Ugandan singer Jackie Chandiru has opened up about the demanding nature of live music performances, revealing that even experienced musicians must continuously work on their ability to deliver vocals on stage.
The celebrated performer explained that sounding impressive in a recording studio does not necessarily translate into an equally polished live performance, where artists must deal with different instruments, changing sound levels and the pressure of performing before an audience.
According to Jackie, studio recording offers a more controlled environment because vocals and instruments can be balanced to produce the desired sound. Live performances, however, present a different challenge as musicians must adjust to the drums, bass, keyboards and other elements happening simultaneously.
“Everyone can sing in studio but get handed that microphone live it can be a different story. Let me tell you this, I got to learn to sing live,” Jackie explained.
Interestingly, she did not exempt herself from the learning process.
Despite her years in the music industry and reputation as a capable performer, Jackie admitted that she is still working towards perfecting her live singing abilities.
“Actually, I’m yet to perfect it. I can tell you the truth, I’m not perfect yet,” she added.
Her comments offer a glimpse into the technical demands of performing live, particularly the difference between delivering vocals in a controlled recording environment and managing an actual stage performance.
Jackie also highlighted the importance of understanding sound engineering, explaining that musicians must learn how to work with different microphone and amplifier levels while maintaining vocal consistency.
“Naturally I’m a musician, but there’s what they call perfectionist when it comes to different kinds of sound, like understanding how to balance sound when the microphone is low and when the amplifier is high,” she said.
Her observations are particularly interesting given that many music lovers regard her as one of Uganda’s accomplished live performers, based on her previous stage appearances.
Rather than presenting herself as someone who has mastered every aspect of performing, Jackie is acknowledging that live singing remains a skill that requires continuous practice, technical understanding and experience.
And that may be one of the biggest lessons from her remarks: even a seasoned musician can still find something new to learn when the microphone goes live.