Interview Series
Part 1.
From Northampton, England, to Atlanta, USA, and now to Lagos, Nigeria. The interview series is back showcasing grassroot talents and their community state. This time reporting live from the birthplace of Afrobeat, we meet two underground artists from Lagos, both of them with plans to join the next generation of sound from out of Lasgidi. The following voices have been tape recorded and transcribed into writing for your reading pleasure.
Name: CRIMSON
Base: Area of Lagos
Age: 20
#The scene { Wednesday 11:00 am. A week of quick first impressions over face-time, Crimson finally picks a date for the Interview. His voice comes through clear and crisp, piercing my old Android speakers. }
Q: What does Lagos offer the music artist that no other city in the world has?
Lagos being the centre of Afrobeat its an attraction to the rest of the world. I don't want to gentrify the sound cus' Afrobeat means all of Africa. But we all witnessed its origins here in Lagos, what it feels like in the mind of an Afrobeat artist, the lifestyle, where he creates his music, his influences, his drive. Even the big names come back when they need to record an album. Just to plug back in, back to the origin. From the drums to the percussion, to the slang, the accent, the dance and the whole hustle and bustle lifestyle. Bro! no other city in the world has this influence.
Q: When did you start making music?
In 2017, I recorded in the studio professionally. Before then I'd always been writing.
Q: What's been the biggest challenge since?
After you record and release music, normally you go out and perform, you meet other artists and connect with new fans. However, the venues in Lagos don't care to book underground acts. They go after the big names. Sometimes when there's a slot available, the space is limited. The only challenge I've faced thus far is finding shows to perform.
Q: What motivates you in spite of this challenge?
It's just in my character. Ambitious as I am, I know I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I see this and it motivates me. Also, the fact that each song I release is better than the last, motivates me to keep pushing.
Q: How would you classify your genre of music?
Afrobeat fused with hip-hop and some 808’s. It's the new Afrofusion. Artists like Tems, Santino, Odunsin, and Rema are all from this new school.
Q: What is the future of the Afrobeat artist?
Bro, the future is mad!. Wizkid just sold out the 02 Arena in London, three nights in a row. Burna Boy took home a Grammy. Even the young artists are doing their thing. Fireboy just had a song featuring Madonna and Ed Sheeran. Our local artists are topping global charts, opening new doors, and we the underground artists are part of that future. It makes sense that we inherit it.
Q: How would you define success?
To me success is being able to achieve something outstanding, in your area of specialization. You hear stories of people grindin in a specific field for years, and then achieving something substantial in that field. Simply, that's what we humans call success. You can hit a milestone is something else, but I won't call that success. Rather, I’ll call that being oppurtuned. Hitting a milestone in my music career, in the area I love, my specialty, this is success to me.
The End.
A GREASEDELBOW INTERVIEW
Instagram: @Cremescene
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Published: 24/06/2022
Written by Dan O. Eboka.
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