I’m Launching My Own Media House” | Creator Mluo on Life After Campus | MLUO SOCIAL LIGHT

Oh my name is Alvin, or Mluocial light. A Luo content creator. Amazing stuff you're doing, big up for building a brand on your own. You stand on your own, you found your own niche. You stood out, you're doing amazing. Big up on that. Also, let's talk about your journey. I know you've talked about how you started at MMU up to where you have reached. But let's reflect on your journey up to now. How has it been? Eh, it's been great man, I'm graduating , man, I'm graduating. Finally. Eh man, I've finished school, I'm exhausted, four years, four years. Are you sure? Eh, since 2022. Mhm. Let's talk about it. I know your journey started back in school, but now let's talk about you finally graduating at the end of this year. Let's talk about your journey when you entered school. Did your parents expect you to do this when you started making your content? Chapati and green grams—how many green grams, how many chapos? Yes, four chapos and green grams, up to where it has reached. How was it, at first, starting your content creation journey? The journey has been great. Guys, my classmates have been supportive, the school has been supportive. Yeah, I think the support that I got from uni has built me a lot, though I started content in 2019. When I was still in form two. But entering university, it was pushed, and you know people love familiarity. Like, seeing that place as our food spot, that's the mess, they repost, they do whatever. So, it's been a great journey. My friends have supported me a lot. Mhm. I mean, they've supported me. You know, your fellow students, comrades supporting your craft, supporting you ...like, you just feel loved, man. Also , doing journalism has helped me, because even when we do school projects , we find we can go aside and shoot something, and they are supportive, so ... They don't think that I will pay them; they just do it for free, and they enjoy themselves too. It becomes a very cool experience. Talking about school, you graduate at the end of this year. I know you studied journalism. Tell us, is it something you always wanted to do? What did you specialize in, and what is the plan now after graduation? I specialized in broadcast journalism; I want to open my own journalism house, my own media house. Mhm, I don't want to go to other people's. Why, why not? I just feel like I can create mine that will be unique, and yeah. The information and knowledge you got in school, how will it help you maybe to become a better version of yourself? Now, practically, you've been practicing, doing your content, your skits. Now you have your degree, you have your diploma, whatever is coming out of school. Now, how do you want to get it right? How do you want to get it done? Because we've seen even Flaqo opened his studio recently, like, a few months ago. Mhm, I learned about PR, public relations, I learned a lot. I learned about media law, so before I do any content, I look at the consequences—what kind of trouble it could bring. We avoid lawsuits and such, because you look at media law, there's so much to it. You have to maintain people's privacy, you have to... When you shoot with someone, maybe you need consent forms, yes. Yes, just to avoid problems in the future. In the media space, we’ve seen many people create content about others who get angry about their songs, many people. Have you ever found yourself on the bad side, maybe one day you did a song for Kali or someone, and they say, "No man, you crossed the line," or the artist reached out like, "Hey, why are you doing this?" They reach out to say, "Man, this is dope, this is dope," it’s nothing, it's just fun, there’s nothing there, and you haven't insulted them. Mh. You haven't tried to tarnish their name , no defamation, so it's all good. Comedians keep... Everything is intact; not everything has to be serious, even if you see news , news is boring nowadays in terms of ... Bad things happening, bad things happening, what if... We did news, but like, good things happening? M. So we are trying to give people something so they aren't always angry. How has that relationship with artists helped your brand grow and become who you are right now? Pardon, that question? That relationship you have with artists , being committed to artists, for example, Kali, how has it helped you and the industry for people to appreciate your craft in a positive way ? Well, if I make content about Khaligraph and he notices and comments, obviously there is some engagement that Khaligraph brings, it's not normal, like he brings some good impact. And it's like he helps me; his fans also enjoy it, they get excited too. So it has helped me grow in terms of like... People now conform to what Kenya is doing, they enjoy it, they get excited. You stayed authentic, relevant, and then of course your content always makes sense, and people ride with you, they vibe with your content. How do you balance? How do you find the time to do all this? Something happens at midnight , and in the next 10 minutes, you're on the road doing something. How do you manage to do all this? I know you have a team behind it, but how do you manage to execute all this? Personally, I just want to say I have the best team, so we manage to get locations on time, everything on time, so I think it's the best team, the best people around you, because you might want to shoot at KICC but have no way to get there. So when you have that team, someone looking at locations, my locations guy, or someone who shoots me called Datello , like we stick together, three minds can do much better than if it were just me alone. If you look at my old content, genuinely I had great ideas, but I was just hitting school, hitting school, because I couldn't go anywhere, but when you have connections, you find... How important is it to have or work with