It’s tough now introducing myself as a solo artiste – ex-Styl-plus member

Weekend Magazine: What have you been up to these past couple of years?Tunde Akinsanmi: Hmmm, it’s the past couple of years for me have been very eventful and eye-opening.  Let us go back to 2012. I always had the dream of floating my clothing line. So I embarked on the project which I promoted in […]

Weekend Magazine: What have you been up to these past couple of years?
Tunde Akinsanmi: Hmmm, it’s the past couple of years for me have been very eventful and eye-opening.  Let us go back to 2012. I always had the dream of floating my clothing line. So I embarked on the project which I promoted in Asia and decided to do a song to back it up. It was called the ‘Nativeboy’ project. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I had to put it on hold to focus on building myself from the ground up.
WM: How is that coming along?
Akinsanmi: It’s been like a school for me because in every day there has been a lesson to learn. I thank God all the same for to Him I give all the glory.
WM: Really, what led to the Styl-plus split?
Akinsanmi: The Styl-plus break up baffles me as much as the fans… (Laughter). I really cannot pin-point the cause, but I believe there was a disconnect within the group and it was in everyone’s best interest to pursue happiness on a personal level.
WM: When you sang ‘Four years…’in response to rumours of your split, were you actually planning on splitting back then?
Akinsanmi: Remembering the four years don waka song brings back memories both good and bad for me. Good in the sense that it was a song of appreciation to God for keeping us together in the main-stream for that long, because it actually takes God’s grace for two people to work together let alone three. It was bad as well because we fell out with our management then and our creative differences started showing up which later escalated to our present status. Even at that, I never thought a split up was pending.
WM: Many accuse you of being the one who abandoned the group. Is this true?
Akinsanmi: Abandon? I don’t think abandon is the right word. I believe I moved on to other things because the only thing I can identify with is a progressive change which I am trying to make. I see things happening around me, I see people around me who need help and look up to me and I can’t even do enough. Then I look at myself and wonder ‘is this where I should be?’ And my answer is ‘no!’ So I asked myself this question: ‘What is life made of?’ and I got an answer. I believe strongly that life is made up of time and when time is up, you know the rest. So, I thought it was time to pursue my dreams and live my days to the fullest doing things that really matter like spending time with family, loved ones and making music the way I want to without necessarily limiting myself within the bounds of sentimental and negative hopelessness. In other words, I needed to grow out of the ‘boy band image’ and be more of myself.
WM: Even before the split, Styl-plus’ fame was taking a nosedive. What was responsible?
Akinsanmi: Hmm, to me Styl-plus’ fame was free-falling because for a while we had no management, so there was a disconnect between fans, the media and the group. It seemed everything we released after we parted with our management came up against serious criticism from certain stakeholders in the industry. But the true fans kept on asking the million dollar question: ‘Where is Styl-plus?’ Till that question trended globally sometime in May 2014.
WM: What are the other two members of the group up to now?
Akinsanmi: I really am not in the position to say what they have been up to. I, Tunde, can only speak for myself.
WM: Do you imagine you would someday regroup?
Akinsanmi: A regroup is a possibility only if God permits, which takes me to the question:‘Can two walk together unless they agree?’
WM: You don’t seem keen on a regroup even if God permitted it.
Akinsanmi: I wouldn’t say so. For me, nothing is conclusive and I am open to whatever comes that will impact on me and my career positively.
WM: Did you have anxieties about carrying on as a solo artiste?
Akinsanmi: Yes, I had my little worries with my new found solo status but I believed more in myself as every day came and passed, making me stronger and more resolute in pursuing that direction.
WM: Do you think you are the better for it now?
Akinsanmi: By the way, I now control my time and I no longer have to compromise any of my standards just to tag along. I guess I’m better off this way.
WM: Is your new stage name is ‘Nativeboy?’
Akinsanmi: My stage name actually remains Tunde. ‘Nativeboy’ was a project at that time as I mentioned earlier. ‘Nativeboy’ to me is a summary of who we really are. We are all inhabitants of the planet of the sun and native to the planet. Half of the proceeds of ‘Nativeboy’ were to go into charitable causes; unfortunately it’s a suspended dream at least for now, until time and chance permit.
WM: You also started BAT record label; are you looking to sign any acts on, soon?
Akinsanmi: I created BAT records as far back as 2008 to accommodate protégés, and friends who needed a platform to spring from. However, due to the metamorphosis happening within the group, I couldn’t over-burden the mare. So I had to hold back until I found myself being published under my own label. For now I am the only artiste under the label with series of up-comers who will be signed, sealed and delivered in due time.
WM: Will you still be Abuja-based or will you be going over to Lagos?
Akinsanmi: I am based in Abuja and I operate from here. I only travel out of town when I have business to attend to, but of course, it must be profitable or a just cause.
WM: What kind of music are you into now?
Akinsanmi: I am a native-rhythm and blues artiste, but I delve into other genres depending on the kind of content I’m working with. I realise most songs on my upcoming album tilt mostly towards progressive house and its isomers.
WM: You had a release last year, how was it received?
Akinsanmi: Yes, I released ‘Tosibe,’ featuring two of my homies sometime in February 2013, which was a sound track for the Nollywood movie ‘Jand Hustle,’ directed by ace producer and director, Mr E. I received mixed responses. (Laughter)
WM: What projects are you working on?
Akinsanmi: I have released a couple of singles after that like, ‘Take it easy,’ ‘Konga,’ ‘YothaBaddest,’ but haven’t done mainstream promo for any of them just yet. You can listen to them on the nativeboy site and don’t forget to use the share button.The response to ‘Yothabaddest’ has been awesome and I believe it can only get better with the needed push.I’m a producer/studio engineer.  I work on my own songs and those of others using the C24 console which is one of the latest technologies in music production, which big names like Justin Timberlake and others use for their works.
WM: What do you miss most about Styl-plus?
Akinsanmi: What I miss most about Styl-plus is the harmony we shared and the goose bumps I experienced when singing them.
WM: What has been the toughest thing to deal with in all of this?
Akinsanmi: The fact that the group name is already out there, and fans already identify with us as a trio makes it tough to introduce myself as a solo artiste. My coming out as a solo artiste is taking longer than I imagined and it’s like I’m starting from the scratch. Many know the face but don’t know about the split. Without the knowledge that we’ve broken up, I’ll have to deal with being recognised as gone solo.
WM: What do you think your fans would most remember Styl-plus for?
Akinsanmi: I want to believe Styl-plus fans will remember us (the trio) for revolutionising the music scene with our entrance and our endearing musical and inter-personal harmony.