The narrative of how Pia Pounds secured her initial record label deal is quite intriguing. During her S.4 vacation, she worked as a salesperson at the Insurance Company of East Africa, where she encountered a man willing to sponsor her first song. This individual financed the recording of the song at Jahlive Studio, where she crossed paths with Kusseim.
Together with Kusseim, they initiated the recording of songs, but unfortunately, nothing materialized, and she lost contact with Kusseim due to school commitments. In her second year at university, a person named New York, associated with Big Talent Entertainment (Eddy Kenzo’s record label), contacted her and eventually drove her to Big Talent. At that time, Kusseim had joined Big Talent, marking the beginning of her association with the label in October 2016.
Despite the promising start, a year passed without tangible results, leading to her growing anxious. However, Kusseim continued to provide encouragement. By the time she officially signed with Big Talent in 2018, she had recorded approximately 14 songs. Pia Pounds eventually left Big Talent after facing criticism from Rema’s fans, who wrongly believed she was romantically involved with Kenzo, Rema’s ex-partner and baby daddy.
Pia Pounds had a musical upbringing, singing in church and accompanying her elder half-brother to the studio, initially at West End Studios owned by Aziz Azion and later at Ragga Dee’s studio (DV Records) in 2010. Her collaboration with Ragga Dee on the
song “Just the Way You Are” was released in 2011 when she was 15 years old, and the video was shot during her S.4 vacation.
Her journey continued with a sponsorship for her first song during her time at the Insurance Company of East Africa, which eventually led her to Jahlive Studio and Kusseim. Despite the initial challenges and setbacks, Pia Pounds’ determination and talent paved the way for her association with Big Talent Entertainment. Her eventual departure from the label was influenced by the negative attention and accusations from fans.
Pia Pounds highlighted the transformative impact of her song “Tupaate,” released in September 2020 and gaining massive popularity in April 2021, on her financial life. She acknowledged that while many consider “Tupaate” her breakthrough, she personally views “Taala” as the song that marked a significant turning point in her career.
