My mum drove me to Steve Jean’s studio to record a gospel song - Allan Toniks

They were living in Mbarara but the mother drove him to Kampala to record a song with his two friends, he said in an interview.

They had formed a group called C2C. The song was called Forgive Me.

Jean, a renowned producer and founder of Fenon Records, at the time owned a studio called AV1 Studio.

Toniks at the time was at Kings College Budo. His mother, Josephine Berinda, was very influential in nurturing his music career as she taught him how to play the guitar when he was in P.7 vacation.

Born to Dr. Edward Berinda and Josephine Berinda, Toniks, real name Allan Ampaire, was raised in Mbarara.

He went to Mbarara Preparatory School, King’s College Budo, Ntare School, and Makerere University where he studied international business.

His mother taught him to play the guitar while in P.7 vacation and Budo provided a big platform to nurture talent because they had a vibrant drama environment.

While in S.3 at Budo, his mom took him to Steve Jean’s AV1 Studio to record his first single titled Forgive Me with a group of two friends.

He said his biggest influence was R. Kelly and Sean Paul.

His first hit, Beera Nange, was released while in first year at university in 2008. His first songs were produced at Ngoni's Good Enough Studios, but he has also self-produced a number of his songs.