Gorgeous Award-winning artiste Nikki Laoye speaks about her career and other issues in this interview granted to a Punch correspondent.
Did you expect to win in the Best Vocal Performance Female Category at the Hip Hop World Awards?
I won’t say I expected to win but it was something I prayed for. It was not just about the award but what winning it meant to me because the song ‘Only you’ that got me the award was dedicated to the memory of my father and God who saw me through my down time. It was a song that came at a time when I had to lean on God and get out of the depression I fell into after I lost my dad.
That was not the first time you would be nominated…
For Headies, that was my third nomination but first win. I was first nominated in 2009 in two categories including this same category alongside Waje and Omawunmi who won it then. I was also nominated in the Revelation of the Year category. That category was very surprising because I was the only female and I was nominated alongside Banky W, Naeto C and MI. Indeed, for me it’s been a case of the third time is a charm.
Why is your sophomore album yet to be released?
I work with Wahala Media, I run my own foundation –Angel Foundation- where I work with physically challenged and visually impaired youths. All of that got to me and then losing my father in 2011 added to it. It would be very beautiful to come up with another album. I have great collaborations in mind which I am not going to talk about because I like to spring surprises. Be rest assured, I am going to work with the best hands in the industry.
Where do you get your musical inspiration from?
I listen to a wide variety of music. Growing up, I know I listened to people like Michael Jackson, Brandy ,Kirk Franklin, Donnie Mcclurckin, Cece Winans, Acapella to mention a few. There were so many people I listened to and I still listen to now. I just like to fill myself with good music.
Have you modelled your career after any of these people you have mentioned?
I take things from each of them. I and Kirk Franklin seem to have a similar kind of energy on stage. When he came to Nigeria in 2009, I had the opportunity of performing with him at Experience. I am constantly learning from these people. The real art of music is from the United States of America. Even the gospel industry over there is awesome. I try to add what I already know to whatever I learn, especially since in Nigeria, we are a bit laid back in the area of stagecraft.
I know gospel is your forte but are you sometimes tempted to experiment with other genres of music?
I don’t see that line between gospel and secular music. The most important thing is the message you are trying to pass across. That I decided to do a song about love does not make me a secular artiste, Love is a general topic. People just like to tie certain things down to certain factors whereas the message is the most important thing. If you decide to call me an inspirational artiste, there is no problem about that so long as you feel I am making music which inspires you. If you choose to call me a gospel artiste, so long as you believe I am giving you the good news, then I am at home with it. I have a dance song called one; two, three and it can blend well with any secular music. It’s the message that is of utmost importance. I can use any style to express myself.
As a child did you envisage you would toe this path?
As far back as I can remember, I have always loved to sing. I have always mimed. Our remote control was my microphone. My father recorded a video of me when I was three-years-old miming to Michael Jackson. Music has always been a part of my life and I thank God that I have evolved this far.
What would you consider the greatest challenge of being an artiste?
It is always that financial capability to do your music and do it very well. People actually try to tear down gospel artistes especially for doing mediocre videos. Little do they realise that we do not have that kind of money to walk up to a Clarence Peters and get that high class production the people out there desire. The kind of money that is available in the gospel industry is not as much as that which is available to the secular artistes .This is because secular artistes are the ones getting all the shows and nobody is necessarily looking for a gospel artiste to perform at a show or event. Artistes depend on these monies to keep on working. I am just blessed that I have a good relationship with a lot of video directors and producers so I know how I get my work done.
What would you consider your breakthrough in the industry?
It would be my very first single. When I released ‘Never felt this way before’ in 2006 and it had numerous nominations both in Nigeria and the United States of America. I got a total of seven nominations in its year of release alone and I believe it was just favour.
When did you go professional?
As a solo act I went professional in 2005. I started with a group called Soul Sisters and there were three of us. I also used to do backup vocal work for Tosin Martins.
Has being married placed some kind of restriction on you?
No, it has not. I am very blessed to be married to my best friend. He has interests in music and media and he is on my management team as well. He has been the best upgrade for me.
People have not stopped talking about the dress you wore to Ebony Life TV launch…
I am a very adventurous person but I try to hold back sometimes. That night, I was styled by Veronica Odeka. She thought the dress would look great on me. For once I just wanted to show forth my adventurous self out of curiosity I wanted to know what it felt like to dress like that and feel sexy. Quite alright, a lot of people felt offended but this was all about me and I was not looking out to hurt anybody. I doubt if I will wear anything like that again because I am not one who likes to show body parts.
Tell us about growing up......
I am the only girl and I have three brothers. I went to Grace Children’s School, Federal Government Girls College, Sagamu and the University Of Ibadan where I read computer science. I was always involved in dance and drama. I thank God I went to great schools that gave me the opportunity to build my art.
Is acting something you are still actively involved in?
I have not been doing it as much as I would have loved to. Some years ago, I was part of Oluronbi the musical with Omawunmi , Waje and others. Since then, I have not really had the chance to be involved in as many movies and soap operas as I would have loved to.
Do you think female artistes are given the same opportunities as their male counterparts?
It can get better. I get very upset and people at some point began to call me a feminist. I am someone who has been fighting for more female involvement in the industry. I went as far as starting my own show on radio called Girls rock with Nikki Laoye. Recently I got very upset when I started seeing gospel concerts having only male artistes when there are female artistes who can pull the same crowd and even more.
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