She is a gregarious, energetic rising music star. The Ijaw Bayelsa State-born Denise Loliaba Eseimokumoh whose stage name is Loliaba recently released her single titled Mirror which has a fusion of the Dancehall and Freestyle music genres. This very beautiful looking 22 years lady has everything working for her as her single Mirror is already streaming on several online platforms including Apple Music, Deezer, and Spotify and also available on YouTube channel.
She grew up at Port Harcourt City Rivers State capital before moving over to Lagos where she is currently an Independent Music Recording artist and singer.
On Sunday 1st of August, 2021 City People Magazine Port Harcourt Bureau Chief, EMEKA AMAEFULA interviewed Loliaba as she opened up on her journey into the music industry and her childhood, a situation she attributed to her egalitarian parental upbringing and her tenacity to remain focused on her goal of coming out as a career musician irrespective of keeping other regular jobs. Excerpts
May I meet you?
I am LOLIABA a recording artist and I am 22 years old and I currently reside at Lagos, Lagos State.
How did you come up with the stage name Loliaba?
Well, my full name is Denise Loliaba Eseimokumoh. Loliaba, my stage name, is my middle name. The name ‘Loliaba’ means a lot to me because that’s what my grandparents, my dad’s parents and all their friends called me before they passed away. It means ‘Star’ in my Izon language.
Which state of Nigeria are you from?
For the state, I am from Bayelsa state. I’m an Ijaw woman. I grew up in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Do you have any songs currently in the market?
Yes, I have a Single release titled ‘Mirror’. I’d like to include that ‘Mirror’ is available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music, Deezer, and Spotify. ‘Mirror’, the official music video was directed by George Frederick-Wey, Wey The Creator, is available on YouTube.
What actually motivated you to go into music?
Personally, I think music is the very fabric of existence as Rhythm and melody are two things that can always bring people together and even from an early age I was always surrounded by music as I always listened to music or humming to something because I think that music is a very important tool for self-expression and collective expression. And that’s really what motivated me into going into music in the first place. There are many stories to tell or personal stories, collective stories and all these beautiful things that do makeup entirety of human experience and music allows me to tell these stories as I experience them and as people around me experience them. And I am also inspired by the stories and realities of everything and everyone around me. So, I do think that was my main motivation of going into music and to let people know that their collective experiences are all very valid and that at the end of the day what you are going through are necessarily not unique to you as you can always find some emotional respite or some relativity in songs by LOLIABA.
When exactly did you take music up as a career or is it a part-time job?
My music career started this year as my debut music single premiered on the 2nd of March, 2021 and was my 22nd birthday and I’d liken it to ‘gifting’ myself a career in music because music is something that I have always wanted to do. I have always admired performers and the sheer talents and hard work that goes into all that they put into music together productions all that’s very beautiful and very creative, I think that is very inspiring. Right now, music is not a full-time career for me but I do hope to transition into a full-time career into music. Because I am an independent artist that may take a bit of time but I‘m hopeful that the transition is much quicker than I expect.
How did music evolve in your life while growing up as a child?
Growing up I listened to a lot of music, even as an adult now I listen to a lot of music. I think that I’ll be exaggerating if I say that I listen to up to 30 or 40 songs every single day. I don’t think that would be an exaggeration. This is because I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as well as my parents. I actually listened to a lot of ‘70s and ‘80s Music, I jammed ABBA, I love my Boney M, I love my Posy Sisters. I think having exposure to many decades on genres of music has definitely informed my perception of the music industry and has inspired different aspects of my music in general. I think, I am very thankful to my growing up in a musical family as you know there’s always music and there was always somebody singing and there’s always something playing on the Stereo or the DVD as my dad was very interested in music and so was my Mum so, I am very thankful for that. Because I do think that my family definitely gave me the stepping stone to really appreciate the beautiful thing that music is. To be surrounded by music is such a blessing and it’s not one that I take for granted because music is indeed very beautiful.
Have you any professional music record label that has produced any of your songs? Can you name the songs you have commercially released so far?
Since my career just started, I haven’t had the opportunity to work with any major musical label or producer but I do think that I will be working with a couple of them in the future. My debut single was produced, mixed and Mastered by IMPVLS3 ABBE whose full name is Nosakhare Iroghoma Abbe. And it was a very pleasant experience working with him because he understood my vision and he executed it perfectly and I am very happy that we can find collaboration at a time like this.
What was your parents’ reaction when they noticed that you have chosen music as a career?
I am very grateful that I come from a very supportive family and so far, my family has been very supportive of my decision to pursue music as a career. My mum has definitely been very supportive as we had a ton of conversations about my music as a career and what that will mean to me in future and my dad of blessed memory, I hope he’s very proud of the decision that I have made so far. Of course, my mum is a mother and she has highlighted the potential drawback of pursuing a career in entertainment because the entertainment industry is very high pressure as you know that there are so much that go on and my mum has done a very good job in highlighting these things so that I know exactly what it is that I am going for. But then at the end of the day, she has remained supportive to me throughout the process and that’s something that I really thank God for. I really love her very much for that.
At 22 years of age, are you married?
No, I am not married.
Given your natural endowment as a pretty lady in Showbiz, what have been your experiences regarding males’ attention?
On males’ attention, I don’t think that I do get a fair share of male attention. On one hand, it’s very flattering and on the other hand, when I have to deal with people who don’t really understand their boundaries and stuff like that, it can be very worrisome. I think that for anyone to recognize a beautiful female, child or handsome men I don’t think that is very flattering but very beautiful. In the Showbiz sector so far I haven’t had to deal with any man who had behaved inappropriately towards me and that is something that I am very grateful for because that is not the same thing to everyone else and I can only hope that I continue to stay clear from people who try to take advantage or make me uncomfortable with whatever it’s they are trying to get from me.
Who is your ideal husband as a working lady and as a musician?
Well, I haven’t given much thought to that because it’s not a priority to me at the moment. My priorities are my personal evolution and growth, my career and my personal well being before anything else.
What are the challenges that you are facing so far?
I think the biggest challenge I will say that I am facing right now is being an independent artist which definitely requires funding. Being an independent artist, you’re essentially funding everything by yourself and from promotions to Listening Party, all these things that music entails, it can get pretty expensive. But faithfully, I have collaborative support from my friends and family. And it has been smooth sailing so far. I’m really thankful for that.
What are your fans expecting from you in the next 5-years?
In the next 5-years, I foresee a much stronger viable career in music than I have right now. And you know my career has just taken off the ground and I’m very excited how it has been so far. And in the next 5-years I am definitely foreseeing an album and concerts and Merchandise and more interviews, you know…I mean the whole mania when it comes to music. And I have been very well supported and it’s something that I’m very grateful for. And I hope that in the next 5 years all my expectations concerning my part in music will manifest themselves in exactly the same way that I want them to. Even surpassing my own expectations to be honest because I do think that there’s so much to do.
What message do you have for fellow upcoming musical artists especially with the COVID 19 pandemic era that we are in now?
The message that I have for upcoming artists in this Covid 19 pandemic world we are living in is play safe. Don’t be afraid to do it, don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams no matter how big. I mean don’t be afraid to collaborate with people that you know. Don’t be afraid to really chase after what you want. Your dreams are very valid, your passion is very valid as well and it is important you pursue the things that make you happy. If music makes you happy pursue it. If Musical production makes you happy pursue it…I mean make sure that you are telling a story and that you are inventing your reality and that you are chasing your dream. And making manifestations of anything that you want on this side of the world. You know, don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared, just do it.
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