Niki Tall: I’m German, but Nigerian music changed my life

Weekend Magazine: You are a DJ with a passion for Nigerian music. How did this happen?Niki Tall: My passion for Nigerian music was there even before I became a DJ. I started deejaying in 2010. Back in 2008 I met a Nigerian DJ in a club and he sometimes played some Afrobeat songs in between […]

Weekend Magazine: You are a DJ with a passion for Nigerian music. How did this happen?
Niki Tall: My passion for Nigerian music was there even before I became a DJ. I started deejaying in 2010. Back in 2008 I met a Nigerian DJ in a club and he sometimes played some Afrobeat songs in between the normal Hip Hop or Dancehall music. I instantly took a liking to the Afrobeat sound and found out that they were mostly Nigerian. I was totally hooked.
WM: How did the name ‘Niki Tall’ come about?
Tall: My real name is Nicolas, so Niki came from there, as I grew up with the name Niki and till now people from my area in Germany call me that.  After my first outing singing Nigerian songs, Nigerians nicknamed me ‘Oyinbo Boy’. Then I started my DJ career in 2010 and I was thinking about ‘DJ Oyinbo Boy’ but it did not sound cool because I was in Germany and it didn’t sound international enough. People couldn’t pronounce it properly over here. So, since a good friend of mine calls me Niki Tall because of my height, I chose that.
WM: Who is your favourite Nigerian artiste?
Tall: I like most of the popular ones and every one of them is cool in a different way and for different reasons and skills. That said, my favourite Nigerian artiste is 9ice. I have met some of them and have been privileged to be on stage with some of them. I’ve been on stage with the likes of Flavour, Wande Coal, J. Martins, M.C Galaxy, Duncan Mighty, Bracket and Timaya. Meeting them keeps me motivated.
WM: Have you ever visited Nigeria?
Tall: I’ve never been to Africa yet. Maybe because it’s very hard to find the right team, the right contacts to trust and the right timing. But I’m planning on coming to Nigeria this year for major collaborations.  
WM: What has been the response to your singing Nigerian music in Germany?
Tall: Awesome and crazy. Over the years, no matter what concert I am involved in, Nigerians at such events have showed so much appreciation and happiness for what I do. For me, personally, the response Nigerians gave me has changed my life so much, positively. I have travelled to many countries where I was invited to perform and if not for Nigerians, I would have never gone. Nigerian music has given me an opportunity and I am grateful.  
WM: We’ve heard the ups. How about the downs?
Tall: I’ve had a lot of disappointing moments in my career already, ranging from not getting paid, to seeing my guitar being destroyed by a rowdy guest. There have been many challenges. To be honest, the same people that can make you feel so happy are the same that can bring you down. All what I’m doing is based on a dream to become a better person. But my dream is to become a big musician in Africa, especially with Nigerian music.
WM: Tell us about the first Nigerian song you sang…
Tall: It’s ‘Gongo Aso’ by 9ice in 2008. Those days were the beginning of my passion for Nigerian music. I did a cover on YouTube which reached 175,000 views. That is how 9ice became my favourite Nigerian artiste. The song opened so many gates for me and till date I am still performing it on shows. I wish I have the chance to thank him personally.
I have some influence from a lot of artistes, not only Nigerian ones, but at the end of the day I have to represent myself and not to be an ‘Oyinbo’ version of any Nigerian act. You know as a half-Greek, half-German doing Afrobeat, I am a pioneer. I’m using this to create my own authentic sound.  
WM: Do we see you doing collaborations with any Nigerian artistes anytime soon?
Tall: Yes. You’ll see me doing official collaborations. That is all I can say for now.
WM: What is your impression of the Nigerian entertainment scene?
Tall: It is the biggest in Africa and I am totally positive and impressed by it otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed up to six years in this game. So if you ask me, I jumped into the right waters. My impression is that the Nigerian entertainment scene is at its best and has grown so much over the last six years and not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon.
WM: Even though you sing everything and anything Nigerian, what is your favourite genre of Nigerian music?
Tall: To be honest, I sing and learn a lot of songs because as a DJ you have to stay up to date. And while I deejay, I also emcee so I can sing a lot of the Nigerian music genres. But my favourite type of Nigerian music is Highlife, which includes most of the native languages and rhythms. Nigerian music sounds beautiful and African.