Nigerian Singer Waliyah Shares Her Experience In The UK

Speaking exclusively with Pulse.ng, she tell us of her experience in the UK, how Nigerian music has evolved, and the challenges faced by Nigerian artistes on the international scene.

“Nigerian music is taking over. I was in the international scene, I was having a good time. But the international model is suffering. Labels aren't signing as many as people. And in that process of them selecting, it’s a bit like a lottery.” She said.“You need to have a story, you need to have a journey. You need to hav e a unique selling point. And they thought that ‘what's your unique selling point? I've been asked by so many people in LA. What makes you different to Beyonce, Rihanna, and whoever is out there?“And I say I'm Nigerian. There are certain things about me that I think got. I've gone further than them in education, I have a lot of interest in politics, current affairs, social cultural affairs, philantropy, but also in the fact that I'm Nigerian. “And they said, "Oh, you're Nigerian. So do they know you over there? If you go on the international stage and say that you're an artiste, we want to know that where you're from accepts you, is behind you, and has confirmed that you're a star.”

Now back home, Waliyah, has dropped 3 singles into the Nigerian space, and also a classy music video to go with it. She also plans to drop an EP in a month, which will feature production from prolific stars including D’Tunes, K9 and othes. She believes her EP would reveal her true self and personality via music.

“I'm getting more and more in sync with the Nigerian music. I love our music. It's very percussion heavy, very bass and drums heavy. We're very rhythmic people. Our music have a flow and a bounce.

“I have released 3 songs into the Nigerian market. I did Eja ka jo. Then I released 'Siwaju’, which has a B-side called 'Shut It Down’. Sarz produced Siwaju, and TY Mix worked on Shut it down.

“The big project I have is the album that will not come out yet. That album has a theme, the theme is Waliyah as a person, it’s a double personality kind of album showing my deep side, and my fun up-tempo side. It's going to be a hybrid of soulful slow songs, and uptempo gbedu.”

“So far I have worked with TY Mix, K9, and I'm currently working with Leriq and D'tunes, and a few others.

“Right now, I'm going to take a pool, take stock of what I've achieved, have an EP due out in a month's time, 4 5 tracks on the EP. I want to get out there again.

Watch Siwaju video below.