Kimberly Osonkoe, aka Kim Wonder is a singer, songwriter, and entertainer with brilliant vocals and a unique musical style. She started her career in England and is now making waves both locally and internationally. She was briefly in an inspirational music group of three male rappers, where she was the only female vocalist and they won an outstanding youth-empowering award in Clapham , London. Her first ever recording, an EP done in Kent, England, sold both in the UK and US. She is no stranger to the music charts with her current singles, ‘How You Dey, ‘Kilo Kilo’ and ‘Work, Rock & Dance and of recent There Was a Boy and Celebrate Now’ dominating music charts across Africa. The British-Nigerian singer tells Adetutu Audu why she released the remix version of her single to mark her entry into the Nigerian music scene.
YOU lived abroad. Why did you choose to come back home?
There are many reasons, though I still come and go. I just decide to concentrate on my music here. Nigeria artistes are doing great right from home. When I came home, I was not feeling Nigerian like the potential of fusing our local languages in my songs, but coming back has helped me to appreciate it and blend with it. I was able to add some to my songs. Having a feel of Nigeria music out there makes me to want to be part of it.
Did you find music or music found you?
I was doing it by the side and some of my friends encouraged me that I should not put music off. It is like music is chasing me. They arranged for me to record and I said wow, it is a serious thing and I decided to do it professionally because I realised that it is a big business. I had a couple of performances but I was doing it for fun, not as a career. Unlike the mindset I have now.
What inspire Celebrate Now’
Most times when I wrote songs,it is not really about the songs. It may be the beat that comes into my head or my mood. I cannot say I am in a celebratory mood, but it is just a song that came into my mind. Like my other single’ There Was a Boy’ and people were like which boy? The word just came to me like that and I asked myself did you just watch a movie? I just see myself as a messenger of some songs, maybe there are certain people who needs to hear certain things at certain times.
Celebrate Now where I featured lil Miss Miss is more like telling people you can actually celebrate when you feel like. It just came to me like that.
You recently went on tour of South Africa. What was the experience like?
I had a couple of invitations from TV stations and did press interviews because I shot a video there. I was on Good Morning Africa on Africa Magic, Bozza, a streaming platform online in Cape Town. It was great and expository. It made me realise that music is a big business.
What do you think pose a challenge to you as a female artiste?
A couple of female artistes are in the male-dominated industry. The major challenge is the mindset that female artistes are wayward, people tend to define your lifestyle and objectify you. It is not a stigma and something that can not be handled.
What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you
Sending incessant messages. I feel it is a huge honour for people to love what you do. But when it is becoming obsessed, then one needs to be watchful.
Circumstances push me to become a celebrity; I did not just wake up to be one. Giving free music to me is a delight.
What is your brand of music?
I sing R&B, pop and urban music. Most producers in Nigeria give afro pop beat. So I am versatile.
Compare Nigeria music industry with the West where you are coming from?
Abroad there is more freedom to do any kind of music. Here one of the challenges I face is that my song is too worded. In Nigeria, they have repetitive songs, even if the word means nothing. For instance, R- Kelly wrote a song that is like pages upon pages, with just one song. But in Nigeria, they will say you are trying to be Western.
Now that you are doing music professionally, would you say you are fulfilled?
Fulfillment is a mindset. I have not arrived at all. But at every point I am, I am grateful I tried not to be dissatisfied.
How do you arrive at Kim Wonder?
All of us are wonderfully made. I hear recently that the DNA of all of us are the same. It is just one percent that differentiates all of us. I am wonderful and so is everybody. My name is Kimberly I just added the wonder.
Aside music what do you do?
I studied Information Technology and I consult in my free time. One thing about music is that you have flexibility. Once my schedule gets tight,I can cut down on the other. The best thing is to be able to plan.
It seems you are interested in the business part?
I found out that if you want to make good music, you need to promote it. Right from the studio, no producer will say record because you have a good voice. What you will hear is here is the fees and terms. And if you are working with the known ones, the fees are higher. We have to spend to give good music.
Describe your personality
I am a private person. I like to walk unnoticed, I met someone recently who asked, is that Kim Wonder? and I said no, my twin sister. I can find a way around my privacy until I get to the level where my face is on N1000 note, and then I can have a problem.
Describe your fashion sense
I have never been saucy about fashion. I am like a tomboyish except I am self-conscious.
How do you manage your voice?
I tried not to eat oily food so that it does not crack my voice. I take a lot of water, vegetables and fruits.
Can you let us into your background?
I went to school in different places because my family travels a lot. I attended Middlesex University, UK and studied Information Technology and management. I started listening to great music early in life and people started showing interest in me.
