‘Dealing with fans, toughest part of being an artiste’
Weekly magazine: When did you discover and develop your musical talent?Solomon Bello: It started back then when I was in school, as far back as my primary school days. I loved singing and my mum also added to that passion I had because she also loved singing. It runs in the family.WM: What inspired you […]
Weekly magazine: When did you discover and develop your musical talent?
Solomon Bello: It started back then when I was in school, as far back as my primary school days. I loved singing and my mum also added to that passion I had because she also loved singing. It runs in the family.
WM: What inspired you to go into gospel music?
Bello: Actually I do secular music, I just veered into the gospel industry and it has been interesting so far because I know God is the ultimate.
WM: What challenges have you faced so far?
Bello: The basic challenge is money
WM: How many albums and tracks have you released since you started your profession?
Bello: I am working on my third album now. I also have a new single that’s out. I and just worked on a project for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign for 2015.
WM: What challenges did you face working on your first album?
Bello: I didn’t face many challenges releasing my first album because I was in a record label called Kiss Music that signed Psqaure. When Psqaure left the record label I was signed in. So I didn’t go through most challenges people experience while starting up.
WM: What are your expectations in the nearest future?
Bello: I just believe with God everything is possible, I have left everything to him. But in future I see myself attaining great things like opening a clothing line.
WM: What exactly did you do with Tuface?
Bello: I did a reggae song with him titled ‘You can’t stop my shine.’ I did this song with him recently. We are expecting so much from him because I see him going higher.
WM: Tell us how you started with Tuface, starting from the grassroots?
Bello: Tuface is my good friend. We were in the same neighborhood Amuwo Odofin, Festac town in Lagos, before he moved out of Festac to Lekki. I do attend his club and we relate well. When I did a song with him, I remember he got to the studio before me; he called me to ask if the recording for the song was still on. I was supposed to call him instead of him calling me because it was my song we were working on. Generally he is a very humble person and that’s what is taking him to the top.
WM: What is the toughest part of being an artiste?
Bello: Having to deal with fans. They don’t care if you are in a bad mood or not, all they want is for you to cheer them up at all times, but with God I am managing. I lose it sometimes but I am praying to God to help me control it.
WM: Why do you prefer reggae to hip hop,blues and rap?
Bello: I love reggae because I love conscious sounds and not really the shake your body type. I want to be able to fight those who are not doing the right thing. So I preach to them through my music and reggae music is the easiest way to preach to people.
WM: What is the most important part of your job?
Bello: Performing is the most interesting part of my job. I do attend shows to perform but for now I don’t perform because I am recording. But when I am not recording I attend many shows.
WM: How did you come about the name ‘Black Solo’?
Bello: My name is Solomon Bello and I am black. So I picked the black aspect of my skin and shortened my name Solomon and that was it.
WM: Do you think that staying solo is better than being in a band?
Bello: I was in a group before called Black Family, we were the first group that did star quest which involved Nigga Raw, Samsong, Kcee Fresh, Pratical, who is based in Port Harcourt. Psqaure were also involved, but they were in a group called Benson and Hedges, they came first in Jos and won the finals while we came third overall. When I was in a group we started having problems ,my friends advised me to sing alone. I decided to follow their advice and it worked so I feel working alone is the best.
WM: When you started, did your parents support you?
Bello: My mother is a great singer and she encouraged me. I was signed in for a record label and it was a great hit. I was the first artiste on MTV Base but I am on a break because I attended a music school in South Africa and now I am coming back with God, so it is going to be great.
WM: There is so much piracy in Nigeria; how do you cope with it?
Bello: Piracy is not my fight. I just leave them to the government and God. I really don’t rely on the sales from my CDs. Many a times you as an artiste; get commercial contracts with MTN, Glo or Etisalat. This also serves as a means to making money. Piracy is so intense in Nigeria because you can’t track them. You can have a marketer who would have produced a million copies of your work and tells you it’s only 500 copies that were produced. So sales from CDs are very low.
WM: Aside from music and clothing, do you have passion for something else?
Bello: Yes. There is this movie I am working on titled ‘Nigerian trip to Jamaica.’ I want to set an example. This movie is going to feature Timaya, Patoranking and Cynthia Morgan. We are shooting the movie in Jamaica but the shooting would start from Nigeria. Nigerians should watch out for it because it is going to be a great movie.
WM: What advice do you have for musicians in general?
Bello: Put God first because without Him you can’t make it. Play safe, don’t do drugs and don’t beef each other. We all are Africans, everyone should come together to push things forward and make Nigeria a better place.