I Performed Free Shows For 7 Years –- Yemi Alade
professional a couple of years ago. Currently the
toast of the Nigerian afro pop music genre with
Kissing You, Tangerine and Johnny, the sexy artiste
took time out to speak to SAMUEL ABULUDE on her
music, the lean years and the secret of her success.
What have you been up to?
I have been doing what I have always loved to do-
singing. My European tour was great. I had to halt it
to grace the grand finale of Cupid Games. I will be
going back to different countries. Euro Tour started
on February 13th, 2015. I have performed in Lyon,
Paris and I'm now touring other parts of Europe in
Germany, Italy. I will be touring other cities and
rounding up in March. Interestingly my birthday is
March 13th, a Friday, and so it'll be in the heat of my
tour. I will celebrate it with my fans.
How are your fans responding to your songs over
there?
Great, they are gyrating to my Mr Johnny. The song is
doing great and fans love it in Africa and in Europe,
How has the response been on your tours?
I did my African tour last year and you can imagine
the love and craze for Yemi Alade. It got to a point
that a lady fainted. Nigerian music is massive in other
countries. It has become a global brand. While
performing in Paris, I got five "Johnnys" on stage;
men who love my music. My brand, "Yemi Alade", is
growing fast and I thank God for it.
I'm elated that this is happening to me; I had hoped
for this. I had my African tour in 2014 and my tour of
Nigerian cities was in 2013.
Would you say Johnny brought you fame?
Yeah! It is my time to be heard. Johnny was just the
vehicle to re-announce me in the industry. A lot of
hilarious comments have been made on account of
the Johnny video; you know it was a star studded cast
directed by Clarence Peters. What people don't know
is that the Johnny song was leaked in Enugu and it
took on a life of its own! It took just 7 hours to shoot
the video and it has become a success story. Also, my
debut album, 'King of Queens' was released in last
quarter of 2014 and it has sold over a thousand
copies.
Tell us about your hot collabo, Marry Me with
Falz.
Thank you! That song, just like Johnny, brought out
the funny part of Yemi Alade. More videos are
coming. My fans should watch out. The Taking Over
Me video featuring Phyno, came out about a month
ago, and in two weeks, it already had 200,000 views
on Vevo YouTube channel. It was directed by Paul
Gambit.
Your sexiness, swag and talent is drawing a lot of
male fans, isn't it?
(Laughs). I don't know about that, but I try to give my
best and my all. I love what I'm doing now and my
management is pushing me to give my best. Yes, I'm
sexy; I have heard that before, but my talent speaks
more for me. Yemi is a home girl and relates with all.
I'm just like the girl next door.
How did the music start for you?
I started singing when I was young. Dad used to play
King Sunny Ade's music; mum was a fan of gospel
tunes. My brothers used to play a lot of Usher and R
Kelly songs, but I never wanted to do music. It was
my mum that exposed me to it and made me take to
it. I never planned to do music. I'm grateful to her
now. You know that I won the Peak Talent Show in
2009 and I took off from there.
It was not an easy road to get to where I am now. I
give God the glory. I still plan to read music someday
and add to my knowledge. Now, I'm passionate about
music. My management, headed by Taiwo Alli, has
been working hard to push my music and my brand
and it is yielding results now. We are doing better
music now and shooting better videos. But the
beginning was rough as expected. I did seven years
of free shows going from one club to the other and
selling myself.
Did you feel sad about not clinching the Next
Rated Headies Award?
Not at all! In fact I felt proud being nominated, which
is as good as winning the award. Since only one
person had to win, I was just happy for the person,
Patorankin. But it was like all of us nominees carried
the plaque home because we all deserved it.
Your birthday is March 13, how will you celebrate
it?
(Grins) I will still be on tour. So I will be celebrating it
with my fans abroad. I will be in Germany during the
period entertaining my European fans… making new
inroads. I may have a pajamas party. I dream of such
a party with my friends and loved ones.
Do your fans go into a frenzy during your shows?
Yes! It happened during my African tour. Two ladies
were so engrossed at my peak performance, they
suddenly passed out and it was such a frenzy.
Security and medical officials had to quickly wade in
and revive them. It was humbling.
How is Nigerian Hip hop music doing on the
global stage?
Africa looks to Nigeria as the global market leader in
music. I want to tell you that music and its potentials
to empower people is bigger than what we think it is.
The music industry in Nigeria is a mega industry and
it can get better with more stakeholders investing in
it and structures stabilising it. Oil is bringing in
money, but music can bring in more money than oil.
What are the three things people don't know
about Yemi Alade?
Probably people don't know that my English name is
Mercy. Eberechi which is my Igbo name means
Mercy. Not many people know that my Instagram
was hacked. I had to open a new one. It is now
Officialyemialade. Then, the third thing people don't
know about me is that I'm a good cook. Not all girls
know how to cook o! It will shock you that in this 21st
century, a lot of young ladies don't know how to cook.
This is a known fact.
How spiritual is Yemi Alade?
As spiritual as people will want me to be; I was
brought up with the fear of God.
What word do you have for your fans?
I can't stop thanking my fans. I encourage every
person to believe in their dreams. The process might
be slow but it always pays off. Don't give up! Also, for
every Nigerian out there, let us believe in ourselves.
It is darkest before dawn. Let's play down religion, we
don't need it. One love, fans!
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