Singer Aramide talks about how she became a musician, her parents’ reaction to this and her love life.
Singer Aramide.
In an exclusive interview with Punch, the afro-soul/ jazz artiste
said she started singing many years ago. She also credits her father for
exposing her to a wide array of genres such as jazz, afrobeats, soul
music and more.
“I started as a song writer at the age of 12 and as I
grew older, I fell in love with music so I decided to develop my talent.
I was really exposed to music as a young child because my father was a
music lover who really loved listening to jazz, afrobeat, soul music and
other good sounds. Along the line, I picked up the guitar. When I
started playing the guitar, singing and song writing became easier for
me. All this while I was in Jos because that’s where I grew up. My
father was the one who made me love music growing up. He would listen to
practically anything. He listened to a lot of Fela’s music, Ray Charles
and a lot of reggae songs,” she said.
Contrary to popular notions she said her parents were supportive of her music.
She said: “My parents have been supportive. Initially they did
not understand why I wanted to do music especially my mother. But as
time went on, she saw that it was something I wanted to do in the long
run. She saw that it was something I wanted to build my future on so she
was very supportive.”
Reacting to the slow tempo of her songs in an age where mainstream
music is more about fast-paced songs and club sounds she said she
believes in sticking to what she knows.
“I feel it pays me more to stick to what I know. It is not as if I
do not like trying new things out but I believe that in sticking to
what you know, you can always try new things out. I have always been a
soul singer from the outset and I feel I can do a fast song in that same
genre. I don’t need to branch out into something I am not comfortable
with or something that does not best describe my personality and my
music,” she said.
Speaking on love and how she met her husband, she said it was a feeling she couldn’t explain.
“These things just happen and we thank God afterwards. I met my
husband during one of my performances in Ikoyi. We started talking and
we clicked just like that. He is my biggest fan.”
On the reason she fell in love with and married him she cites his passion for her music as a key factor.
Also, she said his supportive and encouraging nature made all the difference.
“He always tells me that I can do it and that he believes in my
talent. He also criticises my music and performances with love. For me,
that was the major attraction. There are some other qualities that I
cannot say on print because they are too personal,” she said.
Aramide is an afro-soul/ jazz and she is currently signed to Baseline Records.
She is a graduate of the University of Jos. She holds a degree in
Political Science. Her style is heavily influenced by artistes as Miriam
Makeba, Sade, Erykah Badu and Angelique Kidjo, among others.
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