Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013 — 25
They were actually 11 in number when they started in 2011 but the quartet of Michael Abdul, Odunayo Ojo Onasanya, Pat Uwaje King and Gbenga Oyebola, known simply as the Midnight Crew have kept their wits about them for nothing else but for the love of what they do and enjoy doing. In this revealing interview, which they take turn to respond, they open up on their careers, their dreams and why they have stuck together for that long. Excerpts:
By ANOZIE EGOLE & GRACE EKPENBOR How has the journey been this past 12 years? t’s not been very easy but we made up our minds to go all the way as long as God stands by us. The very funny thing is that,we see very far.
I
Have you ever had issues or moments of friction? Yes, we do have those times. But the good thing is that we are friends, first of all, and we have realized we all need each other in our lives. And
I N S I DE: Trailer Review: Rukky Sanda’s Keeping My Man Pg 29
no matter the differences, we just have to reconcile. There is nothing that is irreconcilable. And we try to hear ourselves out and then we put ourselves in each others’ shoes. How did you guys compose that song ‘Igwe’? ‘Igwe’ came from God. It is a song that God gave to us and it is evident in the way that it was received. As a matter of fact, we did that song and then we just travelled out. What year did the song come out? It first came out in 2006, then
we couldn’t find expression for it, so we had to remix it. We changed the production which actually paved way for a much more serious production, better sound and I also think time worked for it. That is, the time that God actually decided to set aside a new throne. Then he puts the song, Igwe on the throne. How many awards have you won as a group? We have never bothered to count. As a matter of fact, we still got awards this year. Initially, we used to beg for votes. But now, we don’t and
we still get the awards. What were you trying to achieve, because at one point you use some kind of hiphop beat and then it just changed? First of all, I think Igwe is about the first song that you have the languages being code switched. Well, it came from our experience also. We’ve had situations before the Igwe song where we go to a church and then you sing a lot of Yoruba songs and you see someone walks up to ask you why you are singing more of Yoruba songs in an Igbo
We might be having a big, ‘white’ wedding together —Paul Okoye.
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church and vice versa. The song was actually able to bring a lot of people together. Even the Hausas who didn’t have their language in it, were also thrilled by the song. What has been your happiest moment for the past twelve years? Being together. What advice do you have for the groups that are breaking up and new ones coming up these days? Well, I would say that the
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How blogging changed their lives
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