiana’s father was transferred to Lubumbashi, the second biggest city of DRC. She spent most of her early life out there only to return to Kinshasa at age 18. She decided to come back to Kinshasa to learn music at the National Art Institute (INA). Indeed, Tatiana wanted to become a singer since she was 13 years old and was a fan of the Congolese gospel artists Charles Mombaya and the Makomas, among others. Unfortunately, Kruz did not make it to the Institute. Instead, she found her way to work as a Requin (shark) at the Ndiaye recording studio.
In Kinshasa’s recording studio jargon, a requin (shark) is an on-demand vocal contributor. Requins perform for cash when an artist needs external choirs during recordings.
From Nathalie to Tatiana
As a vocal contributor, Tatiana had to perform alongside MJ 30 (read Mai-Jay-Tronte). MJ30 is another successful female artist who was breaking through at the time. During their collaboration and for some reason, MJ30 continuously called her Tatiana instead of Nathalie. She somehow couldn’t remember her real name. People around snapped on Tatiana, which then stuck as her career name.
While organizing her life with the money such collaboration, she held on to her dream of becoming a famous musician with a particular identity. She was supported by JP Kiss the then operator and manager for the Ndiaye Studio. JP Kiss was a jury member on the initial seasons of the Vodacom Superstar show. The show was promoted by artist and businessman Akon. Vodacom Superstar helped kickstart Innoss’B and Sarah Kalume’s careers, among others. For now, let’s stick to Tatiana though.
Encounter with Karmapa
It takes one right encounter to set you on the right track. Tatiana Kruz met Karmapa, a Congolese (DRC) rumba musician. Karmapa contracted at the Ndiaye Studio for the recording of his album title le Millionaire. He needed female singers to record with and JP Kiss selected Tatiana as one of the two requins to perform (do you remember what’s a requin?).
Cruz, Crouse or Kruz?
During the recording of Le Millionnaire, Tatiana had to perform on a salsa song. Karmapa was so impressed with her performance that he baptized her Cruz, on behalf of Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, or just Celia Cruz. Just like for Tatiana, she adopted the Cruz surname and combined the two. Kruz is now spelled with a K letter instead of a C, probably for a bit of originality. It is Tatiana Kruz, as spelled in her official Youtube channel.
Tatiana Kruz and Karmapa
While working on the album Le Millionnaire, Karmapa grew his interest in Tatiana and wanted further collaborations. JP Kiss encouraged Tatiana to move her career forward by accepting the offer.
Karmapa and Tatiana enjoyed a relatively successful collaboration. She contributed to Karmapa’s band, performances, video clips, etc. while learning to forge a character in a male-dominated industry. Tatiana became less immature and timid, to use her own words, and turned into a more experienced artist.
A Koffi-Cyndi Copycat?
People could not help but compare the couple to Koffi Olomide and Cyndi Le Coeur. Koffi reinvented a model where a female protege-singer took a big share of the stag, promoted by a renowned artist. To Tatiana’s defense, It’s worth noting that the same model happened way before with couples like Tabu Ley and Mbilia Bel.
Tatiana Kruz Solo Debut
Nothing lasts forever. As 2015 started gearing towards its end, Tatiana started demonstrating an appetite for a solo career. She took a break from Karmapa and his band to officially plan for her own future. Karmapa went ahead and publicly declared her separated from the band to make a debut album. This accelerated things and Tatiana seek help to launch her solo career. Kruz tried a couple of singles that did not take her off immediately but demonstrated her potential.
A Fally Ipupa medley by Tatiana Kruz.
After her timid debut single, Tatiana approached Fabregas, one of the top fifth-generation Congolese musicians for support. The collaboration was handy since Fabregas launched his label called Wanted Record. Wanted Record helped Kruz release a singer title Les Hommes (Men). The single discusses how men presumably never get satisfaction. Le Hommes was the success Tatiana very much needed.
Target
On March 8, 2017, Tatiana released her album Target. Wanted Record produced the album while Publicom Studio managed her. She picked Target to show she wanted to aim first at her Congolese crowd, mainly with rumba tuned songs. The novice Wanted Record did it best to promote the record but I can’t help wondering how? It never occurred to me that Tatiana released it up until she broke the collaboration with the studio and made more hit songs.
A bright Future?
I am really looking forward to Tatiana’s contribution to Congolese music. She has demonstrated some great artistic potential so far. While preparing her second album titled Confirmation, she released an awesome rumba single title Ofele. Take a listen.
Ofele, Single by Tatiana Kruz.
Only time can tell what we will witness in the future. Tatiana Kruz is on a good slope though, and we hope she will become a blessing for the Congolese Music landscape.
Leave a Reply