Singer talks getting on with music, future plans

How long have you been doing what you do? How did you get started?

I have been doing music  for quite a while since I was about 11 years old. However,  professionally,  it's been about 2years, and I got signed on officially to my record label last year.

Music for me started back in church.  Then I had some accapella group members who would perform regularly in church where we  got paid.  The accapella group broke up after about 2years and then I went into backup singing for artists like 2baba, Banky W,  Sound Sultan,  Jaywon, Olamide, Gloria Ibru and Yemi Alade.  It was during these backup phase that the CEO of my record label recognized me and got me signed on.

Is there an early memory you’d like to share about getting into your craft, such as when you realized this was more than just a hobby or a passion?

Two years back,  while doing a sound check for an A-list artiste,  I got called backstage by someone I never knew who just asked me a simple question- What are you doing behind the scenes.  I replied saying to be fully in the limelight requires huge funds. He never gave me any money but just one word- if you re not going to take risks, no one will take it for you. And he left. I later got to understand he was the organizer of the show and that was it.

After the performance, the next day I contacted a producer,  recorded my ever first song- 'Oshere',  mix and mastered it with my whole savings and went totally hungry and broke for about a month. But there and then,  I felt some form of fulfillment.

Like I had started a phase of my life that I was scared to walk in. I had gotten 'Oshere' packaged when my record label approached me and when the CEO requested to find one of my work,  he was surprised at the amount of quality I had put into the production,  mix and mastering of my first single.

How do you describe your sound?

I would say my sound is unique but my fans have described it as eccentric.  I'm not attached to any particular genre of music. I like to be versatile, experiment with as much sound and genre of music as possible and leave my fans speechless.

Who are your influences? What is some advice that has stuck with you?

I'm deeply influenced by 2baba. He makes music like an art. Over the years,  I have watched his sound evolve and become so unique that you can't mistake his voice for anyone's. I'm also into the likes of Bob Marley,  Lucky Duke,  Brian McKnight,  Usher Raymond and Trey Songz.

The best advice that has stuck with me would be that I got earlier in my career- "If you don't take risks,  no one will take it for you".

What do you hope people take away from listening to your music?

Inspiration, Soul healing,  Feeling alive,  Getting hopeful and always believe you can do anything you set your heart to.

Tell us a little bit about your new project, such as concepts/themes, what inspired you, what the creative process was like, etc

I'm currently promoting my new single- 'Camera boy'.

'Camera boy' was inspired by a personal experience I had with a celebrity crush last year.  She doesn't know this of course but while looking at her,  I had several thoughts- wild and good ones about getting close.

Then something spiked in my head and then I approached her for a selfie and the foolish me requested for her number so I could send her the pic through Whatsapp. I was given the most glaring -   are you f****king serious stare.

Anyways, I got the selfie but no number and that night, I started writing 'Camera boy' with this experience.  It's a concept about having celebrity crushes or even crush on the average person and exploring all options to getting yourself noticed. You can try my shot- take a selfie and request for her Whatsapp number to send it to.  You never know,  you could be lucky.

However,  asides music,  I'm currently working as a voluntary partner with an NGO that seeks to cater for our armed military men and women who protect us daily.

What can we keep an eye out for?

Me. Me. Me. More good music. Few collaborations,  and my pet project which I will be launching in November.