Cameroonian Music Lovers will never forget when the longest serving female artiste from New Bell Music shocked Africa with her viral hit “Dans La Sauce” in 2016.

8 years later the big question is Does RENISS still got “The Sauce” ?

Between the years 2014 to 2017, RENISS topped the charts as far as female music artistes were concerned. Under the umbrella of New Bell Music and the mentorship of an incredible producer Jovi LeMonstre, RENISS served us with series of hits, incredible choruses and enchanting adlibs that helped in paving her way to becoming one of the best female artistes of her generation.

RENISS via Facebook March 2023 Photographer Credits: Ndukong

Fans will never forget May 6, 2016 when she dropped her viral hit “La Sauce” (Dans La Sauce) her biggest hit till date. It was the landmark of her music career and this undisputed success set in to solidify her place in the music industry. The song was so big that it naturally made its way into the dressing room of the indomitable lions of Cameroon during their 2017 AFCON campaign in Gabon and became the theme song of the lions, fans and even some oppositions when they won a match.

Indomitable Lions AFCON 2017 Champions Photographer Credits: @Backpagepix 2017

Currently at 16 Million views on YouTube, La Sauce, produced by Jovi LeMonstre with Tatapong Beyala creating the storyline and directed by Ndukong caught the attention of Orange Cameroon and they used the line “Dans La Sauce” for an advert with the Indomitable Lions. On the poster, we could clearly see the likes of Oyongo Bitolo, Fai Collins, Toko Ekambi, Michael Ngadeu and a host of others holding ingredients and posing while surrounding a steaming post. Orange captioned it “…dans la Sauce”. We could clearly recall a using Jovi on Twitter calling out Orange for using a line of the song without permission.

Orange Cameroon Advert with Indomitable Lions (…dans la Sauce)

Fats forward to the success of the 2017 AFCON competition with the Indomitable Lions returning home with the trophy and presenting it to the Head of State President Paul Biya, while reading his congratulatory speech for the Indomitable Lions, he referenced RENISS hit song saying ‘Vous les mettez tous dans la Sauce” following laughter and cheers from other government officials present.

With all the success in the previous years, RENISS has been unable to serve fans with another successful jam like “La Sauce”. She parted ways with New Bell Music amicably and opened her own record label RINGA REC, she equally launched her spices and ingredients brand “La Sauce de Reniss“. Notwithstanding, as family, she still collaborates with New Bell Music, her former producer and director on new projects with her label. Her recent singles include: Time No Dey feat. Jovi, Eding, Ça Marche and Un Peu Un Peu.

It is worthy to note that ever since RENISS shifted from the New Bell Music Record Label to creating her own channel, there has been some improvements in the visual quality of her videos. Unarguably, she sure takes the final decisions on her videos this new year! Team237Showbiz rates her Mbeng Et Le Feu Sort vidéo directed by Ndukong 7/10

Below are a few reactions of what our followers (@237Showbees) think;

Tell us what you think about the song “Mbeng Et Le Feu Sort” by RENISS. If you’re still to listen to the song and watch the video, click here to get it.

Don’t forget to drop your thoughts

Victor Kange

(#NaTengiYesu)

Everyday, we preach unity, togetherness and Holding Hands. None of such has been put into practice. How is it obvious entertainers work in a clique? (Man Know Man). First things first, artistes in New Bell Music tend to work only within the label. No one has been let in or out for either a collaboration or even accepted to share a stage with other artistes. How can we grow with such policies? It seems some are willing to take over whereas others are just contented with the peanuts that brings forth the crumps under the table.

Another clique is the Buea Superstars clique, where we see artistes from Alpha Better Records hooking up with Akwandor, Nkeng Stephens, Stevens Music and Ambe of RedEye Group. Lately, we can observe a little exposure from Buea to Empire Company of Pit Baccardi c/o of Magasco. Ask yourself, must it be Mr. Adrenaline the video director of Tzy Panchak and Skidi Boy Videos? Why can’t power change hands. If its not Ndukong on Jovi’s videos, its Regis Talla on Maahlox’s.

Furthermore, Motherland Empire. Their clique seems to be the international standard, sealing collaborations in and out of Africa, forgetting that Cameroon still has grass in its door steps needing uprooting.

The diaspora seems to be another clique. Artistes there find it hard to collaborate with their fellow colleagues in Cameroon. We’ve heard complaints ad such from many artistes in the diaspora.

Lastly, the upcoming artistes. This is another clique created unknowingly. The fact that they are often neglected, little or no finances automatically places them in a group of struggling career builders.

When will Cameroonian entertainers come together? Are the promoters, event planners, fans and bloggers working in vain? Its high time someone stepped up and bring us all together. Cameroon music is on a stretcher, we all have a chance to connect and plug in the life support.

Should we dissolve all cliques in order to evolve?

Victor Kange
(#NaTengiYesu)

237Showbiz: Merlin Caren, many fans and followers only know you to be one of Cameroon’s talented music video directors. However I think there’s more you need to tell us. Who is Merlin Caren?

Yes that’s pretty true my biological names are KUE MERLIN CAREN I am 100% Bamileke I started ShowBiz as a dancer later a rapper/singer and today I am a video director I started ShowBiz professionally in 2005 I was once the best dancer in southwest for 3 consecutive years won Canal 2 DANCE FLOOR CHALLENGE in the year 2007 then later I traveled to Lagos Nigeria I danced along side with award winning dancer KAFFY, danced with WANDE COAL, NAETO C and some more Nigerian artistes I have once been a FANTA AMBASSADOR in Nigeria been on MTV BASE BIG FRIDAY SHOW with basket mouth featured on MTV BASE SHUGA MOVIE with ICE PRINCE, IYANYA and TIWA SAVAGE which was on BET and MTV

237Showbiz: How and when did you decide to take up the passion for moving pictures?

