She’s 23 and full of energy;
Yemi Alade just like every hardworking upcoming Nigerian artiste out
there has dreams of becoming a super star. Luckily for her, the half
Yoruba half Igbo chic is gradually garnering attention with her music.
 |
| Upcoming singers Zaina and Seyi Shay |
In this interview conducted
during a recent visit to our office, Yemi talks about her early beginnings, her
respect for the top Nigerian female act and why her blowing up is
inevitable. Read below…
What have you been up to in the last couple of months?
I embarked on a nationwide media tour and just got back. The tour was to promote my two new singles ‘My head’ and ‘Birthday song’ and I decided to take a hundred cakes to the media houses.
While on tour in Enugu I recorded a song called ‘Johnny’ with Selebobo.
The song has quite a nice storyline attached to it and we’ve been
promoting it since we got back. I was recently nominated for Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) awards although I didn’t win.
I intend participating in the awareness for breast and cervical cancer and HIV/Aids this December. Uti Nwachukwu
would be taking a couple of celebrities on a trip to the orphanages on
the 20th of this month.
I would also be involved in a programme with
Peak Milk; they just made me one of their ambassadors. In January by the
special grace of God we are going to schools to encourage kids to stay
in school and live their dreams. Even after winning the Peak Talent Show I was still able to stay back in school and get a degree in Geography.
When did you decide to go into music professionally?
I have been doing this music thing for like seven to eight years now; I was in a girl group called Naughty Spices and my stage name then was Ginger (laughs) but I kicked off my career three or four years ago, just after winning the Peak Talent Show.
If you hadn’t won the Peak Talent Show would you still be singing?
I would have deviated to be sincere with
you, because I wasn’t 100 per cent keen on dong music professionally.
But emerging as winner opened my eyes and made me realise that I have to
make something out of this talent.
What inspires your kind of music?
Everything I do comes from the heart. I
always try to make sure that a piece of me reflects in all my songs.
Secondly the producer has to lace a perfect beat that gives the song the
direction I want; if it’s a club joint, I give it the club banger
approach and if it’s a ‘silky sheet’ beat I would give the beat the
pillow case and all that’s needed to go with it. Inspiration is from my
environment and experiences.
Do you think that in terms of vocals you should be ranked in the same category with Waje, Tiwa Savage and Omawumi?
Those that have witnessed the strength
of my vocals can attest to the fact that I am a great vocalist and since
my talent is God given and can’t go anywhere then it’s just a matter of
time. When you open your eyes you open them that is all I can say.
Why hasn’t Yemi Alade gotten that big breakthrough despite the fact that you’ve been in the industry for like four years?
It would be four years by next year. I
believe that’s what my team and I have been working on and the only
thing that can bring the breakthrough on a major scale is time and
chance and this is only made available by God. I know that where I was
last year and where I am this year are two different places and for some
big shots to recognise me means I’m doing something right. I mean I’m
just 23 years old and Waje and the rest are way ahead of me. When I
knock on the door, open the door for me abeg.
Who are your role models or people that inspire you to sing more or even help lift your mood?
My role model playlist is quite long. I
listen to the powerful three like you said earlier; Waje, Tiwa and
Omawumi. Waje is a classic example of a perfect RnB diva, Omawumi is
Afro, Tiwa is a perfect Afro Pop singer. But outside the shores of
Nigeria I listen to Maria Carey; her voice is like a projection for me, I always try to match her. I love Beyonce’s stage craft but I still take it back to Whitney Houston. I also listen to Etta James. I love listening to old songs so yes my playlist is long.
What are the recently played songs on your iPod right now?
You will find ‘Seun Rere’ by Christy Essien Igbokwe. I recently performed the song at her memorial and then Coldplay’s ‘Fix you’.
Apart from the ‘Power Three’, how competitive is the market amongst yourself, Seyi Shay, Zaina and your other peers?
I believe all the ladies in the industry
are really trying, every day we have to look prim and proper and it
takes a lot of effort. But I really think that I am my biggest
challenge. I’m the one that can hold myself backward or push myself
forward, it all depends on me.
When you first started you had a
tomboyish look, comparing that to your new sexy look, you’ve
considerably changed. Was the transformation as a result of you growing
up or your team’s decision to get you a wider fan base?
(Laughs) They say if you have it
flaunt it, but on a more serious note I’m still the tomboy till now. It
has a little to do with my team though. I’m a chameleon; if you notice
me very well I change my hairstyle regularly and in my videos as well.
If you don’t know me very well you might be confused as to the Yemi
Alade singing. So I guess my style is always changing.
When would you start headlining major events alongside other big names?
Well we are getting there, my new single ‘Johnny’
has been getting massive airplay and love. It’s just about two months
old and there’s no telling where it would be in the next couple of
months. It’s already been compared to Wizkid’s ‘Caro’ and that’s quite positive so let’s just say in no time we would be on all those major shows.
A lot of people say you’re dating your manager. Is it true?
Well that’s a very awesome question
which I get asked a lot of times. The truth of the matter is that when
it comes to my relationship I always try to let it reflect in my songs.
My relationship status at the moment is in ‘Johnny’, so if you listen to the song, you will know what’s happening in my life. And no, I’m not dating him.
Do you think that industry politics has affected you in any way?
There’s a bit of politicking everywhere
so yes it has but if there’s no politics that means there nothing worth
fighting for. I really think we need to drop some of those cabal moves
because it’s really not helping good music.
With your talent and voice one would have assumed that you would have a lot of massive collaborations which is not so. Why?
If I were to pen down the number of
artistes I’ve had collaborations with, they would turn out to be quite a
number but right now I’m looking forward to collaborations with other
African artistes as well as international acts.
You have about 7- 8 singles and
there’s been rumours about you dropping a mixtape as well as an album,
can you please clarify that and let us know what’s coming out first?
Well, we have shot the video for
‘Johnny’ during the first week of this month, but my album should be
dropping between the next 2-3 months after that, the ‘Aristo Music’
mixtape would also be out.
