Nigerian artistes are lazy about their craft – Bem Sar

Could you tell us a bit about yourself? I was born in Zaria, Kaduna State and I am the first of five siblings. My early years like any other child were when I got a chunk of the influences that drive me today; of course I did not know it at the time. The kind […]

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Zaria, Kaduna State and I am the first of five siblings. My early years like any other child were when I got a chunk of the influences that drive me today; of course I did not know it at the time. The kind of music my father played around the house did not particularly appeal to me as I recall, but over time it helped me to develop a wide range of appreciation of music. He had all kinds of jazz, Congolese, funk, pop and native records of artistes I can hardly recall by name but sometimes I get to hear them again on some radio stations and suddenly remember where I heard that sound before.

My family left Zaria when I was about six years old and moved to Benue State, where we are from and I went through the rest of my education there. I still remember what my fine arts teacher, Mr. Friday, said to my class when we were about to leave primary school. He said it to all of us but for some reason I felt like he spoke to me alone when he said that looking at us he could tell which one would be great. It comes back to me now and then, especially when I get put down by some circumstances or person or when I see a child being treated unfairly. The secondary school I attended was a great influence on me musically as well. I was artistic to the point I loved acting but that was reserved for the senior students for some reason, but music was universal.

What was it about growing up that influenced you and shaped the person you have become?

It dawned on me pretty early in life that I was not ordinary. I know a lot of people feel the same but, going by the stories I have compared with most of my contemporaries, my life has been unique. I have faced such trials in my short years on this earth that I have become keenly tuned to the human condition and the fine line a man has to walk if his life is going to amount to anything. One of the things, I will tell you, has had to do with my looks. It has been a blessing and a pain at times. From being thought of as coming from a silver spooned background to being a player among the ladies, just to mention a few, it has taught me not to regard others by their outward appearance but to take the time to test their spirits for what they are worth.

Comparing music to your former banking and marketing career, would you say you have done better?

It is easy to compare careers based on material acquisition and judge which is better but I won’t say that that would be attaching a true value. Compared to my stints in banking and marketing, music has been most fulfilling because it utilises a greater portion of my abilities that I have identified. It has been the first thing I think of at the start of the day and the last of the day and I am glad that God has enabled me to prosper using this gift he gave me. That is why I see it as a gift. It would be insulting to treat it shabbily. Through this I have met personalities most people only dreamt of. Just recently, I was part of an Abuja collaboration of artistes who did a song called SAY YES. We got to perform twice for the Ppresident during the country’s 50th anniversary in Abuja and at the governor’s banquet in Lagos. on both occasions I also did my own single LET’S HEAR IT…But the greatest reward for me is when people walk up to me and says how much the message in one of my songs inspired them positively. It makes all the hassles of my trade worth it.

How would you define your style of music and its genre?

For reasons of classification, I label my music as rock. That is the foundation I use to paint pictures using my love of jazz, R‘n’B and soul music.

What inspires you?

The truth is my inspiration. In whatever I observe this quality I am drawn to and God is the highest source of truth. It opens me up to empty myself of what I have inside. I live my life on the philosophy of a bottle of water. It’s destiny is to be empty or it will have existed for nothing. That will not be said of me.

You have been frequenting Lagos in recent times. Are you planning on relocating?

Relocating to Lagos is a possibility but not a necessary one at this time. I have merely been expanding the sphere of my work environment, seeking new challenges and it has been rewarding. There are a few projects in the works that I won’t speak of for now.

Most people consider Lagos the heart of entertainment and Abuja pretty much a striving environment in that regard. Do you agree?

The atmosphere in Lagos is vibrant but it has its shortcomings and we intend to add our quota to enhancing it. Abuja still is my primary work space as there is far more room to build a career and many gaps to fill. It would be counterproductive to the process to leave now. The issue with Abuja and why it seems unfriendly to the arts is that the standard of living is higher than the average citizen can reasonably afford. This is what has informed part of my work with children. The way things are going, I don’t see many of them getting those off hand opportunities my generation did as we climbed in our artistic quest. When venues and other inputs are more readily available, things will thrive. As it is, there are not enough investors in the music industry in Abuja and Nigeria as a whole.

