City People magazine head office in Lagos came alive last Friday when Rema, the hottest music sensation right now, stormed City People with his management team and spent about 2 hours during which he granted an interview about his success story and musical career. He spoke about how he lost his dad at a young age and how his mum supported his schooling and entry into music.
He picked up his 2 music awards he couldn’t pick up at the last City People Music Awards in Lagos. Rema was at home with the Management & Staff of City People as he took selfies with so many staff members.
Rema was Frank to a fault. He told City People team that his beginning was very rough, as he could not pay for recordings at the various music studios he went to in Benin where he grew up. He revealed a lot about how he met Don Jazzy and he changed his life.
Below are excerpts of his interview.
Your manager made a statement saying that as at this time last year, no one knew Rema so what will you ascribe your sudden success to?
I will just say its all God’s grace because everything happened really fast and we can’t really describe it. Because its beyond hard work or the music. It is faith, teamwork, believe, prayers and seeds. Things have to take the spiritual dimension to be able to pass speed. The way things happened for me all the way, I also went international, I will say it’s all God’s grace and I thank Mavins for being the right platform and embracing my vision after I explained my vision and sound to them, which they understood and sold to the world.
When you said they captured your vision what do you mean by that?
My vision includes my sound, vulnerability, tenability and how it sinks in despite the culture behind my music. If you listen to Iron Man, unknowingly, people say it sounds Indian but its an Afro beat sound. I tend to infuse different cultural sound into Afro beat to be able to break the market and synch into other market. Those are things that not all labels will understand but Mavins knew the right producer to link me up with and they also knew that state of mind that I needed to be in to be able to record those songs, which also include how I see myself, how I want the people to see me, how I want the audience to see me and receive my music out there in the world, how I live my life personally and be successful.
How did the connection between you and Don Jazzy start, did he find you or you found him?
I was in Benin and after a very long time searching for opportunity for my sound, I decided to do a freestyle to D Prince’s song titled Gucci gang and the next day I got a text from him saying I should come to Lagos and that was it and that was how I met him and he introduced me to Don Jazzy. They began to groom my sound and taught me, talked to me about many things, and they also told me about their plans for the future. They also told me I was a prophecy and the chosen one for them.
How did music start for you?
It was all gospel music from day one. I was inspired by my mom to do music because my mom used to play a lot of gospel music. The first and only platform which I am grateful for today is the church and I always tend to give the church respect in every area and especially now that I have gone this far because they supported me and made me feel like a star. Though I was still whack and learning but they still accepted me, believed in me and I got alot of advice from the music head. When I started music I started with rap in 2015 but where I was in Benin city rap wasn’t able to take me far and people didn’t accept rap music but when I started singing, it was more pleasing when the older people started listening to me and things moved on from there.
Tell us more about the hustling days?
Well, it was really tough because at first I never had enough money to pay for a studio session and things were hard for my family. My mom was the only person trying to motivate me even though she didn’t like it at first but I was doing my best to bring back good news anytime I come up the stage, so she can actually let me follow my dream. I used to skip school and I started failing, I want to use this medium to say a big thank you to my teacher Uncle Eseosa, he let me take classes half way of the day and run to the studio, I missed other classes from 12 and come the next day to take notes all over again because I have to meet up with the studio and growing up in Benin, 80-90 percent of my studio sessions were free and I got that through grace. Anytime I get to the studio I just tell them I have no more money to record and they would record free for me and it was really inspiring. I went for a lot of auditions, some I won and I lost some. It was all about the hustle and I was really young back then and I would go to a lot of my friend’s house to ask their parents for transport to go to the studio but today I am glad about where I am and I also know that people who supported me to this point are also very proud of me.
Share with us your first few moments with Donjazzy?
I met him at first at his house around 2018. I introduced myself but before then D Prince played him some of my songs so he liked my songs though I was scared but after he spoke to me I knew he was a jovial person and amazing. He even plays video games and he is the coolest Dad. He talked to me, asked me questions about my family and even asked if I had a girlfriend. We talked about music and a lot of things and what he wants to see more from me, which I took back home and kept working on. I was being groomed in the Mavins headquarter for a year recording and learning.
What has been your dad’s reaction since you got into music?
I lost my dad when I was eight, but my mom has really been supportive but at first she wasn’t, so I had to use that opportunity to prove something to her. So every step I took I had to make sure she sees it. Back then I didn’t have a phone but I made sure I took people who had phones to shows so I could show her how far I have gone and she will say okay, you can continue.
What does she think of you now?
She is super happy and this success actually removed a lot of shame and disgrace from my family and took us to the next level and there is peace and that is what every child wishes for their parents.
Tell us about your transition from Rap to singing?
I started listening to more songs and less of rap songs because when I was rapping I had more of rap songs and I barely had Nigerian songs. I was just more focused on my rap because that was what I liked, so I had to start listening to more of normal songs and I learnt from my learning sessions from the headquarter and also worked on my vocals. Did a little voice training on YouTube and a little play around and I felt everything happened for a reason and it started going well.
Who were the artistes you listened to?
I was listening to the likes of Don Jazzy, D Prince , 2face, Wande Coal, Davido, Wizkid, and dark pork, Anan Derey and a lot of musical artistes, because they inspired me. I also listen to a lot of general music, Spanish, India and many more languages because I don’t want to box my sound and neither do I want to sound like anybody. I just want to be giving everybody what they don’t expect so why not learn from everybody and bring different things on the table instead of putting the same thing on the table that another has already put on the table.
If I were to describe your music, I would say it’s like Rnb infused with a lot Afro flavour, is this because you don’t want to be put in a box?
I have like 6 rap songs out there, so when I travel out of Nigeria or when am here, people still vibe to it and I perform those rap songs. I really don’t want to be boxed because I can’t keep giving people what they expect from me, I feel the best way to last in the game is to keep coming up with surprises, though sometimes it’s really hard for people to accept you because its like you are giving them a new you every day and it’s like I am being unveiled every day. Actually sometimes it’s hard for people to accept that because they want you to keep giving them what they like or what they are already used too but if you involve the game or change the game you have to challenge the game and take it to the next level. If you want to keep doing the same thing the game will stay there and never change, the legends will always be high up there and you will be below, looking up to them always. I look up to them but I want to challenge them and that’s the only way the industry can grow.
How have you been coping with stardom considering that you’re pretty young?
Well, the only thing that keeps me going are the things I have learnt from legends like Don Jazzy who sits me down, D Prince does same. They tell me what is to come and the things that have happened and the things that will happen. Whenever they tell me little stuffs I have to respect because they have been there and I believe. They always, take me to the right path. I also remind myself that I am going to be here for a long time and if it is something I know I am going to enjoy to the fullest why don’t I just take my time and do it bit by bit since I will be here for a long time. I really don’t get carried away by the money, this is something I have told Prince before, that I am not after the money I just went my sound to go to the whole world.
Money is not a priority because you can be rich and not have a name or Legacy like every other rich man. Some people are rich but they don’t have any legacy, they only have a legacy within their family but if you actually want to leave a mark on the world you should focus on your dream and every other thing will be added and that literally seals it.
So tell us about your female fans?
They are actually very amazing and they support my music, I have a hand full out there globally and they’re a lot. It is very amazing because the love is really huge and I tend to give them their respect and not get carried away because I have learn a lot over time and that is why I don’t come out all the time I stay inside a lot, some artistes get carried away and don’t think before they act. Women will come, women will go, I stay strong and focused on my dream because distractions will come, so all I do is keep respecting them and keep it that way.
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