Among the many words that can describe Tiwa Savage's sojourn in the
Nigerian music industry, the most apt is 'meteoric'. The reason is not
far-fetched.
Just a few years back, Tiwa, amidst fear of the unknown, left the U.K
where she already had everything going for her as a backup singer and
songwritter for most UK's high-flying artistes to build her music
career in Nigeria.
Despite facing series of discouragements, she did not give up on her
resolve to break new ground in the nation's music industry. Today, she
is one of the best things that ever happened to the industry. Come on
board as she takes us on a journey into her life, her career and the
man in her life.
Your debut album will drop any moment from now. What are your fans
expecting from you?
Tiwa This album is straight from my heart and it's something that I've
worked so tirelessly for. A lot of people wondered why it took me so
long a time to drop my own album. That's because we had to go through
a lot of legal processes to clear some of the samples that we used,
and that took us some months.
Also, we wanted to work with notable producers outside the shores of
the country like Oak who produces Rhinna. So, we had to work around
his schedule and waited for them to have our time. But this album is
something that I really took my time with because I didn't want it to
be the usual Nigerian album that contains just party tracks from the
beginning till the end.
Why did you title your album 'Once Upon A Time?
' Once you hear 'Once Upon A Time', you know it's story time. My life
has been an amazing story and I wanted to reflect that on my album.
Also, I wanted to motivate other upcoming artistes that, once upon a
time, I was a little girl living at Isale Eko and I dreamt of doing
this, and here I am doing it. So, I want their 'once upon a time' to
turn into reality. It's a 19 -track album.
There are tracks like Wanted, Ileke, Middle Passage, Olorun Mi, Why
Don't You Love Me, Fela Interlude, Love Me Love Me Love me, Eminado ft
Don Jazzy, Folarin, Oh Yeah ft Don Jazzy, Shout Out ft Ice Berg Slim &
Sarkodie, Written All Over Your Face, Get Low, Ife Wa Gbona ft Leo
Wonder, Eji ma fia, Baby Mo ft Flavour, Stand As One ft General Pype,
and Thank You. It also has two bonus tracks like Without My Heart ft
Don Jazzy and Kele Kele.
Looking back to when you stormed the nation's music industry a few
years ago, how do you feel today?
Like you said, a lot of people tried to discourage me from coming
home. They told me that people who came before me were not really
welcomed home, and that it is even worse for a female singer. They
even said there was no way I could be on the same stage with the likes
of Tuface, Wizkid and many others.
I got discouraged somehow. As a matter of fact, after I dropped
Kele-Kele, I moved back to Los Angeles. Then, I dropped Love Me Love
Me and it grew even bigger. So, I decided to move back to Nigeria
because people around me encouraged me that I could make it if I'm
consistent in what I'm doing. That was how I was encouraged to do
more. I thank God for where I am today.
A lot of female artistes complain of being marginalised in the
industry.Do you have the same experience?
I think every female artiste needs to work ten times harder than the
opposite s*x and that's why I put much effort into what I do. Usually,
what most artistes do is wait until when they drop their album to do
an album launch. But I think it's important to do an exclusive
listening because the press are the ones who are going to project my
image to the outside world. And that's why I had to organise a press
listening party so that you guys can assess me, and also, to let you
know how much you mean to me.
Now that you've become a big brand, aren't you scared of competition
from other female artistes?
Why would I be scared?,Back in America, we have the likes of Beyonce,
Nicky Minaj, Mariah Carey and other female acts standing tall. So why
would there be just one person shining here? After all, here in
Nigeria, we have male acts like Davido, Wizkid, M.I, Tuface and other
big names at the same time. It's not fair to have just one female act
in the industry. So, I'm glad that more female acts are springing up.
Having more female acts in the industry will open more doors.
Tiwa In the song, Ife Wa Gbona, you featured an artiste and there's
this scene where both of you were in the forest singing to each other.
He spoke Yoruba to you but you replied in English. Is it that you
don't speak Yoruba?
Of course, I speak Yoruba fluently, omo Yoruba ni mi(I'm a Yoruba ).
We did it for a purpose because I have a mixed audience. If he speaks
Yoruba and I reply him in Yoruba language, how will my fans in South
Africa, Uganda and all over the world be carried along?
The track Eminado has this special kind of tone. How did you come
about it? That sound and name is the handiwork of Don Jazzy. We got
the idea when we were in the studio rehearsing. We were just playing
around with words and sounds. So when it came up, we thought it was a
good one and we decided to turn it into a song.
What was growing up like for you?
Growing up was very interesting. There were no barriers, I was just
free. I had a very healthy upbringing. My parents ensured that I was
grounded and I had lovely brothers.
