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My love for music inspires and drives me – Simi

By Eseoghene Laba
23 July 2016   |   3:30 am
I wrote the song, it was mine initially, we went to the studio and Falz recorded a verse on it. Since the song could not come out till my second album we decided to put it on his album.
Simisola Ogunleye, popularly known as Simi

Simisola Ogunleye, popularly known as Simi

The talented rising star and songwriter Simisola Ogunleye, popularly known as Simi, tells us about her love for music. In this interview the award-winning songstress signed to X3M music, whose songs include “jamb question”, “open and close” recently dropped another hit single “love don’t care”. Talks about plans, musical journey and family.

What was growing up like?
Growing up I was kind of spoilt as an only girl and last child of four kids from my mum. We had all we wanted, but my parents separated when I was 9 years old. I had a big mind as kid; I saw everything in 3D and things used to have major impact on me. So when my parents separated I just saw that life was not as rosy and it does not always go how you planned. I grew up faster from that moment. It was tough but pretty good. I have always been closer to my mum.

How did your parents feel about you doing music?
My mum supports me totally. My dad has always been this go to school kind of man. He did not give me a hard time but he did not also show any interest. After my parents separated I stayed with my mum and saw my dad weekends, later it reduced and then he got sick. When he died in 2014, I was sad he passed on but was sadder we did not get to spend a lot of time together.


Do you regret not practicing Mass communication?
No I do not. I cannot do everything and I have always known I would end up singing. My mum although supportive always felt I should at least experience a job and come back to music but you cannot do music part time. I studied that because of radio, I really like the On Air Personality (OAP) life, maybe one of these days I would go there. So I do not feel bad because I am doing what I want to do.

Who or what inspires your kind of music?
My music gains from my personality, I am a laid back person, and like to be as original as possible. I sing what I have heard, seen, or felt before. I do not think there is anybody that writes songs the way that I do, with the kind of contents. I sing like am telling a story to someone. Songs that people can relate to like “Jamb Question.”

Why the 8 years difference between your first and second album?
My first album was a gospel album, and then I was a gospel artiste. I was just graduating and waiting to serve, it was produced by Sam Clef. From that time to when I started mainstream music, lots of crazy stuffs happened, got signed to another label that didn’t go well, an album I wanted to drop that was not good, I learnt how to engineer my sound, that whole time was a learning process for me. So when I realized my first main stream sound “Tiff”, I felt like I have matured.

Why the switch from Gospel to mainstream?
Music became more of an art to me. My songs were changing. I just wanted to do music as music, rather than a ministry. And it was really hard for me because all I have done before then was gospel. It was really hard because I had to switch mentally first. I wanted to explore music as just music because I had different ideas.

Did you ever feel like giving up at the beginning?
I do not think I ever felt like giving up. I am a very stubborn person; my mantra is life is too short to not do what you love. Even on my bad days, I just say even if I did not make it, I tried. The highest I ever did was thinking off getting a job and coming back for music later and that was once. My love for music inspires and drives me, I really love music.

How did the idea to make “Soldier” as a movie come about?
I wrote the song, it was mine initially, we went to the studio and Falz recorded a verse on it. Since the song could not come out till my second album we decided to put it on his album. Due to the story in the song, he and Clarence got together and decided to make it into a short film because they felt it would evoke more emotions than a regular video. I think Clarence and his team came up with the idea, and they told me, I thought yeah it’s a great idea. And it was fun to do because it brought out sides I have not even explored yet.

Considering the success of the short movie, Have you taught about going into acting like Falz?
Right now I don’t know. Even if I did it’s probably going to be on the side.

What is your relationship with Falz?
I guess people can sense our music chemistry and just assume it translates into romantic relationship. This doesn’t necessarily mean. People always ask this question and am tired of answering because no matter what I say they would believe whatever they want. Falz and I are just friends. The magazine covers and random pictures are just that, you cannot even tell if we just fought or not before taking them.

Since it is not Falz, are you in a relationship?
Yes I am, and that’s all am saying.

What challenges do you face as a female artiste in the music industry?
It’s a man’s world. I do not mean men deserve more, I mean they get more. It’s not fair but it’s the truth. Life favors men, in this industry woman have to do double what the men do to get there. When I just started it bothered me a lot, I stopped letting it bother me and decided to push. I know I have had a great break and a favor on my side. I do not take that for granted. As a woman you cannot sit down, you have to keep pushing but a man can sit down and still get it. Instead of complaining you just put in more than your best.

How do u maintain your voice?
If your voice takes care of you, you need to take care of it. I drink alcohol occasionally; I do not smoke or carry out vices harmful to my voice. And I also do not do the things people do for the voice like drink raw eggs and all that.

Your last video “love don’t care”, what inspired it?
I give the credit to my boss. He always says “Simi I want people to see different sides of you in every video”, so it doesn’t matter if am comfortable with it, I just do it. He doesn’t want people to get the chance to predict my next move. Left to me I can shoot the same video everyday but sing a different song.

Any new thing we should be expecting from you?
I am working on my album presently hopefully its coming out this year. If it comes as planned, expect Magic. We have already started work on “Soldier 2”, should have been done sooner but things happen so we pushed it. Falz and I are also working on an EP coming out soon.

What is your style?
I am a laid back person. A jean, sneaker and hats kind of person. I do not really care for makeup. I do not dislike it, just not crazy like other girls. Of course as an artist I have to play dress up so on my regular day I get to be casual.

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