I love the freedom of highlife music – Rexx

Weekend Magazine: In 2014 there was talk about you collaborating with Jesse Jagz. How did it go? Rex Jideofor Okiche: Yes. Jesse Jagz and I met at a friend’s studio while he was working on his mixed-tape, ‘The Royal Niger Company’ and he played me the instrumental arrangement of the song’s highlife and asked me […]

Weekend Magazine: In 2014 there was talk about you collaborating with Jesse Jagz. How did it go?
Rex Jideofor Okiche: Yes. Jesse Jagz and I met at a friend’s studio while he was working on his mixed-tape, ‘The Royal Niger Company’ and he played me the instrumental arrangement of the song’s highlife and asked me to go to town on it because he heard I could deliver great vocals in that genre and in 15 minutes I wrote and recorded the song which went on to become the stand-out song on the mixed-tape. So, I was happy with the outcome.

WM: There’s a kind of pop/high-life fusion to some of your songs, like the single ‘Boku’ released in 2014. What inspired that mix?
Okiche: I agree that there is a mix of pop and highlife to most of my songs. It was one of the songs I wrote after I found out what sits well with my voice and style. I love the freedom and maturity highlife creates and the pop feel also, because I listened to a lot of pop songs. It makes the song have a new sound as opposed to a vintage one.

WM: How would you classify your kind of music?
Okiche: I would classify my style of music as urban African because it’s a mixture of African drum and percussion rhythms, pop sounds laced with highlife guitars and elements. In addition to my singing which switches between R&B and highlife.

WM: How did you start singing? 
Okiche: I started singing since I was nine years old – not professionally of course. I used to sing along to any beautiful song I heard, especially the ones in Disney cartoons and my parents’ old LP collections and little did I know I was preparing myself for my current profession. I started singing professionally in 2008 while I was an undergraduate at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where I was part of a duo called ‘Pincode,’ under which I released a hit song of the same name.

WM: What were your influences?
Okiche: My musical influences were R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, Usher, Craig David, Tuface, Rex Lawson and so on.
WM: Fifteen years ago, the music industry was not as it is now. What would you say was responsible for this rebirth?
Okiche: The music industry has really changed from the way it was 15 years ago and a lot of this is due to technology, especially the Internet. Our music has become a global phenomenon, more people have access to it, corporate sponsorships are coming and the standard is better. These days, successful musicians make a lot of money and the potential fan base is not confined to any geographic region.

WM: What was your first experience on stage like?
Okiche: I hardly remember my first stage performance because it was a blur and I was very nervous.

WM: Your first single for the year 2015 was ‘Sistah’ featuring Orezi and Solidstar. Where do you draw inspiration for your songs?
Okiche: Music is spiritual – my music comes from within. Every instrumentation sets off a different mood and topic, for ‘Sistah’ in which I featured Orezi and Solidstar, the genre is dance hall and I wanted the song to have a message so I decided to talk to women and let them know their worth, that even as they want to have a good time, they should always be mindful and I put this across with a catchy melody and fun lyrics.

WM: Every artiste has an objective. What is yours each time you grab the microphone?
Okiche: Each time I grab the microphone, my objective is to express my art and stir up emotions in my audience using topics they can relate to and making sure they leave with an unforgettable experience. The message has to be clear, positive and impactful.

WM: Aside being a singer, you are also a producer. It is fast becoming a trend these days for artistes to start their own label and some fans are of the opinion that it distracts. What do you have to say about this?
Okiche: I am not a full time music producer. I usually co-produce my music and as for starting a label, I am under an independent music outfit run by one of my producers Charlie X where all my music is released. So technically I don’t run the label, so it doesn’t distract me. Juggling between owning a label and doing music is tough but I don’t fall into that category.

WM: You have several singles to your name. When do you plan to release an album? What will be its theme?
Okiche: I plan to release and EP first then an album much later. The theme for the EP is love and struggle. I haven’t decided on a title yet.