Star Singer Yemi Alade has been doing her thing
since she went professional a couple of
years ago. Currently the toast of the
Nigerian afro pop music genre with
Kissing You, Tangerine and Johnny, the
sexy artiste took time out to speak on her music, the lean
years and the secret of her success.
What have you been up to?
I have been doing what I have always
loved to do-singing. My European tour
was great. I had to halt it to grace the
grand finale of Cupid Games. I will be
going back to different countries. Euro
Tour started on February 13th, 2015. I
have performed in Lyon, Paris and I’m
now touring other parts of Europe in
Germany, Italy. I will be touring other
cities and rounding up in March.
Interestingly my birthday is March 13th, a
Friday, and so it’ll be in the heat of my
tour. I will celebrate it with my fans.
How are your fans responding to your
songs over there?
Great, they are gyrating to my Mr Johnny.
The song is doing great and fans love it in
Africa and in Europe,
How has the response been on your
tours?
I did my African tour last year and you
can imagine the love and craze for Yemi
Alade. It got to a point that a lady
fainted. Nigerian music is massive in
other countries. It has become a global
brand. While performing in Paris, I got five
“Johnnys” on stage; men who love my
music. My brand, “Yemi Alade”, is
growing fast and I thank God for it.
I’m elated that this is happening to me; I
had hoped for this. I had my African tour
in 2014 and my tour of Nigerian cities
was in 2013.
Would you say Johnny brought you fame?
Yeah! It is my time to be heard. Johnny
was just the vehicle to re-announce me in
the industry. A lot of hilarious comments
have been made on account of the
Johnny video; you know it was a star
studded cast directed by Clarence Peters.
What people don’t know is that the
Johnny song was leaked in Enugu and it
took on a life of its own! It took just 7
hours to shoot the video and it has
become a success story. Also, my debut
album, ‘King of Queens’ was released in
last quarter of 2014 and it has sold over a
thousand copies.
Tell us about your hot collabo, Marry Me
with Falz.
Thank you! That song, just like Johnny,
brought out the funny part of Yemi Alade.
More videos are coming. My fans should
watch out. The Taking Over Me video
featuring Phyno, came out about a month
ago, and in two weeks, it already had
200,000 views on Vevo YouTube channel.
It was directed by Paul Gambit.
Your sexiness, swag and talent is drawing
a lot of male fans, isn’t it?
(Laughs). I don’t know about that, but I
try to give my best and my all. I love
what I’m doing now and my management
is pushing me to give my best. Yes, I’m
sexy; I have heard that before, but my
talent speaks more for me. Yemi is a
home girl and relates with all. I’m just
like the girl next door.
How did the music start for you?
I started singing when I was young. Dad
used to play King Sunny Ade’s music;
mum was a fan of gospel tunes. My
brothers used to play a lot of Usher and
R Kelly songs, but I never wanted to do
music. It was my mum that exposed me
to it and made me take to it. I never
planned to do music. I’m grateful to her
now. You know that I won the Peak
Talent Show in 2009 and I took off from
there.
It was not an easy road to get to where I
am now. I give God the glory. I still plan
to read music someday and add to my
knowledge. Now, I’m passionate about
music. My management, headed by Taiwo
Alli, has been working hard to push my
music and my brand and it is yielding
results now. We are doing better music
now and shooting better videos. But the
beginning was rough as expected. I did
seven years of free shows going from one
club to the other and selling myself.
Did you feel sad about not clinching the
Next Rated Headies Award?
Not at all! In fact I felt proud being
nominated, which is as good as winning
the award. Since only one person had to
win, I was just happy for the person,
Patorankin. But it was like all of us
nominees carried the plaque home
because we all deserved it.
Your birthday is March 13, how will you
celebrate it?
(Grins) I will still be on tour. So I will be
celebrating it with my fans abroad. I will
be in Germany during the period
entertaining my European fans… making
new inroads. I may have a pajamas party.
I dream of such a party with my friends
and loved ones.
Do your fans go into a frenzy during your
shows?
Yes! It happened during my African tour.
Two ladies were so engrossed at my peak
performance, they suddenly passed out
and it was such a frenzy. Security and
medical officials had to quickly wade in
and revive them. It was humbling.
How is Nigerian Hip hop music doing on
the global stage?
Africa looks to Nigeria as the global
market leader in music. I want to tell you
that music and its potentials to empower
people is bigger than what we think it is.
The music industry in Nigeria is a mega
industry and it can get better with more
stakeholders investing in it and structures
stabilising it. Oil is bringing in money, but
music can bring in more money than oil.
What are the three things people don’t
know about Yemi Alade?
Probably people don’t know that my
English name is Mercy. Eberechi which is
my Igbo name means Mercy. Not many
people know that my Instagram was
hacked. I had to open a new one. It is
now Officialyemialade. Then, the third
thing people don’t know about me is that
I’m a good cook. Not all girls know how
to cook o! It will shock you that in this
21st century, a lot of young ladies don’t
know how to cook. This is a known fact.
How spiritual is Yemi Alade?
As spiritual as people will want me to be;
I was brought up with the fear of God.
What word do you have for your fans?
I can’t stop thanking my fans. I
encourage every person to believe in their
dreams. The process might be slow but it
always pays off. Don’t give up! Also, for
every Nigerian out there, let us believe in
ourselves. It is darkest before dawn. Let’s
play down religion, we don’t need it. One
love, fans!