The mother of two, in this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, of The Nations Newspaper, talks about her efforts to revive Apala music and her love life, among other riveting issues.
GIVEN your status as a married woman and a professional musician, how do you cope with the accompanying challenges?
First of all, I give all glory to God and then, I thank my husband who has been in full support of my career. Usually, when I have an event, he will baby-sit the kids when he is not too busy. And when we both need to be out of the home, we will invite someone to stay with the kids.
How did you win the support of your husband towards your career?
I had been doing music before we met in Ogun State, where I went to perform at a funeral. You know, we Ijebus like to party a lot. He also came to cover the event for the NTA. Ever since then, he has been a good manager and crown (of my head). I describe him as such because he came in at the point I was about giving up on my career. So, I call him my messiah because he came in at the appropriate time.
Was it like the familiar love story or you saw him as an opportunity to raise the bar of your career?
It is in two phases: that is, if I saw him as an opportunity to raise my career or if I truly felt in love for him. First and foremost, when he approached me, we had no plans to date. But as time went on, I naturally fell in love for him, before he eventually proposed to me. Besides, I also saw it as an opportunity to grab him fast before any other girl would get him. Really, if I had not met him, nobody would have heard the name Shade Oshoba. It was not love at first sight. But along the line, it happened. More importantly, it is also the combination of grace and prayer for God to send you your own spouse. It is not easy for a man to see his wife going out and coming back late at night always.
Are you saying your husband has never had cause to be jealous?
You know, men will always be who they are. I would say he is not that bad. Once in a while, men will exhibit their ego. So, whenever I am leaving the house, he would say, “Be careful, especially because of the way you are dressed.” But he has never for once stopped me from going for an event since we got married seven years ago.
Have you been in a situation where he said it is time you played down on your career, so you could focus on the family?
No, hasn’t so far. Besides, I have not gotten there yet. Maybe in the next 30 to 40 years when I’m known all over the world, he might say that. I cannot even resign from this ministry of singing. I will still go to heaven to continue singing. I don’t pray Satan will get into him to the extent that he will tell me to stop singing. I will sing until I’m 80 years old in Jesus name.
Why are you into gospel Apala?
It is just one of the genres that got my attention because it is gradually being buried. The real song that brought me out is Ibi Giga. I am not talking about the sound track for the movie, Ibi Giga. Mine had been released before that one. But because of the movie, it got more popularity than mine. The lyrics and sound were done by a friend. But she said she didn’t want it anymore because she didn’t want to be associated with such music. So, when I got the song, my manager said we should try the song and we did. So, that was how I started getting invites to perform at events. The amazing part of the career is that people who call me for jobs usually tell me to do Apala for them and no other genre of music. So, anywhere I go, people want to listen to that local music from a girl like me. Then, the message is different from the Hip hop. Later, I developed an interest after I carried out a research. I realized that the top musicians in the ’60s and ’70s did more of Apala. And I kind of like it. I think presently I am the only lady doing gospel Apala music. And it is giving me an edge and paving way for me.
Professionally, when did your career kick off and how has the journey been so far?
I would say 2005. Frankly, it was tough at the outset because there was no one to help me. I remember going to some big men to tell them what I wanted to do. They would just ignore me and tell me they had heard me. But eventually when I met my husband, he said we should go into the production of music. We got duped by two hefty guys who are celebrities in this society. I gave up that time and said I wanted to go into acting. But he kept encouraging me. And another issue has to do with the marketers. If you are not known, you will not get a positive response from them. Even if you are well known, 98% of the CDs sold are for them, while the rest is for you. As I told a presenter, I like to start from the scratch and gradually climb up, than to be up so fast and fall, thereby breaking all your bones.
What made you feel you could act?
I can act very well. I have been acting when I was in school and even in church. It is just that I am better at playing comic roles. Whenever I perform at an event, I usually make people laugh first before starting the main show. Presently, people call me for Christian comedy movies and shows. But I just knew that I wanted to come out through music. I didn’t want to come out with theatre, where they will ask you to do this and that. When I am well established, I can go into movie production and there wouldn’t be need for anybody to say what do you have under there?
How do you cope with your male admirers?
I have been coping and will continue to cope with them as long as I keep ‘posting’ and ‘scoping’ them. It is easy because I get a lot of admirers every day. But I have been ‘scoping’ them because if you are too harsh on them, they will hate you. That is applying wisdom. They already know I am married with kids. Even when I was pregnant, they would tell me it did not matter. But there are some that I have to be blunt with. Honestly, my admirers are those helping me most because they will call and say: “Somebody needs you, even if you are not serious with us”; and I will just do all sorts of jokes and they will forget about it. It is not a crime. Any day I go out and I don’t get a compliment, then, there is something wrong. I went for an event and my phone was off; I activated the call divert to my husband. So, when I came back, he said someone had been calling, but he won’t talk when he picked. And I said it must be one of my admirers. So, that is how free I am with my husband. I always tell my female fans to always pray for a husband like Jesus. Mine husband is like that. I pray in the next 50years, he will still be like that. No man can stomach most things that he reads and sees on my phone. But he is just a different species of man. A friend was telling me that he could do more and I told him to shut up. What breaks his heart most is when I go out and I don’t talk to him. Let God keep him for me.
How have you been able to keep trim, after two kids?
I was very slim before I got married. But you know, it is natural for a lady to add some weight when she starts consuming those natural things that God has deposited in your husband. But it is now left for you to know how to manage those natural resources. On my stature, I decided not to be taking some foods. It is not that they are not sweet or palatable, but I said to myself that at my 50th birthday, I want to be the way I am. After my wedding, my aunt said to my husband that, if he feeds me well, I will turn out to be like her. In my heart, I just said, ‘God forbid’. I don’t take ice cream, cakes and a whole lot of things like that. I’m not flamboyant when it comes to maintaining my body and things that I put on.
How did your parents react when they knew you were going into music?
I never had the opportunity to sit them down and say I wanted to be a musician. What I can remember about this issue is the day I was watching my favourite idol singing on TV, Salawa Abeni. I didn’t know my dad had come in calling me. So, the next thing I heard was a very big slap from behind. Also, I remember a day he said: “You have always wanted to be a pilot; do you still want to be one?” I said I was still thinking about it, that I would love to be a musician. Ha, that day, I didn’t eat! He complained that I wanted to waste his money and threatened to kill me. And that was how the fear came in. But he died before I graduated from the university. But I have always loved music from my childhood.
Has any of your kids shown interest in music?
My girl love singing. My first daughter composed her first song at the age of three. Though we will still be the one to arrange the lyrics, it was a happy moment for me. I was not around when she did the song, but when I got home, my husband just called me and asked me to listen to the song. He said she kept singing the song over and over, so he decided to record it. And I was like my music will not die.
How is your album faring in the market?
I have learnt my lesson not to give up again on myself. And most time when I go to an event, I sell my albums in thousands, depending on the gathering and place. I have been to Alaba, but what I was told to bring was unbelievable. I was asked to bring N50, 000 and a very expensive gin, which is sold for N15,000 or N25, 000. They are said I should go and print 10,000 copies with my money. So, I have been selling my albums because of that experience.
Repackaged by JodexInspire.
No comments:
Post a Comment