Novemba… A voice full of salve
When it comes to versatile, soul-soothing and intelligent vocalists among the newcomers in the Nigerian music industry, Novemba is one voice that is definitely here to stay. Bred in the Garden City (Port Harcourt), Novemba is an enigmatic Afro-fusion artiste whose career took off in the month of November, 2020. Like a poetry book, his trajectory has been riddled with intrigue, from his professional name to his blooming discography.
After two bodies of work, Truly Novemba (2020), and Novian Universe (2021), the fast-rising singer returns with his third EP dubbed, Escapade. Within the body of work, the maestro melds his Carribean, Dancehall and Pop energies over the 6-tracker record. The record soars for its exciting pidgin lingo, falsetto-baked hooks and witty songwriting. On songs like “Ewo,” “Vibe,” and “Rewind,” the young maverick proves his mettle as one of the new voices to watch out for in 2023.
He catches up with Guardian Music, to discuss his musical origins, his inspirations and the journey ahead.
Let’s take it back from when you started music. Move us back to when you started professionally.
I started music professionally in 2020, but before then, it wasn’t so serious as it was just a play thing for me.
Did you have any issues with starting out? When did you have your first song? When was the moment you decided to take music seriously?
I decided to take music seriously from 2020, because I started working around with friends who were involved in music at the time. They were basically just instrumentalists. I just fell in love with it and we were like, okay, we could actually do this thing professionally. I started music at the time and I felt I could just do that, but then, there were challenges.
We couldn’t put out our first record. The first studio I’ve ever been to, it was a friend that took me there. I couldn’t afford the studio session. We were just basically using piano and other recording voices with phones. We had rehearsals too but that was just it. We were hoping that when we somehow get funding, we would get to the studio and make music.
That’s actually quite interesting. What influences your style of music?
I don’t know, you said love music. I tried everything else, to be honest with you. I do basically everything. My experiences, cutting across from life itself to love. Just normal things, but it’s basically my experiences that’s I’ve been singing about- right from my first song. The first song I made was a heart break song. “Give It To Me” is a sexual song.
Then the second EP I put out, you can say “Fake Vibe” is not all a love song. That was a life experience- talking about fake friends, fake people. Even down to this EP, the first track on it- “Escape” is still not a love song. So I do basically, sing about my experiences.
Whatever comes to mind, things that I think about about, things I experience and things I like. That is it basically.
That’s cool. Who were some of your major influences while growing up?
I listen to everything. My dad used to play all the traditional high lives and everything, to my mum’s Christian music. Listening to the whole music on the street at the time- 2face, Dbaj era down to this time, Burna Boy, Wizkid, David, to the young artists- Rema, Omah.
Everything inspires me, even down to the local artists. Even back then when I was in secondary school, everything just makes sense now- everything I infused. They all influence my songs, to be honest with you.
You are one of the few voices on Afro- Fusion that you’re actually distinguishing yourself with your voice. So what would you say is your biggest strength as an artist?
Right from the time I’ve always listened to music, I’ve always wanted to look into the meaning of songs. I like a song that inspires me, touches me, the lyrics make sense to me. I like inspiring music, I like musics that I can get the wordings- the lyrical contents. So it’s the lyrical contents for me. I like to be very particular about it.
Let’s talk about Escapade. So the EP is out now. What did you intend to do? What was your statement with that music? What were you trying to say with your EP at this time?
Prior to Escapade, I’ve been making music on my own. I’ve been doing my music myself. Escapade is like the first time I said, okay, I’m taking the next step basically. I call it the “take off” because it’s an adventure. From the first track “Escape” I call it my way out. It is more or less like me going off from the regular to the mainstream basically.
That’s great. Amongst your other contemporaries, who are some of the people that you hope to work with or create amazing records with?
I would love to work with a lot of them. Many of them are talented, to be honest. As much as I can, and as much as the song or music bangs. For me, I would say Omah, Burna, Buju, as much as my feather can carry, yeah. It’s a whole lot of list, even on the international level. I like to take it step by step.
What is next for Novemba, and yeah, we can wrap it on that note.
So what’s next for Novemba, yeah, more music, more work. Definitely, next EP when we are done with trying to put out enough content for this EP and trying to push it out there. That would be next. More EP and if a lot of people get to feel it, an album comes up next for me.
That’s great. Where are you schooling and what are you studying in school?
I’m in Uniport, final year and I’m studying Animal Science.
That’s great. Five years along the line. Do you have any intention of combining your music with your academic discipline?
I don’t really know. It’s music for me at this point and let me just find my way out of school, you know. They say “never say never.” So for now, it’s fingers crossed. Let’s see how it goes.
