Encomium
DOZAGE Records star artiste, Taiwo Agbohunsa, popularly known as Lace, finally dropped his debut album, Benin to Nigeria on Valentine’s Day. The Se bi wo crooner took friends, fans and family to Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday, February 14, 2014, for his album release party.
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with the singer on the album, his music career, among other issues.
How do you feel about finally releasing your first album?
I feel excited, certainly this album is going to take over the whole place this year, trust me.
How much confidence do you have in your label, Dozage Records with the support they’re giving you?
I know it’s not easy but they’re really trying. I was under a different label before but then we had some issues; so I had to move on after my contract with them expired.
The album is entitled, BTN (Benin to Nigeria), what brought about the name?
Actually, I was born in Nigeria, I grew up here, but my parents are from Benin Republic. I titled the album, BTN because I remember some years back after secondary school, I was working in a frozen foods shop. A friend of my dad came in and spoke to me in my language publicly, but then I was shy to speak the language because I didn’t want people to know where I came from. This made the man very angry, so he reported me to my father. The following morning, my dad woke me very early, sat me down and told me that no matter what I’m doing or where I am, I must never forget where I come from. That’s why I decided to name my first album, Benin to Nigeria.
How did your name, Lace come about?
It’s a long story. When I was like two years, my parents separated, so I was living with my dad in Nigeria after he sent my mom packing and she returned to Benin Republic. Around eight years ago, I told my dad I wanted to see my mother and he took me to Cotonou to see her. It happened that they love the lace fabric a lot in Benin. So, when I was about leaving, my mom took me to a boutique and bought me several lace fabrics. On my return to Nigeria, my friends started taunting me that I’m always dressed in different kinds of lace and the name stuck.
How many collaborations do you have in the album?
I have collabos with Yemi Alade, Skales, 9ice and Splash.
If you could change anything about your career, what would it be?
I think I would go to school before going into music.
Music is a very strong tool, what do you plan to do with it?
I want to make my people proud just like Akon is doing for Senegal and Wyclef for Haiti. I want to be known on a global stage.
-AJOKE ONITOLO