a team in terms of the execution of ideas? It improves, it improves; in business studies, when we were in school, we were taught that three minds are better than one. M. It takes a long time to make a decision , but that decision should be perfect. Yeah, right now we can shoot even at a police station or whatever; I don't know, we just look for a spot and create something clean. So this is a team, not a "mob"( entourage), because most of the time when people see you online, they think you're walking around with a mob, but it's actually your team. Are three people really a mob? No, this is a team, a real team where everyone has their role. Mhm. And then everyone is questionable; they are answerable for everything that happens in their department. Even if you're an SPM (Social Media Manager) and you fail to do something, there's a point where someone will ask you, and you will also have someone to ask. Just imagine you've recorded and then this person didn't press record. Again. So everyone must have their responsibility and be aware of what has been done. We've seen you collaborate. I believe in collaboration. Let's talk about collaboration, embracing collaboration with other creators. How does it help you even maybe achieve more in terms of execution of ideas? Man, I'm a believer in collaborations because once you meet with another creator, you exchange ideas. There's the way they do their things, and there's the way I do mine. I'll use one example, I did a collaboration with Kena that really makes me happy. So, like, when I saw how he does things, it gave me inspiration, like in terms of wanting to become more professional in the future, because his stuff was, you know, we came and everything was, like, you see, I'm not used to that. We just do our thing, we have our style that we use, and he had his style, and we adopted his style while he adopted ours. So it was two different things. What I can say is that I learned a lot from him. Maybe he learned something from me, and also with other creators, I believe that when we exchange those ideas, we are also exchanging fans. Like, obviously, there's a guy who knows Silver Gido and doesn't know Mluo, so when we do collaborations, we exchange fans; my people will come to you. And that is how we grow. Grow together. That is actually the only secret. But you've seen not most creators embrace collaboration; why do you think so? Well, you know creators are artists, and artists must have their ego, so it just depends. If you have an ego, it's okay, but if you get the time to collaborate, it's much better; I've seen the power of collaboration. Actually, when I was at 30k followers on Instagram, I teamed up with three creators, and we said we'd be doing collaborations every week. We would collab, like using the Instagram collab feature, then we'd post on our stories, like when someone posts, we'd share to our stories; bro, everyone in that group grew. I can't lie, everyone reached 100k; that was the secret, imagine. So the secret is collaboration. Now, talking about the creative economy, we've seen so many young creators coming up, you're coming from university systems where things are structured, there's a way things work, you must find the right team, have the right manager who understands the game, maybe having the right... You know, people around you might guide you, but sometimes you get distracted by life. Maybe you get followers on the street, people calling you "Mluo, Mluo, " and kids sliding into your DMs. How important is it to maybe get it right, learn from mistakes, and make mistakes to become a better version of yourself? Okay, I feel like everyone just needs to go through their own journey. My journey is different from other people's journeys. There is someone who blew up today and became the biggest thing, like they surpassed me, so their journey is different. For us, we had to take from 2019 until now just so people would at least know your name. Uh-huh. Two different people. But at the end of the day, they learn. They know how they will return, how they will come back, and they will just be fine. I can't say I can use an example of...Who, who blew up and used their chance really well? Ah, just your friend. Your friend blew up and took that chance, so it's different. Because at the time he was doing that, I was already on my own content creation journey. So, you just grow slowly. There is growing slowly and growing fast; both are acceptable, so you're the one who knows how to adapt to that system. Bouncing back. Okay. I have a question, let me take you back to Kena. You said you did content with him and learned a lot from him, then you added this point about not knowing if he picked up anything from me. Is there a time that you always feel that a certain creator or someone in the same industry as you is way above you and you feel like you don't really meet them much? Man, you know I love Kena like crazy. Kena, like, I've watched him since Form One or Form Two. You know, back then you couldn't imagine you'd ever meet someone like him. But the moment we met , it was very, like, it was very vibrant. He was like, "What’s up, Mluo?" I mean, you can't even believe it. So, there are some things that are hard to believe. It is very hard to believe. But he was fit. He was, he was very welcoming. It is very hard to believe, by the way. Yeah. Maybe bouncing back, you know, sometimes you make content and feel the video isn't moving, you don't get the reception, you don't get that viral moment, or people don't understand your content, and then sometimes challenges arise around you, you find a few distractions, so bouncing back or staying relevant. With content creation . How important is it for creators? Well, it's important because especially if it's something you love doing, you still have to do it. I find content to be like mathematics. You see, in mathematics, if you don't