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EME FIRST LADY, NIYOLA SPEAKS ON HER LATEST SINGLE, LOVE TO LOVE YOU

‘It’s nothing like what is obtainable in the Nigerian music scene’

Beautiful songstress, Eniola Akinbo, better known as Niyola, sings from her heart, with a soulful and emotion filled voice that keeps your fingers on replay over her songs.

The Toh Bad crooner recently returned after successfully shooting the video of the song.

ENCOMIUM Weekly had an exclusive chat with the sexy diva, and she spoke about her latest single, her past relationships and the future…

 

Congratulations on the successful shoot your video. Share your experience with us.

Thank you. It is always an experience with every new project, because everything I put out has a message I am trying to put forward. I also discover more about myself as an artiste with every attempt to show people where I was mentally when I conceived the very idea of a song.

Shooting the video for Love to Love You was very interesting because it allowed me show myself as a woman. Which by the way I am always very proud to ascertain just in case people forget.

Love to Love You features Banky W. Tell us more about the song?

Love to Love You is a love song, basically explaining a woman’s love for the idea of love itself, as well as how it gives her utmost pleasure to love a man, most especially because of the way he loves her. What fuels how she feels is what her man first showed to her. I think that every woman who is in love or has ever been in love will enjoy listening to it.

niyola-drunk-in-love-its9janimi

Who produced it?

It was produced by a female based in the United States. Her name is DJ Soupamodel. She has also worked with international artistes – Missy Elliot, Jason Derulo, BeenieMan, amongst many others. And I am especially proud to say that the beat she produced inspired the song. I remember the first time I listened to it and the words started coming.

The video was shot by Kemi Adetiba Visuals, what informed the choice?

I worked with Kemi Adetiba on the video for my single, Toh bad. Her professionalism and her very creative mind left a very good impression on me. Usually, I am very skeptical about those I work with for the sake of understanding the goal, but with her I can say I trust her with almost everything as regards her job. It also helps that she is female, so she could tell the tale from the perspective that I have which is a plus. Also, the reception for Toh Bad was, and still is very good, so why not? I’m certain that when the video for Love to Love You is released in a couple of weeks it will do even better than Toh Bad.

What makes Love to love you unique from other similarly themed songs?

First, when people hear RnB, they expect boring, slow and somewhat melancholic music. Love to love you is a true representation of contemporary RnB with a little bit of hip hop and pop. I still expressed myself in Yoruba which makes it even more relatable to the average person who can’t tell what R&B is from pop or hip hop. Love to Love You is nothing like what is obtainable currently in the Nigerian music scene. Ultimately, it is listenable, danceable and mostly relatable music.

NiyolaDoes the song in any way reflect the real Niyola?

Every song I have done since my re-emergence is a reflection of me in one way or the other.

There are many facets to a woman and I see myself as a representative of many girls and women world over. So, somehow in projecting my reflections, I know I am reaching out to someone somewhere.

It appears you fancy love-themed songs over other kinds of songs, why is that?

It appears so, but may not necessarily. Even though truthfully, I think there is nothing more to life than love. Life is love and love is life. It is just that it has different parts to it. For instance, there is love for life, love for self, love for money or love for a person, country or family. Love is all encompassing, that’s why it may appear that there is a subtle love theme in all my songs.

Can we correctly classify Niyola as strictly an RnB artiste?

I like to say my genre of music is contemporary RnB and pop. I can actually sing a lot more genres like soul or reggae, if I feel it’s good enough to share. But RnB and pop come more naturally, which is why most of what I’ve put out so far have been in this genre.

NIYOLA-__-Miss-NiniYou seem like a very emotional person, how true is this?

(Laughter) I am in touch with my emotions as every creative person is and should be. I don’t know about being very emotional though. I think I balance out just fine.

What’s your opinion about the notion that female celebrities (both in the movie and music sectors) are home crashers?

This is the first time I am hearing of this notion and it really is ludicrous. Just like a man is a man and a race, a race. Men cheat, women cheat. It is terrible, but no one can or should say it is the job of entertainers. It just seems so because as an entertainer, your business is open to the world for scrutiny because of one’s fame. However the average person who no one knows will do things and it seem acceptable. So, I strongly disagree!

What do you think about the increasing number of female artistes in the industry?

It is very good for the industry. There was such a time when I wished and hoped this would happen, so it is a welcome development.

How do you plan to remain strong and relevant in the industry?

Every passing day, I strive for perfection in my art and as an individual and I try to surround myself with things and people that help me evolve for the better. There’s always something new to learn, to make one better. With that and focus, the rest is for God to handle.

Nigerian artistes dominate the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) nominees list, what do you think it says about our music?

It means our music is getting the recognition it deserves from the rest of the world. It is a great development and I commend all my colleagues for their hard work. We work hard! It’s not easy in this industry; we have very little resources to work with, yet we come out tops with music that cuts across boundaries. And by colleagues, I mean people behind the scenes as well as those in front of the cameras. More grease to their elbows.

A little away from music, has your heart ever been broken in a relationship?

I don’t know if heartbreak is the appropriate word to describe what happened to me, but I have loved and lost.

How long did it take to get over it?

I didn’t get over it; I just came to terms with the fact that in life, we lose some and win some. And most important, to cling to some things, one has to leave other things. It still hurts when I have some memories, but I am glad I went through that part because it all adds up to what makes me who I am.

Finally, where do you see your music career in five years?

My reason for being an artiste today isn’t for the lack of a better job or the convenience or fame. Being an artiste is anything but convenient and the exposure could be in fact extremely hazardous. I believe that I have a purpose to serve here and the tool I have been handed to see that happen is my talent; my music. That being said, in five years, I want my music and my life and what it represents to have gone farther than me to inspire and empower everyone scattered world over.

God gives gifts so that they can be shared with the world. That, to me, is success.

 

-MICHAEL NWOKIKE

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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