Bruce Melodie reveals what Eddy Kenzo told him about Grammy nominations

• Bruce Melodie once asked Eddy Kenzo about the secret behind Grammy nominations but was simply told to “work hard.”
• The advice reshaped his mindset and pushed him to focus on consistency and discipline.
• His persistence later led to a major collaboration with Shaggy on When She’s Around (Funga Macho).

Rwandan music star Bruce Melodie once walked up to Eddy Kenzo with a simple but burning question: What’s the secret behind those Grammy nominations?

He was hoping for a blueprint — maybe a strategy, a connection, or at least a few industry tricks. Instead, Kenzo gave him a short, almost underwhelming answer: work hard.

At the time, it may have sounded blunt. But looking back, Bruce — born Itahiwacu Bruce — now says that was exactly what he needed to hear.

Despite being one of Rwanda’s biggest music exports and landing international collaborations, Bruce admits the global recognition and major awards haven’t come as easily as many might think. For an artist of his stature, it could have been frustrating. But Kenzo’s simple advice stayed with him. Rather than overthinking the formula for success, he chose to double down on the grind.

And that shift in mindset began opening bigger doors.

Bruce went on to work with global heavyweight Shaggy, a collaboration that didn’t just produce music but also valuable life lessons. According to Bruce, Shaggy taught him the importance of professionalism — especially punctuality — something that carries just as much weight as talent in the global music space.

The connection happened in an almost unexpected way. Bruce had just recorded his single Funga Macho and traveled to Uganda to shoot its video when Shaggy came across the track. The Jamaican star reportedly called it phenomenal and immediately fell in love with its vibe.

Soon after, Shaggy reached out, expressing interest in working together. Bruce admits he was still half in disbelief. It felt like one of those big dreams artists quietly hope for but rarely expect to materialize. But once he sent over his demo, things moved quickly.

The result was When She’s Around (Funga Macho) — a seamless fusion of global and African sounds that reflected both artists’ styles while keeping Bruce’s identity intact.

For Bruce Melodie, the journey has reinforced a powerful lesson: sometimes there is no secret formula. No shortcut. Just consistency, discipline, and relentless hard work — exactly what Kenzo told him from the start.