My love for music has kept me going

Twenty-eight-year-old Simi, the crooner of the hit song ‘JAMB Question’, sat down with journalists in Lagos to discuss her music, career choices, why she crossed over from gospel music to the mainstream and what is actually going on between her and Falz. Eight years after you dropped your first album, how will you describe the […]

Twenty-eight-year-old Simi, the crooner of the hit song ‘JAMB Question’, sat down with journalists in Lagos to discuss her music, career choices, why she crossed over from gospel music to the mainstream and what is actually going on between her and Falz.

Eight years after you dropped your first album, how will you describe the journey so far?
When I released my first album, titled: O gaju, I was a gospel artiste. That time, I was just graduating from university and was planning to go on youth service. So, what I did at the time was like, let me just see what the industry has to offer me. Between that time and when I started main streaming, a lot of crazy things happened. I got signed on to another record label, things didn’t go too well. A lot of bad things happened, I thought of pulling out but then I thank God I didn’t.
Of course along the line, I got better with my song writing. I learnt a lot. So by the time I came into the mainstream in 2014, I think I was matured enough. Basically, I felt I have grown in the industry.
So where did you derive the inspiration from?
Even before I went to Covenant University, I have always known that I am going to sing. My mother used to warn me that I should ensure that I didn’t drop out of school. But somehow, I realized that I have always been drawn to music. Ironically, I didn’t even grow up around music, I was just doing my own thing.
Are there songs you recorded on your own out there?
There are songs I recorded and it is not as if I hid them. It is just that when I write, I like to record so I can correct whatever mistake I notice.  So basically most of the self-recorded songs serve as demo. I don’t even like people recording me because I can be a pain in their necks.
So, why did you crossover from gospel to mainstreaming?
Well, I think music was becoming more of an art for me. My songs are changing.  I just felt I needed to do music as music rather than as ministry. And it was not as if I have been in the choir before but I do remember that mum used to tell me that I can sing love songs.  So for me to switch, I had to do a mental switch first. Basically, I just wanted to do music as it is and express myself. That was why I switched.
Will you say your kind of music is something you styled after another artiste or did you just decide to carve a niche for yourself?
Well, I think my music mirrors my personality. I am the kind of person who really loves to layback and just want to do my thing. That is why when I sing, I sing about what I have seen or felt before. I sing to relate experiences. I don’t think there is anyone who sings the way I sing or write the kind of songs I write. And it often involves a sort of storytelling, or it is conversational, like I am discussing with someone.
One of your hit songs was ‘JAMB Question’, what really prompted this title?
Well, one of the things I do is to ensure that I do something many people can relate with. I mean what people have seen and experienced before. JAMB question is quite Nigerian.  So, basically it revolved around trying to key into what I’m aware many Nigerian girls have at one time or the other experienced. Like, when a guy approaches a lady to propose and rather than just go straight to the point or show that he is shy, he will first do some “korokoro” (twist and turns) before hitting the nail on the head. And you know ladies will say to their friends: “Don’t mind that guy, he was just asking me JAMB Questions”.
So, I decided to bring in that title to stamp it on the song such that even when years have gone by, people can still recollect and say: “Yeah, I remember that song, JAMB Question.”
You said there were times you felt like pulling out, how did you manage those times?
Well, I know I am a very stubborn person. I used to tell people that life is too short not to do what you love doing. So no matter the kind of money you have and the properties you acquire, if you chose not to do what you love, you will simply die unhappy. Even in those moments that I was down, my love for music has kept me going.
Many celebrities are known to engage in a number of vices they claim are associated with their work. Which of these do you do?
Well, I don’t drink nor smoke. I know that people do say those things but for me, I really don’t engage in any of those vices.
Is Simi in any relationship?
Yes, I am in a relationship and that is all you are getting.
As a woman there must a number of things you look out for. What are those qualities that appeal to you?
Well, he has to be funny. I like a man who can joke a lot and he doesn’t have to be explaining them because even on my own, I am pretty good. He must also be a man who understands my job. I know guys who will say I can’t marry an artiste and I can relate with that. So, such a man must also be supportive of what I do and most importantly a man who loves God.
Recently, you and Falz recorded a song together and tongues have been wagging that there is something between the two of you. What do you have to say to that?
I think people can sense the chemistry we have in making songs together.  And to many people that automatically translates to a romantic relationship which to me, doesn’t necessarily has to be. And with the fact that they recently saw us on thecover of a magazine together, it was just promotional and nothing more, it does happen that you go to events and you take pictures with others. All of these could be brought together to create an effect, so for me, I really don’t get bothered with things like that.
The man who won your heart, what specifically did he do to win you over?
Well, let me put it this way, he was running on the track, he came first and I gave him the trophy.
You are known to have studied mass communication in school, are there times you envy colleagues who are in main stream journalism?
There was never a time for me to regret my decision to go into music at the expense of journalism because I have always known I would go into music and I remember that mum, just like any other typical Nigerian parent, used to tell me at the time, that I should try to get a job now that I was done with university so as to have some work experiences? But I know that you can’t do music on part time basis if you really want to be successful. I actually studied mass communication because of my passion for Radio – the On the Air Personality (OAP). I still like it and maybe one of these days I may go into it.
As a singer and as a songwriter, which one do you flow more with?
I don’t think there is anyone I am better at than the other. I have not done the comparison before because they are not really the same eventhough they are within the same realm.
So do you have any thing you are currently working on and what is it all about?
Well, definitely yes. But for now, I can’t let the cat out of the bag because I’m not even sure which of the cats should not be let out.
Between your mum and dad, who are you more closer to?
I have always been close to my mum right from childhood. My dad passed away in 2014. And I do remember that anytime I met him, he would always ask me to go for my master’s degree. Although he didn’t discourage me from music but he was the bookish type who always asked me about when I would do my Master’s.
After he and mum separated, I became closer to my mum. I only saw him on weekends. Sometimes I didn’t see him for some time. I was not just sad because he died but I was sadder because I was not closeby.