understand a topic, it doesn't mean you won't understand it forever. You have to look for another strategy, another strategy; that's why there were many formulas to solve a problem, right? So you just look for another strategy and the ones that work you continue with, you look for others that work, they become many. Like in 2024, I just laughed in my content, just normal laughing, and then like that was it, this laugh is intense. So I started adding the laugh, but you know you can't just laugh every day, so you look for another thing, so you look for another thing, another thing, until you have five of them. Bro, you are sharp, it's like you're tapping into the future, you know, you're tapping into the future. So you know this and this works for me. This and this works for me. Yeah, and you bounce back, and you don't have to go viral every time; like those failures have to come for you to get that success. Cool. Yeah. From the public eye, content creation, I know it pays, but with time, there are people who believe that right now, a Luo should be living this life, living this life, they've made it, they expect a lot from you. Do you feel pressure sometimes, maybe to live the life people are living, maybe when you go out or when you're out with the crew and you're dressed well? I used to feel pressure when I was in like third year. Ah, you feel pressure like when you get into a matatu, and people are like, "Bro, what are you doing in a matatu?" But at the end of the day, you're also in that matatu. So , a matatu isn't a bad thing. At the end of the day, yeah, if you feel pressure, you won't be in Kenya the way you want to be, you get? So, there's no need for me to live a life that isn't mine, genuinely. If I don't have that kind of money, it's just fine, because when we were comrades in first year, we were struggling hard, bro, so. You buckle down. So right now, at least when you get some few cash that you can eat well with. Hmm. You are okay, you are okay, so you just keep looking, you keep being sharp as you look for other opportunities. I don't see a problem with giving myself pressure, bro, I'm not even in a rush. What do you mean by "few cash"? Ah. What do you mean by "few cash"? It's just like this, like where we are here, don't you see these brand mentions? You get one or two, and you're just fine. You're just fine, life moves on. What do you wish the public should know about, maybe, content creators and that pressure that you've made it, you're ahead, you have something? Content creators are just like normal human beings; the way you go to a job is the same way we also go to work. Don't you see we are at work here? There's someone at work somewhere in an office; it's all work. So they are normal human beings apart from what you see online. They have this other life of theirs. Yeah. So mixing them sometimes is very hard. You separate them a bit because they have a family life, they have whatever, that person still has their job. Now talking about family, talking about relationships, this year has been heavy for you. I know you've been on the blogs for good reasons. Some people say it's been a difficult time for you. We've seen friends drifting away, we've seen headlines, we've seen blogs, we've seen. People just talk online like, "These days he doesn't talk to this person." You know, that's what journalism does, you journalists say certain things. I'm not saying it, I'm just reporting what is out there. Who said that? Even now they say there's someone you're soft launching slowly online to make content with. I don't know what is happening. What have you picked up from those moments you've gone through? Bro, always bounce back, bro. What do you mean, "bounce back"? Bounce back, bro. That's key. I know that's very important, but you have to trust people to the point where they might go out and expose your private conversations or private moments. So what will you do? So what will you do? How do you control this to make sure it doesn't happen again in the near future ? Have you limited your friends? Have you limited the moments and whatever you share with people? Do you keep it for your inner circle now? Ah, you don't limit friends because, at the end of the day, you'll need people. I'll need to make videos and everything . What has happened has happened, but what are you going to do? You just bounce back, you move on, regardless. What are you going to do? What are you going to do? Eh. How did you overcome this? Like, what will you do? How did you overcome this? Overcome what? Whatever it was that was happening in your life, because it was something sad when I saw it online, but I couldn't reach out to you, because so much was going on in your life at that time. But one thing about you is that you bounce back, you keep on doing what you're doing. But most people would find themselves in that situation and start calling conferences to address the issue. Eh, I'm telling you, you just need a nice team to be with you during that time. Just like that, and you know life must move on. There's someone who said the liberator of Africa, Nelson Mandela... Passed away, and imagine, Africa is still moving forward. So... But he really helped Africa, but life must move on, bro. No matter what you do, bro? So when you give up, it means you have given up on life. So there is no need to give up on life, especially when there are... Tasty things, there is tasty food. There are interesting people to meet. Mmm. Yeah, so...You guys have something to ... Now, um, we've seen so many creators who came and hit, then at some point we forgot about them because we didn't hear from them again. So you, as Mluo, what are you doing to ensure that you remain relevant for the longest time, forever, if we should add that? Diversity, you have to be diverse. Me, I do music, I do content, I like...we script, we shoot, I edit. So when you have a lot