Lydia Jazmine opened up about the unexpected twist that changed the course of her life, revealing that she once dreamed of becoming a lawyer before Radio and Weasel pushed her into becoming a full-time musician.
Lydia’s love for music started in church, but when she entered the commercial music scene, she had no intention of becoming a star.
Instead, she quietly worked as a backup singer for the late Mowzey Radio and Weasel of Goodlyfe, earning enough money to help pay her tuition while concentrating on her studies.
According to Lydia, she was so comfortable behind the scenes that becoming a solo artist was the last thing on her mind.
“I never thought I would be a solo artist. I didn’t have that in mind when I was a backup artist for Goodlyfe. I was behind doors, and I was so comfortable back there. I mean, I was getting my money and paying my tuition,” she said.
Interestingly, Lydia had her eyes set on a completely different career. After performing well in her A-Level examinations and scoring 21 points, she had dreams of becoming a lawyer.
However, she eventually pursued Business Administration and Management at university, all while continuing to sing on the side.
Her plans began changing when Radio and Weasel noticed that the backup singer had more talent than she realised.
The late Radio reportedly asked her whether she had ever considered singing on her own, while Weasel, Jeff Kiwa and Bushington also encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and pursue a solo career.
“I was good as a backup until they began pushing me. Radio asked me if I wanted to sing. Everyone was behind my back. Jeff Kiwa, Weasel; these guys asked me if I could try singing on my own. Those guys pushed me so hard to start the solo journey,” Lydia recalled.
She admitted that even though she knew she could sing, becoming an artist had never crossed her mind.
“I remember wanting to be a lawyer or something. I did well in my F.6, I got 21 points, but at campus I did Business Administration and Management.
I was comfortable with my books. Even though I had talent and I would sing, I just hadn’t thought about becoming an artist,” she said.
With encouragement from the Goodlyfe camp, Lydia finally decided to take the biggest gamble of her career and released her first song, ‘You Know’ featuring Rabadaba.
The response from music lovers gave her the confidence she needed. What started as an experiment quickly convinced her that she could make it as a solo artist.
Today, Lydia Jazmine is one of Uganda’s recognised female musicians, but her journey could have taken a completely different direction if she had stuck to her original dream of becoming a lawyer.
Ironically, the same backup-singing job she once considered comfortable ended up becoming the stepping stone that pushed her into the spotlight.
