Tag: Praiz

Soulful singer, Praise Adejo, is different things to different people. The artiste made headlines when early this year, he was conferred with his own day in faraway Minnesota, an honour which doesn’t come cheaply. He speaks with OVWE MEDEME on his brand of music and why he has kept faith with the RnB genre, plans for the year, marriage among other issues. 

HOW has the year been?

2016 has been a great year for me and I’m grateful to God. I think my year started on a very good note and by God’s grace, I hope and believe that it’s going to get even better. I would say my year started with a major achievement where I got honoured by the governor of Minnesota in the United States of America with my own day. What better way to start the year?

That almost stirred a controversy on the social networks…

Personally, I think it was just too big for them to comprehend. That’s what I believe. I didn’t see it coming so every day I wake up, I actually do stare at the plaque and ask myself if it’s real. I didn’t think I would ever have my own day. I just want to win awards, by God’s grace, make money and ensure that I’m ok and my family is ok. I didn’t ever think I would be honoured in a different continent.

It’s also a lesson. I think Nigerians also need to appreciate their own. I think we ought to do better at appreciating our own. For example, someone from America got his own day in his own country and we in a different country are trying to celebrate the person. But someone in your own country got his own day in a different country, and everyone just ignored it. So I just had to pour out my heart and talk about it. I wasn’t bothered because I already have what I have. It’s mine, but we need to appreciate our own.

How does it work?

The 6th of February is the Praise Adejo Day. If you go to the Minnesota government’s website, you will see the Praise Adejo Day. The only individuals who have gotten that achievement are the great Rolling Stone Band of the UK which are like the greatest of all rock bands. It’s an honour to be the first African to have such.

What did you do to be so honoured?

I just think it’s God’s blessings. There are things I do that I don’t shout about. I think God just rewarded me for them because I can’t tell you that this is what I did and everyone knows that such proclamations can’t be bought; they can’t be lobbied for. I always tell my people at home to just keep doing good, just keep being the best at what they do. You never know who is watching. For me, I just think it’s God’s blessing.

Music-wise what should we be expecting from you this year?

I will be dropping a new album. And I’m also dropping an EP. I’ll be dropping the extended playlist before the album and it will be a platform for up and coming artistes who are really good at what they do, especially Nigerian music RnB; to give them that platform to sing with me and to let people know that there are artistes out there who are even better than I am but don’t really have that recognition. So I’m dropping an EP to encourage up and coming artistes who love to do what they do. I’m also dropping an album this year, between the second and third quarter of the year.

How would you select those who would feature in the EP?

Last year, I put up a post on Instagram and connected it to my Twitter handle and my Facebook page. I told them to just sing and I will pick eight people. It will be a six track EP and the people who I know have that passion and the vocal dexterity will be selected to be on the EP.

You have kept faith with the RnB genre. How much recognition has it fetched you?

I think the genre of music we love is determined by the nature of the economy. There is so much hardship and no one wants to sit down and listen to slow music. Everyone wants to forget their issues and dance. It doesn’t mean that there are no people out there who appreciate RnB music. I don’t want to blow my trumpet. Let me just put it this way; I got a deal with an RnB song and when I wanted to get signed, they told me the reason they are signing me is because my sound is different.

So, if people out there can tell me this, I don’t think I should water down my standard for anybody. I don’t allow people’s belief determine what I believe. There are people out there who say RnB will not put food in my pocket. That’s what they believe. The songs they hear are a particular sound. And we have the stereotype kind of shows and you hear this particular kind of sound so they just believe things are not working for you. But on the contrary, I’m doing good by God’s grace. It’s just in Nigeria though because I travel to Kenya and I do shows all over East Africa and they love my sound and they want me to come back.

Once in a while, don’t you think you should dabble into other genres?

Of recent, I’ve released three songs; Oshey, Mercy and Sisi and these are not your typical RnB songs. They are like Afrobeat sounds. From time to time, I believe in being versatile. Look at R Kelly, he’s undoubtedly the king of RnB but he does reggae, inspirational music, and other genres. To be honest, to be successful in the industry, you need to be versatile. While I was putting the Rich and Famous album together, which was a double album, I decided to do the RnB album and an Afrobeat album.

Yet, people still associate you mainly with RnB. Don’t you feel stifled?

If you associate me with RnB, then I think you recognise what I do and it’s a complement to me. That means I’m making my mark.

In recent times, some people have likened your sound to that of John Legend. Do you feel boxed in?

It has its cons. It’s not a bad thing. What that means is, I could sing on the same platform as John Legend, if they think my vocals are as good as his. Nigerians will never agree that I’m better than John Legend but if they believe that I’m as good as he is, then it’s good enough for me.

How well would you say the Nigerian factor has affected your art?

I don’t think it has affected me because I stay true to my art inasmuch as I’ve been versatile sometimes. People who know me know that I’ve been true to my art. I was on my own when Obie Trice heard Rich and Famous and decided that he wanted to do a song with me. I didn’t feature Obie Trice, he featured me. If people out there can recognise the talent that comes from this country, then I’m good.

What keeps the Priaz brand going?

I surround myself with real people. I try not to allow fame get into my head. Fame is a drug. I don’t have a lot of friends. My friends are those I grew up with, who can tell me to shut up and I will respect myself. I also surround myself with people who will tell me the truth. Every artiste believes that every song he records is a hit. I like to surround myself with people who even when I record a song I think is good, they tell me I can do better. My family also keeps me going. I have a wonderful team, X3M Music.

My manager is a blessing. I knew him since when I was a contestant in Project Fame, although I never knew we would work together in the future. I just think I’m just blessed with the right people around me.

If you hadn’t done music, what would you have done?

I would be playing football. It sounds like a cliché but I played club soccer. I played for highlanders FC Kaduna and Celestine Babayaro was my senior, but i just think everybody has his own destiny. I was a striker but sometimes I play on the right flank.

What influences your music?

My environment, and my experiences, either personal or indirect. I like to put out songs that people can relate to. I’d rather write or sing songs that are inspired by real life situations.

How has the fame rubbed off on your career?

Fame would definitely be to your advantage because with fame, you can get what you want. When you start to get what you want, it gets to your head and you start doing things you are not supposed to do; things that you feel are your birthright, even if it’s not. It just makes you misbehave. You won’t know till someone tells you. that’s why i say fame is a drug

You mean so far, it hasn’t rubbed off on you?

The best people to ask are those around me because I could tell you it hasn’t rubbed off on me but the people who will answer honestly are those who have approached me; my friends and family. My life has changed; I’m not the same person that I used to be. That I can tell you.

What is your definition of riches?

When I sang Rich and Famous, I wanted to be recognised for my music. If you watch the video for the song, it actually says a lot. I wanted to be famous for my genre of music, be recognised and appreciated. I also want to make money off what I do. I also want to impact lives positively with it.

How rich and famous would you say you are?

Right now, I’m confident to say I’m rich and famous. Because I impact lives, I don’t borrow money to buy a car. I pay my rent regularly. I take care of my siblings, my parents and friends.

What about her?

In this era where marriages just crash, to be honest it is scary. I know people who are close to me who got married and it ended. I didn’t ever see marriage like this. So when I see such things I just try to take my mind off that and look at my parents. I don’t want to rush. Inasmuch as I know time is going, all I can say is, I pray.

But is there someone in the picture?

Not yet.