Ban foreign music in public places – Azardus

It is the acronym of a sentence: A Zealous And Determined Unbound Soldier. This is how I define myself. I was part of a group called ‘Def ‘O’ Clan’ and I was the shortest person in the group and most stubborn. (Laughing) Anytime an idea came up, I had a counter one which always turned […]

It is the acronym of a sentence: A Zealous And Determined Unbound Soldier. This is how I define myself.

I was part of a group called ‘Def ‘O’ Clan’ and I was the shortest person in the group and most stubborn. (Laughing)

Anytime an idea came up, I had a counter one which always turned out better. It turned out more reasonable and had a uniqueness of its own.

Then one day while I was countering an idea, somebody said, ‘You this guy why are you so hazardous?’ That’s how I picked the name and modified it to suit me in a positive light. I maintained the pronunciation but the spelling is different, as you know.

When did music begin for you?

It began in the late 80s and very early 9’s; but I came into limelight in 2000 with my song ‘J is the one’.

My next song ‘Madam’ followed in 2003 while 2006 saw the release of ‘Hands in the air’. I couldn’t do any promotion of this song in 2006 because of my encounter with armed robbers which left me incapacitated for quite some time. I sustained gunshot wounds and was in the hospital for some months.

I was with Kennis Music for 6 years after which I left to start doing my thing. Later on, I started working with SKP productions.

There were different versions to this robbery attack, could you clarify the issue?

The robbers wanted to snatch my car but at the initial stage I didn’t realise it was what they wanted to do.

I was thinking they were hired assassins after my life and not my cars or other possessions. So I tried to maneuver around the car they stationed in front of me. It was then they began raining bullets in the direction of my car.

Lucky for me, the bullets hit me, but didn’t affect any vitals organs in my body.

Is the robbery incidence the reason you have been quiet?

Hmm, well you could say so. The incidence really traumatised me. I became paranoid and scared of going out at night, and maybe scared of people too. This was a lot for me, for one whose profession entails frequent outings at night.

Also after leaving Kennis Music, I needed tome to find my bearing which was not very easy at the initial stage. When you are used to a record handling your affairs for six years it could be a little difficult standing on your own. But I am thankful to God, all that is history now and I can smile at how much progress I have made since being on my own. They are so many who have contributed immensely to my course,  Mr. Sam Kagbo, Dayo Igurhe, and Jide Shadipe, but to mention a few. They have been very supportive in every way you can imagine. A couple of my colleagues have also been very supportive among them are X- Project, Sound Sultan and a host of others. And to my fans, sorry for keeping you waiting this long and I promise to make it up to you.

Did you have problems with Kennis Music?

No, no. I could not have had any problems them. At some point if you are thinking right and about your future, you will know that you need to make the move towards progress and setting your own standards.

That’s what happened. I just thought I could try to be the proprietor of my own life and the line I had chosen. I still relate every well with them because even after I started, I would take most of my songs to Kenny for rating and advice.

How overwhelming were the challenges?

Wow! It was tedious and scary for some time. But for one whose education is from the street you would learn to apply wisdom to a lot of situations which face you and have your eyes wide open with your senses at alert as can be. The experience made me to appreciate the efforts of record labels when building an artiste. The money was not the primary issue but the fact that this is my passion and since I didn’t I have the talent, I decided back up those who have it. Really it is not easy; but it’s only when you try to do things on your own, that you begin to appreciate those who have done it.

There is an interesting story behind your education…

(Laughing) Yes. I did not go through any formal education but was very fortunate to educate myself on the streets. You cannot over estimate the benefits of such an education which is the way I have empowered myself over the years.

I also do love to read the Bible and for me this is an education by itself just as much as the Qu’ran is. I also believe these great books are the roots of modern education.

I am more comfortable and have more confidence getting my education from the source rather than tapping from the branches.

How many albums have you released so far?

I have three albums. I have a fourth which just came out; but I would call that a pre-album because there are more to follow the present content.

My intention is to tease my fans with this release and get their reaction. This will enable me direct the entire package with a befitting end result which will be released into the market.

Thankfully, the reactions have been in my favour and have encouraged me on how best to finish it off.

At the moment I am trying to repackage the album. I’ll take some sings out and then introduce new ones to make the album complete.

The album will be out finally between May and June by the special grace of God. I would like to maintain the suspense by not letting out the content of the album. But my fans should expect good music, awesome messages and nothing but the best form their darling. (laughing)

How would you classify your music?

Basically, I play a kind of reggae which is unique to me no matter where you go in the world. If you find anyone else who does my style of reggae and started before me, mention him along with your price tag.

My songs generally preach love which is the most popular theme in my songs.

Why do you think your style is unique to you?

People listen to my music and make the judgment which they relay to me. The frequent line I hear, from my fans is, “Azardus you are different from the rest”. So, I have taken to what my fans say of my work.

What gives you the drive to work?

So many things from around me drive and motivate me. But importantly, situations I find myself in serve as my inspiration as well as other people’s experiences. I also get inspirations from Bible stories.

As one who has gone through thick and thin, what are the difficulties of a Nigerian artiste?

I consider myself a very good artiste and discover that sometimes Nigerians do not need good artistes and prefer those who will play nonsense. They usually want danceable beats, bop and then go gaga. The best I can do is to make sense in my compositions. But I have discovered over time that such is usually not appreciated.

For you content is most important?

Definitely! That should be considered about and before anything else. That’s why you have about 200 well written songs by King David in the bible. I consider him my role model too.

Based on your response, is music for money or for passion?

This is a difficult one because music has always been my passion and that is why I stand out and I’m still doing the music for over a decade. That is why when I am in front of a crowd, it doesn’t matter who they are I try to make my own statement. People who are in the industry for any other reason may not be able to stay beyond the first three or so years.

As one who started music when the music industry was barely gaining grounds, how would you rate her?

For me, it getting boring and would like us to be frank with ourselves about it.

I ask myself, ‘Why do we have this abundance of oil and cannot export it?’ Why do we say there is growth in the industry when it serves only the immediate environment?

The Jerusalem of the movie industry is Hollywood, the Jerusalem of basketball may be New York and the Jerusalem of music is the United States. How come we have not been able to export?

You see that we go out and listen to imported music and feel cool. Even our DJ’s in Nigeria make you feel like they are the ones doing you a favour when you give them your CD to play. Thinking about it now, I could say they are right. They are doing you a favour because they are just trying to tell you that you have not been able to step up your game to the international scene. But how can you step up when you can only come up with very outrageous lyrics or rather nursery rhymes.

Some guys just take money they should use to trade and go into a studio and fortunately for them, they may have a good beat and open their mouth and start saying nonsense on top of the instrumental and may come up with a hit.

Take for instance, nobody recognizes Femi Kuti in Nigeria but when you go outside the shores of the country, he is celebrated. He has been able to make a statement even in Asia. But how many American artistes have recognition in Asia because to get recognition in Asia you must be a world class artiste. However, nobody gives a hoot about the poor guy in Nigeria because he doesn’t play crap, he knows what he is doing and that’s how I feel about the music industry.

How do you think the industry can improve?

Without meaning to sound pessimistic and as much as I hate to say this, there is really nothing we can do. The Nigerian government must make deliberate efforts to wade into it. They should start with a ban on the use of foreign music in all public places, along with radio and TV stations.

Also, for all songs played in public places, artistes whose works are used must be paid reality. That is to say, before your song aired in public arenas it must have passed through some recognised bodies that will go through your lyrics and approve it on for airing.

They know the right thing to do but have decided to sabotage the industry for selfish reasons the way tanker owners are fighting to ensure railway system does not work in Nigeria.