What in your opinion is responsible for this notion?

In Lagos, there already exists a certain measure of structure that one can tap from. There are more venues, events and management companies and most importantly, that is where most of the employers of the arts are domiciled. I’ll explain. When you seek a major sponsor for an event in Abuja and approach a company like Mr. Biggs for instance, the management here always refers you to or delays the process by awaiting approval from headquarters in Lagos. The arts are not well suited to bureaucracy like this.

What is it you are up to about Nollywood?

I’m not sure where you got that notion from, but it does not sound bad. I did have some level of involvement in Nollywood some years ago. I was still building up steam in the music side and I made a decision. Instead, I used what little influence I had to introduce a friend of mine to the process and he went on to do good things and has been involved in some major TV and film productions across the country. I still nurse some aspiration for acting but that will come when the moment is right.

How did the Jackson Five influence you and what is it about them that you translated in your art?

Before I first saw the Jackson five, I had never seen a group of people sing and dance like they did. It simply woke something in me. I was six at the time but I remember how strongly I was affected by it. My dad noticed and began teaching me some of what he knew on the guitar and keyboard. The ‘other worldliness’ of their act was what I have learnt to bring into my work.

What does music do for you? Is it a hobby, an escape route, an education or something you simply do for doing sake?

Every man, in one way or the other touches his world. Influences it for better or for worse by what he does.  For me music is my tool for reaching out to my world and doing for it what I want done to me. I have given my life and many great opportunities to do this and the scroll is still being unfolded for us all to see what it will all mean in the end. It was a hobby for a while, an escape, then it became an education and still is. When I was unemployed it became something to do for doing sake and now it is my life. I don’t know what it will be next.

You have been quiet since 2008. Why?

I have not been quiet; just working under the radar. I had to seriously take stock of my work and if I was going to remain relevant in this line of work. Last year the result of this re-evaluation was the single Let’s hear it…It is a free download on my website www.bemsar.com. In three days we had more than five hundred hits and it still is counting. It is my contribution to raising high the consciousness of citizenship of the people of Nigeria in this time.

Is there anything new for your fans to look out for this year?

There are some more singles coming out this year. I’m looking at collaborating more with some for my colleagues and developing an event that will help keep the art of live music alive. No albums yet I’m afraid.

Is the guitar your best form of expression; and why so if it is?

Playing the guitar sort of came naturally to me. Before I picked it up I had been studying the piano but I had a hard time getting my left hand to obey me. It seems funny how it is the greater worker in playing the guitar now. I love the guitar because it has unique voice of its own and every single guitar has a different flavor to its sound. It is the only instrument I know of that truly sings.

What other instruments do you play?

I have a limited ability on keyboards, recorder, bass guitar and percussions. But my greatest other instrument is my voice.

You mentioned your passion for children. What is it exactly you do with them?

I have reached that point in my life where I am concerned about what the generation behind me will benefit and say of mine. We live in a time of constantly falling standards, you see! I have been worried by the fact that most artistes today are lazy about their craft and don’t take the time to educate and train themselves. The rising costs of living have contributed to this and I would like to reverse this. I have been looking at setting up music training programs and working with venues to provide facilities where they can be readily exposed to the art of music. For now, I have been involved in one-on-one teaching and mentoring but it will get bigger soon.

Chris Thomas King is a renowned guitarist. What was interacting with him like?

It was a great privilege to meet a certified master of the guitar and one who has worked some of the best hands in the music and movie industries. I learnt some valuable tips from him work wise and was thrilled to have him commend my work as well. The stories he told of his life growing up and the tragedy he suffered in the chaos of Hurricane Katrina also further helped me to hold on to what I believe. I was particularly glad to know he had a relationship with Christ.