Queen of Afrocentric soulful Jazz, Folashade ‘Shady Blu’ Aboderin, last week, held her highly anticipated first audience live show and album launch in Lagos.
The Nigerian-born United Kingdom (UK) based singer, who said it is her first time performing live with an audience in Nigeria
“This Lagos tour was not really planned but an impromptu decision I made on the spur of the moment. In the last few years, I have lost some people close to me, including my manager and an adopted brother. I have battled with health challenges too. People were asking me why I wanted to do a self-funded show with no sponsorship coupled with my stressful day job, but I told them it was important to do things that my kids would be proud of when they see me.”
Speaking with The Guardian, the Jazz star, who said she has been coming to Nigeria a couple of times every year, said she achieves more in Nigeria with her music than in the U.K.
“As a black woman, being in the music industry is very hard except you are ready to do certain things, this is the sad reality.”
No label or sponsor has done anything for me and it is not because they don’t know I have good music to offer, but I am not ready to do some certain things,” she said.
“Many artists battle with depression. Just like me, we hold down several jobs to sustain our passion and when some people see their dreams are not coming to reality, they become sad and depressed. It is not easy dedicating time and money fully to music,” she said.
Shady Blu said she wants to be remembered for the lyrics and sound of her music, which she describes as unique. “My music is more of jazz which is not common in Nigeria but I don’t think I am willing to change my sound. I am not in music for the fame because it chose me, I didn’t choose it.”
Adding that it is her dream to help younger, upcoming artists, she said she doesn’t want them to go through what she is going through. “I am working with younger musicians now and trying to fuse other sounds into my music because I know what younger people like these days is different from what I know. One of my favourite writers, Neo Phlames, is someone I would love to see go on to do great things and I know it will happen in God’s time.”
Shady Blu, whose dad is a famous jazz musician, said she started singing from the church when she was 4 years old, said she doesn’t sing gospel songs because she feels that is not her calling. “Asa and Yemi Alade are two artists I would love to collaborate with, our styles are somewhat in sync.”
