Encomium
Not long after the release of Woju by handsome and talented crooner, Kiss Daniel; it became not only a clubbers’ favourite, but also a street banger – usurping the number one spot in only a few months.
Born Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, but famously known as Kiss Daniel, the singer-songwriter enjoyed huge success last year and is now one of the hottest acts in the music sphere.
In an exclusive chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly‘s Michael Nwokike, the young chap spoke on his success, how he came about Woju and despite his good looks and success, he doesn’t take advantage of his female fans.
Why music, you could be doing something else?
In a single word, passion. Music is what I love doing. I never liked suit and tie nor desks. I chose music because I love music and I want to live music.
What would you say is the secret of your success so far?
What I would say is the secret of my success is hard work, persistence, God and patience. Just like they say, a patient dog eats the fattest bone. That saying is deep. But trust me, it’s for real.
How long have you been doing music?
I have been doing music professionally for two years now. I started in 2013, when I got signed to G-Worldwide Entertainment. Although I have been doing music years back as at 11 while I was in high school and proceeded to the university, I finished from Federal University of Agriculture where I studied Engineering. I was doing music on a low-key. I wasn’t taking music very serious.
My love for African music made me better. I listen to the greats and great artistes.
Have you always dreamt of being a musician or you had a different dream when you were younger?
No, I never dreamt of becoming a musician even though my family is entertainment inclined, but I loved music way back and I suddenly developed interest to go deep into it. Hence, it became a career. Indeed God is great!
What do you think stands you out?
The fact that I introduced new content into the old sounds which I call Afrocentric. My African pattern of delivery and deep but simple content makes me stand me out.
Woju is an amazing tune and is making waves, how does it feel having one of the hottest songs out now?
For real, Woju is an amazing tune and is making waves, I feel so excited about it and I remain humble and thankful to my fans and everyone who has been supporting my music.
Tell us more about how you came up with the song, what inspired it?
How I came up with Woju? I would say good music. I get inspired anytime I listen to good music or during praise and worship at home. I wrote Woju two years ago after listening to good music. So I’m am sure good music inspired it.
How do you handle the attention you get from female fans, knowing that you are a good-looking young man?
My female fans love me and I love them too. I love both my male and female fans, but sincerely I love female fans most because they make me believe that a good music can actually speak for itself especially when Am on stage, my female fans scream more and give me courage.
Also being a good-looking young man no mean say make I take advantage of my female fans oh. So I treat them with care and I’m professionally tutored. Shout out to my manager. I have a female manager and she advises me on that, so I love my female fans publicly but not privately (laughs).
Would you say your good looks have given you an advantage as an artiste?
Yeah, I would proudly say my good looks have given me an advantage as an artiste because it would make no sense for me to be a star and after a selfie with my fans I would not retweet when they tweet the picture to me (laughs)
Also as a fine boy who is doing well in the music industry, looks can also attract brands to make me their representative (ambassador).
Which do you consider your greater asset, your nice voice or your good looks?
I consider my nice voice my greater asset because that’s what brings people attention at first before realizing my good looks.
How do you come about your songs, do you freestyle or you write?
How I come about my songs is that I do free style first just to get me on track, then I write after understanding what the song is meant to sound like and what it should stand for.
What are you working on currently?
Currently, I am creating more music with Afrocentric content, we have recorded well over 100 songs and we are still recording and playing heavy gigs at the moment, Dublin Trip in some days. Woju remix featuring a brother, Davido and video dropping next month. We are Grateful to God for his blessing, the level of acceptance from the Diaspora market and African market as well. It’s a loaded year!
Tell us more about yourself. Your background, your family
I am Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, the second child in a family of seven. I grew up in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun state. I’m a very shy, video game lover kind of dude. I had my primary and secondary in Ogun state and my tertiary education at Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta.
I come from a family that admires entertainment; my father is an artiste, my immediate younger brother a fashion designer and my sister an OAP currently working with Cool FM.
What did you study in school?
I studied Water engineering in school and I graduated in 2013.
How far do you see yourself going in music?
How far I see myself going in music depends on God and hard work. I’ll play my own part by consistently making good music for my fans. My management told me they got calls from Kenya and Uganda the other day, we didn’t just get here today and we are not going to remain here but will keep hitting the top.
We had a blueprint which is different from the industry playbook. An artiste is as good as his team, we at G-Worldwide and Raging Bull Entertainment (my management) are not playing bro, so trust God, and the sky is my beginning.
