Encomium
NIGERIAN R n’ B superstar, Darey Art Alade is set to stage the second edition of the Love Like A Movie concert. The show made its debut last year on Valentine’s Day with international TV personality, Kim Kardashian making a special appearance. This year, the event is billed for February 15, a day after Valentine’s Day.
Apart from revealing that renowned international R n’ B diva, Kelly Rowland will be co-hosting the Red Carpet with Darey himself, guests are in for a treat they won’t forget in a hurry as the organizers have left no stone unturned in their bid to deliver an unprecedented show.
In this exclusive interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, brain behind the concert, Darey spoke excitedly about the show, what makes it unique and what fans should expect. He also spoke about what being a leading R n’ B artiste in Nigeria has done for him and much more…
LLAM1 was a spectacle, what was responsible for that much success at first try?
Victory loves preparation. We had a very formidable team from top to bottom and I believe that’s what gave us the extra edge. We also could not have done it without our partners from last year 1st@Arts, Fayrouz and our media partners. Finally, we owe thanks to the audience and general public who came to watch and spread the news of our hard work and how entertained they were.
I don’t quite get the question. There was no controversy, only cooked up stories by people who never attended. And what about the cost?
What are the unique features of this year’s show?
They are many. There will be a stage on earth and another one in the sky. We have aerial acrobats, Kelly Rowland performing, both of us hosting the Red Carpet, acts swinging and flying from cranes, lights, fireworks, etc. It promises to be ‘badder’ and better than last year’s edition.
She’s really cool, very talented, pretty and a lot of people love her style. She’s a lovely fit for Love Like A Movie II.
Kelly Rowland is going to be hosting the show, will she also be performing on stage?
Point of correction, she and I will be hosting the red carpet/fashion police. Our concert has no MC or host. Same mistake was made last year when Kim visited which led to the false stories that were being peddled around.
How do you put up a show of this magnitude without running into debts, who are those backing you?
It takes a lot of guts before one can achieve glory. Many thanks to all those that believed in our dream and vision. Our friends at Etisalat Nigeria and Fayrouz, Eko Hotel, our media partners, corporate friends and individual supporters. We also put in a lot of our personal funds to achieve the spectacle. The second edition has now witnessed a rise in support from the corporate world and entertainment industry.
It has grown significantly. Just take a look at the number of successful soul and R n’ B singers today compared to many years ago when I ventured out. It is great to see that my persistence and consistence has also paved the way for many others.
How does it feel being one of the faces of R n’ B in Nigeria today?
It’s a nice feeling, at least one is being recognized for positive works.
What are the things being a successful R n’ B artiste have done for you?
Paid my bills, empowered me to help others, positioned me to conquer more frontiers, won me many accolades and awards. The list is endless.
Does Darey have any plan to drop new songs anytime soon?
Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, new music videos are dropping shortly and also an array of new singles. It’s going to be a busy year for me.
– DANIEL FAYEMI
