From music critic to singer, how an emotional star prepares to shine

Jim Donnett had a very unusual route to music. First appearing in Nigeria’s consciousness when he took the pen at music website, Tooxclusive, and began to write scorching and insightful reviews on Nigerian music. Always with an axe to grind with the state of the music, no artiste was spared from the incisive pen of the man who polarized opinions constantly for his works.

Many are still in shock that he did cross to the other side to launch his music career. Armed with a wealth of knowledge, and more than just a voice, the singer has been going about his work, indie style. Organic growth has been his focus, as he released a new single ‘Him’, with a simplistic but engaging visual to further aid its assimilation by the public.

Today he talks to Pulse TV, where he shares a very entertaining story of his life, his journey to professional music, and how emotion rules his creativity.

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

I've been involved in the singing art for say 15 years now. I had a very basic start-up like almost every other singer. I started singing at the children's church choir and pretty much just grew into the reality of the present from thence onward.

But having to do music mainstream is a course I got on just five months ago.

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?

Hmmmn, I don't think I have that enchanting childhood memory though. What I have, are moments from my days at college especially. At that time, I had become really vested in singing and sometimes the thought of launching into a career in music often visited me.

So a certain year, my 300 level to be precise - that was in 2010, I led the special rendition at the convocation ceremony. The venue was at the Faith Tabernacle; a worship sanctuary reputed to be the largest in the world, and I sang there. I've never had a better surreal feeling than that very moment when I grabbed the mic and voiced my heart out. The massive auditorium was saturated with my voice as it echoed out to the winds. In a short while, the rendition had climaxed. Everyone literally came back alive again after we had hibernated from listening to one lengthy key note address for several minutes. You see, I've had dreams of singing on a big stage under very bright lights and to a large crowd of people. That day's experience was like one of my most cherished dream moments come true. It didn't even matter much the many appraisals I got right after the epic performance... okay I'm lying, it really really did. But I knew deep down in my heart that I didn't want it to just end there.

How do you describe your sound/what you do to people you haven’t heard before?

My sound is the emotional kind. Music for me, is a lot of emotion. Emotions so deep and strong that feel of it can almost be touched. That is what I try hard to reflect in the stuff that I put out. So how I'm feeling or what I'm feeling, is a major determining factor to any sound I come up with.

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

I have a lot of people who have influenced my life one way or the other but I don't think anyone has touched my soul deeply with words like my dad and mum have.

My dad for example, he roots big time for the humility virtue. Humility he would say is what exalts a man regardless of his social standing. He's taught me that this rare attribute is what endears a man to his fellow men. Of course he wants me to surpass the lengths he's achieved in life, and that's why he hasn't gotten tired of emphasizing the sheer essence of the humility virtue. Then my mum, that woman is like a barrow full of wisdom nuggets. She would tell me that life is a process that operates on the basis of time and my sound is the emotional kind. . No matter what I do or how smart I think I can get, if it's not my time, then it's not. She's made me understand that I have to observe the rule of process, so that when my season comes, I definitely will be alright.

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

Soul satisfaction. When I make melodies in my head or pen down lyrics, my utmost desire is that it speaks to someone's soul. I want my music to touch people's hearts and change Iives too.

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

My debut music single is titled 'Him' and it's more of a musical reminder to myself than just the concept of another melodious song. It carries a spiritual undertone that highly motivates, inspires and shares those emphatic feelings of us all who have dared to dream and are taking necessary steps to making sure they become a reality.

When I sold the thought to my producer, Leobeats of what I wanted my musical debut to be, I was stunned by the final results he came back with. It's like he went straight into my mind to craft out the benign sounds and lyrics that aptly captured the heaviness I was feeling inside of me at the time. Of course, this was after we had series of misses in our back and forths, trying to appropriately figure out the lyrical framework for the song. But it so happened that our minds were in sync on what we wanted it to be, in terms of words, and the direction we wanted it to go.

Since releasing 'Him', a lot of conceptions have stemmed from either the title or the overall design of the song. But I'm not bothered at all by that. It originally was supposed to be a gift to myself, but it now happens that I have to share it with world and the thought of that continues to excite me.

So to clear doubts, we scripted a plot for the video. My director practically fixed those misconceptions with how he presented the thoughts we sought to communicate in the song through live images. Even now, I still watch the video and I think to myself, oh we nailed this!

What does the rest of 2016 look like? What can we keep an eye out for?

Newer singles definitely. On a deal like this, you come to realize that nothing beats consistency. And my team, we're well grounded to play our hands without any reserve whatsoever. There's also gonna be another video. I'd like to be seen as much as I am heard. Basically I've got a couple other gigs, although mostly in the works. But because I like some air of mystery, I would want people to happen upon them just like the daylight breaks on us at dawn. So let everyone stay 'jimancipating'. Lol!