From Los Angeles to naija… Enter Adaobi with Headmaster

Adaobi Enemuoh is a fast rising Nigerian, U.S based singer signed to Lafamilia Entertainment. A. D. A as fondly called by her family and close friends, was born in Ekwulobia, but her family originates from Agulu, both in Anambra state.

The first of seven children, A.D.A started her early education at Hill View Nursery School Enugu, before attending University Primary School Enugu but complete her primary education at Creative Minds Foundation, Onitsha. She was enrolled at Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State, before she moved to Los Angeles, California for College. She holds an associate degree in Biology from El Camino College, Torrance California and bachelor degree in Neuroscience from University of California, Riverside.

She describes her move to Los Angeles as a self finding mission, as she made sure that she gained the ultimate college experience by acing her classes, serving as vice president, student services and advancement in the executive cabinet of the student government body, and mobilizing and participating in in youth activities in the Los Angeles social scene.

From childhood, she has loved listening to, and ‘mock’ perform songs with the TV remote as her microphone, while standing before her family and friends. She noted that her initial inspiration was from listening to her parents’ old school collection from super stars like Don Williams (her dad’s favourite), Dolly Parton (mom’s favourite), Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Bob Marley, most of what she still listens to till date. She was to add that Sade Adu, Adele, Beyonce, Emeli Sande, Shakira and Tiwa Savage currently inspire her.

To pursue her passion, she auditioned for X-Factor America and made it through the early stages but was dropped further down the line. She credits her vocal prowess to singing in front of her mirror and participating in her Los Angeles church choir over the years, where she later became the choir director. To perfect her commercial singing and performing ability, she enrolled into the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Centre (SMC PAC), and took classes piano and vocal performance, under the tutelage of Denis Parnell, an award winning composer, vocal coach, and voice technician whose previous students include American Idol finalist, Chikezie.

Armed with a degree, a powerful voice, enhanced performance skills, and big hopes for the future, Ada moved back Nigeria to answer the call to her destiny, music, and after months of blending the local content into her contemporary style, she is set to pleasure the audience with her tunes.

Currently out with a single, titled ‘Headmaster’, Ada says, “Apart from my love for music and the music business, I also love to address social issues that I think hinder the growth of our society. Sexual abuse in the school system (especially in the primary and secondary) was one of them.

“I had always wanted an avenue to address such. The song, Headmaster, however, came effortlessly in the studio. It confirms the saying that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks…In this case, the music spoke. My producer and I set out to make a feel good song, and somehow, the first line that came out was ‘Mr. Headmaster.’

On the message behind the song, the singer said it is a song that is targeted at all people, but in particular then first and foremost, the youth (male and female), adding that they are the victims.

“Even though I’m female and I’m singing to about a pedophilic headmaster, the perpetrator can come as a female too, abusing either a male or female child as the case may be. The song also targets the adults in our society, and to shed light in what happens in our schools today. We are called to educate our children on the topic of abuse so that they do not fall victim.”

Asked what inspired the song, Ada explained that it is today’s happenings and yesterday’s mistakes, adding that she had heard about, and read countless articles on the topic. She stressed that in most cases, the kids either weren’t schooled on what to do or they were too scared to speak up.