John Rauel Joen Njene-Njene, is one of Empire Mates Entertainment’s finest. Known as Skales, the Edo State indigene has been dropping some wave making singles at the moment. In this interview with DUPE-AYINLA OLASUKANMI the artiste talks about growing up under a single parent among other issues.
WHAT is Skales doing at the moment?
I just finished working on my new album which dropped in January. I also have new singles and videos too. The video of Komole is out and it is making waves right now on both international and local scene. That is all I am doing at the moment.
Why is your record label just pushing you out after Wizkid?
In Nigeria, how it is done is that they do one project after another. So the first they worked on was Wizzy’s project and now it is Skales. We work as a team by joining hands together to make it a success. It is my turn now so everybody is expected to support me to make my project successful too.
Before joining EME, what were you doing?
Before EME found me, I was doing music, going for shows, bursting all over the place for competitions. I was going for shows like Soundcity Awards, and some that I can’t remember at the moment just to make sure that I fulfill my dreams.
So how did you get the opportunity to join the EME train?
I guess it was the passion because I never stayed in one place. I was moving from place to place doing what I know how to do best, doing great things, working hard to get there. Like they say, your gift shall make way for you. They heard about me and they contacted me and that was how they journey started for me.
Tell us what is it like working on this particular record label?
It is a great honour working with the team. Right now there are things that I didn’t know before that I now know. My music has also become greater and better. I am developing as a human being as well as an artiste too.
How did you come about your stage name?
I was looking for something that will make sense and meaning. So I decided to put words together to form my stage name. The name Skales stands for Seek Knowledge Acquired At Large Scales. I am sure a lot of people do not know that, they must think that it is just a typical way of just coining a name without a meaning.
Why did you decided to from a stage name with those words?
Honestly I don’t know how that came about. I just knew that I needed something unique. I wanted something different from others. The words just came from nowhere when I was searching for a brand name and that was how I came about it and I decided that it was a good thing and I stuck to it. I know that I derived the name Skales and at that time I didn’t have any meaning for it. But later I decided to look for a meaning and that was it.
The name Skales came from the music school I attended some years back. I could read the music manuscript so well that other student started calling me Skales master. But now I can’t read it again.
Why can’t you read a music manuscript anymore?
Reading music manuscript is like educating yourself in music. They teach you how to read sounds, so that when you see the symbols you can easily identify which one it is and also be able to transform it into writing. It is like your musical notes.
Is it the identity of EME artistes to put on pairs of earrings?
It fashion. It is a style that has always been there for a while in the entertainment world. Do you watch Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? He has two on. So it is something that has always been there. As a matter of fact, I am not even done yet with my own.
You all left you parents’ home to come live together. What is it like?
It takes maturity to take such step or do such thing. You have to focus on your ambition to know where you are actually going to. I think that is what brought us together to be able to live together as family and a team. It is not all about individual success, it is about where we are going to and what we want to do and achieve.
Don’t you guys envy each other?
It is normal for human being to have some small disagreements but the good thing about it is that we have it and tell each other where the other person has gone wrong. We do not envy each other’s success. As a matter of fact we inspire each other. Somebody raises the bar and the next person is expected to raise it higher. That is how it is on the record label. Like we had Banky, Wizkid raised the bar higher and now you are about to have me.
You all refer to Banky as big brother, what is it like working with him?
I will say it is an honour because Banky is a genius. When we do our songs, it has to pass through him and when he says no, we don’t have to argue. I will say he is more like a mentor to all of us. Because he looks out for us, direct us and tells us what to do. Sometimes he listens to us too and goes by our own advice.
Who is Skales?
My name is John Rauel Joen Njene-Njene. I am from Edo State. I had my primary and secondary education in Kaduna. I then went to the University of Jos but spent just two years. I came to Ibadan to continue. Right now I am in my final year. I am the child of a single parent who is a teacher and works for the Federal Government. I grew up with just my mother. My parents are separated.
What is the experience like being raised by a single parent?
It is normal because my mom plays both roles. She plays the role of my mother and father so I have never really felt the absent of my father.
What is your relationship with your father like?
It is normal. Once in a while we see each other. I am used to being on my own. My mom already taught me to be self-dependent.
So you can do all domestic chores?
No, I really don’t do all those stuffs. All my life I have never cooked. The only cooking I can do is fry eggs and make noodles. That is when I have the time.
Being a busy person, do you have time for a relationship?
I am still a young kid, so I really don’t put relationship on my mind yet. But I am getting older, so I should be thinking of having a relationship.
Tell us about your hair cut and the cap covering half of your hair?
This is me I trying to be creative and do some things different as a role model. I am trying to do something that people will find interesting and take interest in. I can show you pictures of a boy, who was dressed like me and people were calling him young Skales. I was honoured seeing people trying to be like me. And the first day I had it, my friends were not cool with it. But now they see how cool it is and want to do the same. Watch me; I plan to make people dress like me.
What do you intend to call this style?
I don’t know yet. But I will think about it and get a branded name for it soon.
Performing on stage and studio work, which is your strong point?
As an artiste I should be able to do both well. I don’t really know which my strong point is because to me, everything I do is my strong point. I put in my full concentration and energy though I always enjoy it more when I am performing. You can feel the audience reaction and know if they are feeling you or not. There was a time when before I record a song, I perform it first.
Which of your songs is the best at the moment?
I really don’t have a favourite one among them. At the moment I listen to all of them.
So which is your hit track?
I can’t say any of them is my hit track because I still have lot of songs that I have not even release yet, that are banger. So I can’t really say right now, until when people say it. If I don’t love what I am doing, I won’t do it anymore, I would stop.