of things to do, it's really hard to just go on like this, seeing this guy singing, laughing, or doing whatever. So since people are going to forget you, you just have to remind them, you know, just remind them. So and also, I think mental health is a very important thing. You say many of these people have disappeared. Many people have disappeared because of mental health. Uh, I feel like if they are in a good head space, they can just return back to their craft, because those we say we've forgotten are still dope, even right now if I sit down with them, they are still dope and talented. M if they were doing stand-up comedy, they are still talented. But the person feels like they aren't in a safe space where they can do their things again because they've been insulted online, and it gets into your head, but actually, I don't know if there's a board of content creators or whatever, or online people, but they should really look into the story of mental health because there's a lady I know who is reaching out to content creators because she knows those are the problems content creators go through; if a content creator goes broke, they might think, man, this is the end of life. No bro, you will bounce back and get that money again; it's something that can all go and come back, so there’s no end to the world. The end of the world just makes you go back home, so you just try. Yeah, you just know what you'll do. Talking about mental health, what do you advocate actually for the creators? What do you wish maybe should be done? How do you wish creators to come together to maybe help solve the issue of mental health? I just see that many people shouldn't have pride, in the sense that there are those who need help but don't say it. Because bro, if I need help and the only person who can help me is Silver Kidoo, bro, I will call you. If you refuse to help me, it's okay, I move to the next one, eh. And then also, let's have that good reception, like when someone comes to you you don't know, bro, the person is in need. Bro, if you have a spare, please just help that guy, don't be like, "is this guy serious?" or something. You just help him; we don't know what's what, what he's going through or what, because at the end of the day, we just need each other. If we have a common pool of content creators where everyone understands each other and everyone wants to help each other, it could be a very nice thing, because as content creators, we are one. Just like there are, what are they called, like there are engineers. Content creation is a career. Though it's a new one, so people are trying to figure things out. But it's a good career. So if we help each other, it becomes very cool, it becomes very amazing. As we end this conversation, let's talk about artificial intelligence. We are here today to create, as you say, to create with Gemini, and you are a person of content creation with advanced technology. What do you expect from you now? Personally, I'm not a lover of AI, but I've come to look at it from another perspective, like, bro, we have to embrace it. It's here, so what am I going to do since AI is here? I can incorporate AI into my content. You can . You see, sometimes you might need an airplane in your content and you don't have the funds to... Hmm. ... put a plane there, you can add a plane in the background with Gemini so it makes your content improve much better, mm. You get what I'm saying? I am not an advocate for what do you call it, using AI to make the whole content, because that means you'll just sit at home. So you just do something then develop some part with AI along with it. It's okay to add that extra spice. A project you're looking to maybe develop, create with AI, pardon? A project you're looking to develop? Maybe I've been developing with AI, like if you look at the content. Something like this, I have to do it. Like if it's a case for later. With AI. Hmm. Just planes, airplanes, things I can't get right now. Okay. Now, where do I get an airplane genuinely, like a plane flying right here beside me? Where will I get it? Because I've gone to airports and those regulations, it's a shot, it's tricky. It's very tricky. As we finish this conversation, when are you getting into the studio to make your musical journey afresh, so people stop hopping on bandwagons? Soon, bro, soon. I'm experimenting, and once I've got the hang of it... I've delayed. I want my content to be solid first. An artist, maybe you want to go to the studio with, maybe for the first project, Khaligraph? Crazy. Khaligraph is great, anyone really, bro , but you have to match their vibe, you get it? So for music, I also have to improve my music, because I even have albums on Spotify. But as I build my own, at least when I approach a big artist, they might be like, "Sure." It's the same way with content; if I were just starting, I would even reach out to his management, and I don't know if they would be like, "You see, you reach out and they like, 'know you, sure, we'll find a day.'" So you just build your thing, and then it finds you ahead, it just takes time, but it's all good. People you are looking to collab or work with? I've already collabed with the people I want, outside of Nairobi. I just had the inspiration, but I want to chase a dream first. We have Kabi. Ah, we have the Nigerians , people like Sidney Talker. Hmm. Those guys are making fire content, bro . I still want to collab with Flako, but... Okay. I haven't reached out to him, he can be very random, but it could be interesting. Okay. Thank you so much, thanks for your time . I know you were waiting for me to ask that other question, but for now, we'll keep it under wraps because I support your craft and everything, so I wish you all the best. Talk to your fans. What should I tell them? Tell them something, greet them, something, something. Sure, that was Mluo Socialite, thank you for...