3 singers who need to regain their brilliance this year

The stars below are stars. At many points within the last five years, they have actively given pop culture unforgettable highlights with songs, dance steps, trends and influential elements.

But at the moment, they are ailing, with a string of mishits and failed projects dogging their steps. These have affected their standing in this uber-competitive environment, and led to their current place, which is far from their desired level of stardom and influence.

But make no mistake. With the current topsy-turvy nature of the Nigerian entertainment industry, all it takes to rejuventate a career is just a hit song. Oritse-femi did it with ‘Double wahala’, Skales dined out severally because he had ‘Shake body’.

Iyanya

Last year couldn’t have been more underwhelming for the singer. Iyanya released his third studio album, “Applaudise”, which failed to generate the required response. But thanks to the title track, and his single ‘Mr Oreo’, he was still in with a shout last year.

This year, he recognizes that more work need to be put in to get him back to his 2013 height, a time when everything he touched became gold.

Already he has began work on a joint R&B album with Banky W, and has returned to his first producer, D’Tunes, aiming to recapture his best form and lead pop culture again.

Chidinma

Chidinma’s fortunes at the moment is perhaps more unstable than a live volcanic mountain. The singer threw back channels and ‘sources close to her’, informed the public of her split with Capital Hill Records. Her contract was not renewed, leading her to exit the label. She has been rumoured to have pitched tent with Flavour’s record label, 2nite Entertainment, continuing a tale of silence and public assumption on the state of her affairs.

Last year, Chidinma’s stock diminished with the relative lackluster performance of her singles, ‘If e no be God’, and ‘Lorry’. This year, prior to her exit from Capital Hill Records, an album from her was speculated, but that no longer holds water.

Chidinma needs to refire in 2016. A couple of good songs should do the magic.

Skales

Once touted as a leader of the new breed due to his comeback with ‘Shake body’, Skales shot himself in the foot when he chose the direction of his album to be mindless pop songs. That decision has haunted him to date, with his lack of hit songs now a popular joke and pastime on twitter.

This year he is more measured, with an official release still yet to be announced. Analysts believe the singer needs more than hit songs to become relevant again. He needs a revamp of his brand and his artistic direction. His talent is undoubted, but the application of it is what has set him on this dire path.