I started moving pictures in 2017 professionally meanwhile I have been doing online studies for the past 4 years I never went to a professional school to learn what I know how to do today YouTube is my best friend.

237Showbiz: Apart from undergoing training in cinematography, it seems possible one can become a self trained director, filmmaker and cinematographer. How slim are the chances?

Well I am an example I was self thought just by watching videos online and following the basic steps.

237Showbiz: You’ve shot music videos for so many artistes, both established and upcoming. What are the different challenges you face when it comes to these two different categories of artistes?

Honesty I love this question ok working with an established artiste gives you alot of room for creativity simply bcos the budget is not limited you can think anything and the budget will make it happen even though they mostly want to do ”over sabi” which might end up spoiling the whole show because you will do a setup which as a cinematographer you know it will be great but the established artiste will tell you to change everything just because in their eyes it doesn’t look good not knowing in the eyes of the camera which is the lense things look a whole lot different than what your eyes can actually see meanwhile with an upcoming artiste your creativity is extremely limited due to the lack of resources and budget to produce the music video.

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Merlin Caren & MI Abaga

37Showbiz: Are you part of the famous #HoldHandsMovement clique? What do you think about it?

I am not part of the #HoldHandsMovement but I love the initiative big guns like Nkeng Stephens is doing to support the aspiring and upcoming video directors

237Showbiz: At a point in time, upcoming artistes became fed up with the famous 1.000.000CFA price tag for music videos. What was your take on this? Do you also shoot for a million francs?

Ok my take in this is that you will shout and get mad at other directors when you don’t really know what’s involve

1.000,000 frs can’t even buy a professional DSLR camera like the CANON 5D mark 4 is worth 1.980,000 frs which is almost 2 million frs talk less of the lenses the gimbal and accessories they should go and price a PHANTOM 4 Pro Drone I don’t shoot up to 1 million because I am still growing for now I shoot as low as 4 hundred thousand frs because I admit I am not there yet but trust me when I will be up there like ADRENALYNE, NKENG STEPHENS, SKY STAR, ADAH AKENJI, NS PICTURES, FEBRUARY 16, and SHAMAK I will charge the same amount because this guys have worked so hard to put Cameroon on the map

237Showbiz: Your favorite Cameroonian music video of 2017?

My favorite music video of the year 2017 was “GORDON – Jaloux ” Directed by your favorite boy MERLIN CAREN #LuxuriousVisuals

237Showbiz: Shooting, Directing and photography are your main projects you are known for, are there any other projects in the pipeline? I once read from you months back, you were about to do a dance movie in Buea South West Region of Cameroon and someone else drove passed you and stole the project?

Yeah I have a lot on the table I want to go into movies and as for the DANCE MOVIE I had to hold back till the guys in Buea who stole my idea and they are now rushing to do a dance movie are done because my story is unique and will embark on it once the coast is clear and I will make all dancers proud with an amazing script, directing and concepts.

Merlin Caren & Olamide

237Showbiz: What are those basic characteristics than can take the cost of a music video shoot to 5.000.000CFA

To me I think it’s mostly locations, like some artiste fly all the way to Paris just for a shoot and the following week they are in Dubai renting Luxurious cars, classy hotels suite, first class models and mostly one in a million setups

237Showbiz: Your Camer celebrity crush?

Hmmmm well I will say Blanche Bailly because she got what I like lol “UKWU”

237Showbiz: What are your views on the category for Best Music Video for the Urban Jamz Awards?

URBAN JAMZ AWARD is a lil backward when it comes to that category just being honest because there were alot of great videos which didn’t make the list

237Showbiz: As one of the pillars in our tender baby entertainment industry, certain plagues are responsible for our slow growth. Hate, jealousy, pride the willingness to go solo and do it all alone etc what are the measures we need to abolish such practices?

The measures we need to adopt in order to abolish such practices is by supporting one another. Let’s join forces because a single tree can’t make a forest let’s all speak up our minds openly let there be a meeting called by some elderly and powerful men and women in the country to sit down both the established and upcoming artiste, advise them, educate them and create a path for them to follow I believe it will help the present situation in this our tender baby entertainment industry.

237Showbiz: Some video directors claim that the cost of their equipment are very high, leading to high prices. Do you shoot for less or follow the same mentality?

I shoot for less not because I want to but because I need to do that to showcase myself soon I will join the 1 million club not because I want to because as time goes by we are upgrading our equipments and this toys and not cheap this are LUXURIOUS TOYS my toys can build me a 3 apartment if I sell them talk less of when I will own toys worth 25 million then I will have no choice other than to join the 1 million club

237Showbiz: Can you boast of a training program like the Bonteh Digital Media Academy where you train aspiring music video directors and film makers?

Yes I have LUXURIOUS VISUALS ACADEMY where I train aspiring and upcoming video directors I teach them the techniques and give them the best tips and tricks in cinematography

237Showbiz: One advice for upcoming artiste who aren’t financially fit but pay up to 1 Million CFA for a shoot?

My brothers and sisters in life we have levels by levels go for what you can afford not what you think everyone is getting cos paying the 1 million is not the problem the real problem is when you want to promote the video when bloggers will charge u large knowing u paid a million for the shoot so paying 100K per blogger to promote shouldn’t be your problem that’s what they think so think wisely

237Showbiz: Thanks for accepting our request to join you in this career journey of yours. Team 237Showbiz loves you and what you do. Keep on striving.

Merlin Caren: Thanks to you and the entire team.

Interviewed by

Victor Kange

#NaTengiYesu