Having proved herself as one of Nigeria’s finest musicians, Nigerian songstress Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, popularly called Seyi Shay, has found another passion in acting, as she took up a lead role in a new movie; ‘Lara and the Beat.’ The sultry singer speaks with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN about her first day on set, among other issues.
HOW do you feel on your first day as an actress?
I feel very privileged actually, and I am really excited about the release of the movie because I know how much hard work went into making this film.
How does it feel doing something outside of music?
There is a slight difference because I write my own music and I perform my own music, I tend not to act as much. But in acting you have to adopt completely to different character and immerse yourself in the character of whoever you are playing. You have to invent sometimes a character for the part that you are playing. So, it’s kind of make-believe but at the same time it’s still entertainment and that’s what I am – an entertainer.
What were the sacrifices you made to be part of this movie?
Well, I had to leave singing for a month or two because the hours on the set were very long. So, I couldn’t get to the studio to record my music, I couldn’t do shows when I wanted to. I lost a lot of money but I also made a great movie. So, I am also happy.
Were you not afraid that leaving music for two months could work against you considering the fact that we have a good number of female artistes?
I was extremely worried that time spent off the music would work against me but thankfully it didn’t because actually this movie has added to my profile; it has added to my brand. And I think by the time the movie comes out, it will add to my popularity. So, it’s just nice to have a new category added to my résumé.
Will you be taking more movie roles?
At first, I said I would never act again because it was so tiring and so long. You know, as a musician, when you shoot a music video, it might take just six to eight hours. But this took over a month to do a movie. By half-way through, I was like, ‘oh my God, I don’t know why I did this. God please, I wish I could turn back the hands of time’ but at the end of time I was thoroughly pleased with myself. So, will I do it again? Yes, possibly with the same production.
Can you give an insight into your role in the movie?
Lara grows up with everything she ever wanted and she has a great sister called Dara. Her parents dies, so her uncle kind of takes advantage of the trust that’s left to him and squanders everything so she and her sister have to make some massive adjustment. A grace-to-grass kind of thing. They kind of have to make their way through that life and her whole objective is to become a musician. So what you get to see as the audience is the journey between riches and rags and the journey to fame.
As a first-time actor, were you under any pressure to impress?
I really wanted to prove a point. Actually, that’s possibly my biggest reason for taking this role, my first role, a lead role. I felt like I was thrown into a deep end but I handled the pressure pretty well. I like challenges. That’s how I think I have come this far anyway. I think it was just time for me to venture into something new and I feel like acting in a movie was possibly the best new thing I could have done.
How does it feel acting alongside Vector who had confessed having a crush on you?
Vector and I have a long history anyway, even before the movie, before the music and everything. In fact, he is probably one of the main reasons I stayed in Nigeria to do music. So, it was really easy to be in this movie with him. Actually, I am happy that it was him and nobody else. It’s very easy to work with him because I have known him before.
So, will we be seeing another Banky W and Adesuwa kind of thing from you and Vector?
I don’t think Mr Beat and Lara got married but I definitely feel it’s a movie worth watching and I feel that the chemistry he and I needed is there.
What do you mean when you said Vector is the reason you stayed in Nigeria?
Because when I first came to Nigeria, Vector was probably the first music friend I had. And so, he really helped me understand Nigerian music to a level at that point and so we worked together and he did the remix of ‘Irawo’ for me and you know he really just kind of showed me the roads.
How would you describe working with some top Nollywood actors on this movie?
That’s why I said it at the beginning; I feel quite privileged actually to be a lead character in this movie as my first role because there are so many big stars in this movie and it’s not often that you land your first movie role as a star and then co-star with these big stars. So, I feel very privileged, I feel very happy. Everybody was very nice to me; I was having like mini-coaching acting classes every day from different people in the cast.
Do you think if you were not Seyi Shay, they would have treated you the same?
Definitely no! I don’t think Chioma would have cared because she’s a very strict perfectionist and very great at what she does and I think everybody on the set in the production of ‘Lara and Beat’ was there for one thing and that was just to make sure this movie comes out excellently.
The journey seems to be smooth for you since you came into the music scene…
It is really important to not always show the challenges that you have. I think sometimes show business is show business. Sometimes you just got to make it look easy, that’s why it is called show business. People don’t want to always see negative stuffs. I think the main thing that I show is that I work hard and that’s really it. I overcome obstacles with the grace of God and, of course, I am not perfect. I have problems but as long as people understand that hard work is really the message, I’m cool.
Is that the point you are trying to make by taking this movie role?
Yes, the first time I walked onto the set of the movie, I actually turned round and I ran out off the set and I started crying because it was like overwhelming.