You appear like someone who will easily be affected by negative
stories. Have you had any scandal?
I don't think I'll feel bad whenever I read a negative story about
myself. I believe everybody has an opinion and that's life for you. No
matter how beautiful you look, , there's someone somewhere who would
still say you are ugly. So, for me, I've only done something from my
heart and haven't compromised my integrity. In my album, I have party
songs and tracks for everyone no matter your preference. So, I've
satisfied my fans and I think I'm going to leave the rest to God.
A lot of people see you as a s*x symbol. Are you one?
No, I'm not. If you ask my family whenever I'm home, I'm not like
this. I'm far from the Tiwa Savage you see on stage. I'm a quiet
person.
What has fame done to you?
Naturally, I'm the outgoing type but fame has made me more reserved
unlike some artistes who would claim they haven't changed once they
start making more money. It's a lie. There's nobody that can tell you
they haven't changed. I think I've changed because I'm more wary of
those I move with, where I go and those that come around me. I trust
people less now because I want to keep my sanity. I also think people
around me have also changed because they expect more from me. I might
make a mistake and that's normal for everyone but because it's Tiwa
Savage, my mistakes get blown up and exaggerated. So I'm more
conscious of what I do and say in public than before.
Why did you suddenly go into partnership with Tunji by co-owning 232
Entertainment. Are you not scared of the unexpected?
Tunji is an exceptional man. We've worked together and we trust each
other. So, I'm not scared that anything negative will come up between
us. I don't work with fear because fear is not of God.
Why was the Marvin crew absent at your album listening session?
You well know that I'm also part of the crew and the day I held my
album listening session was an important day in my life and career.
So, their absence wasnt deliberate. They were away in South Africa for
the opening show of Big Brother Africa- The Chase. They had to perform
live. But they surprised me on that day when they sent in a live
recorded message to me. It was played for all to see . I was so happy
because I didn't expect it, honestly.
Is there any track dedicated to Tunji in your album?
Yes, there's this track Written All Over Your Face. I dedicated the
song to him for the role he played in my life. I met him at a time
when no one was ready to help because I'm a female artiste. And
whenever I wanted to give up and cry sometimes, he always encouraged
me to be strong and move on. He's my back bone. I love him because
he's been there for me. He wiped my shame away when he put a ring on
my finger.
Tiwa Why did you say he took your shame away. Were you ashamed of
being single? (Laughs).
You know in Nigeria when a lady isn't married and is just focused on
her career, people think there's something wrong with her. But he
understood my journey. He was able to push me career-wise and
encourage me. So, I just had to do a song for him.
There's a mix up somewhere. Are you signed to Marvin or 323 Entertainment?
I'm actually signed unto 323 Entertainment. It's owned by Tunji
Balogun, T.J and he's also my partner, we own it together. 323 is
under Marvin but Tunji handles my day to day business.
You're signed to Marvin and 323. Where is the place of Sony Records?
I'm still signed to Sony in America as a songwriter. And even as I'm
doing my album there, I'm still writing for other artistes. I just had
to make that commitment. I just did a song for Monica called Catch
With Me Him on her last album. And they just called me few weeks ago
that I have another song with Fantasia again, and other songs I'm
writing for other artistes. So I'm still signed to the label. .
Have you started your project?
Yes I have. I've met with a lot of organisations and already put up
something to fight chest cancer. Very soon, screenings will start
especially for young girls. I also visit the motherless homes quite
often but I don't put it in the press because I don't want to expose
those kids. And the video I did, Olorun Mi is to give back to people
who lost their loved ones in those tragic situations.
What inspires you?
I get inspired by a lot of things; life heartbreaks, happiness and
Nigeria as a country. If you listen to the Olorun Mi track, I wrote it
because I missed those close to my heart who have died. But I'm
disturbed because as a country when we lose our loved ones, there
should be statues and memorials to remember them. But here, we just
move on as if nothing happened. So I got inspired by those lives we
lost during the Dana plane crash to do that song.
What would like to be remembered for?
The late Whitney Houston is remembered for what she accomplished while
she lived. She inspired many people. I want kids to say when I'm gone
that if Tiwa Savage could do it, they can equally do it.
Is there anything you would like to change in the Nigerian music industry?
I'd like us to be more international and be the pioneer of African
music and I think it's happening slowly. I'd like a situation where I
go to the UK and hear more of Nigerian music on radio and have our
artistes nominated for the Grammy's . In addition, I'd like to put
necessary structures in place and ensure that piracy law is enacted in
the country.
Source: Vanguard
