Daily Times Nigeria
Thursday August 4, 2016
L3
‘The only competition I have now is just me’ Continued from L2 just how to balance it that is the most important and so for me, I so much cherish both. I am currently in 400 level and that implies that I have just a year in school.
Your meeting with Olamide, how did that happen? I used to do cover of songs and videos on my Instagram account. So I posted a video one morning just like the usual way I’ve been doing that and immediately I did that, few minutes after, Olamide (Baddosneh) liked my video and then he went on to do same on other videos that I have previously posted. Not quite long again, Pheelz who is one of the producers of YBNL equally liked the video and followed me on Instagram and I was amazed and that just went. As luck will befall on me, Olamide sent me a direct message on Instagram and we started talking; the rest is history and testimony now.
When you saw those likes from Olamide, what came to your mind? I was excited; I was jumping around the house. I even showed my mum and everybody. I felt it was going to end there but I thank God, he made it possible.
Were you not scared that there might be competition been the only female on the YBNL nation family? I like to say that there will only be a competition when you’re not yourself. So as long as you are yourself, the only competition I have now is just me. There is this family bond that exist amongst all of us in the YBNL team and I feel honoured to be their baby sister protected by over five talented acts.
A lot of people say you sound like Simi, has anybody approached and told you same? I believe that most of the times, the human mind has a way to attach a definition to something when it shouldn’t necessary be defined. It’s normal for people to be like you sound like this person. I’m starting, and I’m carving a niche for myself. The sky is large enough for every bird to fly without hurting each other, so I am just me and doing my thing passionately.
If you are to do any collaboration with any top female act presently, who will that be and why? That will be my mother because she sings and she’s top in my heart. Ok, if I’m looking at the industry, I’m the kind of person that intends to go with the flow of my soul. So I could be like I’m going to do this with one person now and tomorrow morning I can be like let’s change it. So for now, I just want to focus on the Temmie brand.
So two to three years from now, what are your plans for songs in the industry? I basically just want to go with the flow of my soul. Not that I don’t have plans, I do have plans but I let God take charge of everything. So I do not try to let my own plans cloud my eyes and whatever that has stuff in me is going to happen.
Aside from the guitar, what other instrument do you play? I play a little bit of the keyboard and the talking drum.
A lot of RNB artistes in Nigeria today h a v e diverse bits in their kind of music; i n future, do we get to see Te m m i e do a Fuji
comes to music? I look up to my mum though she’s not in the industry, but in the industry, I’m trying to carve a niche for myself and I haven’t gotten there yet. So basically, I’ve not seen that part of that person I can say I draw inspiration from but if I’m going to leave the music aspect aside and look at how people are and judge from the content and character, I’m going to look up to Olamide.
Why Olamide, is it because you’re on his platform? Basically, I could be sentimental and say yes but then there are other reasons. The thing is seeing someone from afar and you can’t get near them and you have the image of them in your mind and when you get closer to them and they start to be what you thought they would be, it kind of leaves a place in your heart for them.
collaboration? I don’t necessary classify my genre as RNB. Sometimes it is necessary to give a classification just to have a particular genre where you fall into. I see myself more influenced by different things and different genres of music, so I won’t necessary say I’m an RNB , and I won’t necessary say I’m Fuji. I won’t necessary say I’m conservative, I won’t necessary say I’m from the streets. But I will say I’m me and whatever goes in my soul I will follow. In the nearest future, if my soul flows with any top Fuji artiste, I will gladly slide into their songs.
Generally who is your source of inspiration when it
I was raised by a much disciplined woman and the first thing she told me when I was growing up was
“never bite the finger that fed you”
In just one word, describe Olamide? Symbol of hope. The music industry while you were still trying to find your place and now that you’re in the industry. What are the differences you’ve noticed? I actually like to say that when I wasn’t really in the industry, I was practicing to be there, so it’s just like basically I’ve been there for some time in my head. Now I’m just in that zone physically and so I’m not really seeing any difference because I kind of prepared myself and now I’m not seeing anything that seems strange to me.
How do you intend to guide your record label deal with YBNL as a lot of artistes usually feud with their labels on the long run? I was raised by a much disciplined woman and the first thing she told me when I was growing up was “never bite the finger that fed you”.
Even as new act in the industry, what will be the most priceless gift you so desire as an artiste? The biggest award will be winning the heart of my fans.