Tiwa savage exposes her secret

Among the many words that can describe
Tiwa Savage’s sojourn in the Nigerian music
industry, the most apt is ‘meteoric’. The
reason is not far-fetched. Just a few years
back, Tiwa, amidst fear of the unknown, left
the U.K where she already had everything
going for her as a backup singer and
songwritter for most UK’s high-flying
artistes to build her music career in Nigeria.
Despite facing series of discouragements,
she did not give up on her resolve to break
new ground in the nation’s music industry.
Today, she is one of the best things that
ever happened to the industry. Come on
board as she takes us on a journey into her
life, her career and the man in her life.
Your debut album will drop any moment
from now. What are your fans expecting
from you?
This
album is
straight
from my
heart and
it’s
something that I’ve worked so tirelessly for.
A lot of people wondered why it took me so
long a time to drop my own album. That’s
because we had to go through a lot of legal
processes to clear some of the samples
that we used, and that took us some
months.
Also, we wanted to work with notable
producers outside the shores of the country
like Oak who produces Rhinna. So, we had
to work around his schedule and waited for
them to have our time. But this album is
something that I really took my time with
because I didn’t want it to be the usual
Nigerian album that contains just party
tracks from the beginning till the end.
Why did you title your album ‘Once Upon A
Time?’
Once you hear ‘Once Upon A Time’, you
know it’s story time. My life has been an
amazing story and I wanted to reflect that
on my album. Also, I wanted to motivate
other upcoming artistes that, once upon a
time, I was a little girl living at Isale Eko and
I dreamt of doing this, and here I am doing
it. So, I want their ‘once upon a time’ to turn
into reality. It’s a 19 -track album.
There are tracks like Wanted, Ileke, Middle
Passage, Olorun Mi, Why Don’t You Love Me,
Fela Interlude, Love Me Love Me Love me,
Eminado ft Don Jazzy, Folarin, Oh Yeah ft
Don Jazzy, Shout Out ft Ice Berg Slim &
Sarkodie, Written All Over Your Face, Get
Low, Ife Wa Gbona ft Leo Wonder, Eji ma
fia, Baby Mo ft Flavour, Stand As One ft
General Pype, and Thank You. It also has
two bonus tracks like Without My Heart ft
Don Jazzy and Kele Kele.
Looking back to when you stormed the
nation’s music industry a few years ago,
how do you feel today?
Like you said, a lot of people tried to
discourage me from coming home. They
told me that people who came before me
were not really welcomed home, and that it
is even worse for a female singer. They
even said there was no way I could be on
the same stage with the likes of Tuface,
Wizkid and many others. I got discouraged
somehow. As a matter of fact, after I
dropped Kele-Kele, I moved back to Los
Angeles. Then, I dropped Love Me Love Me
and it grew even bigger. So, I decided to
move back to Nigeria because people
around me encouraged me that I could
make it if I’m consistent in what I’m doing.
That was how I was encouraged to do
more. I thank God for where I am today.
A lot of female artistes complain of being
marginalised in the industry.Do you have
the same experience?
I think every female artiste needs to work
ten times harder than the opposite sex and
that’s why I put much effort into what I do.
Usually, what most artistes do is wait until
when they drop their album to do an album
launch. But I think it’s important to do an
exclusive listening because the press are
the ones who are going to project my image
to the outside world. And that’s why I had
to organise a press listening party so that
you guys can assess me, and also, to let
you know how much you mean to me.
Now that you’ve become a big brand, aren’t
you scared of competition from other
female artistes?
Why would I be scared? Back in America,
we have the likes of Beyonce, Nicky Minaj,
Mariah Carey and other female acts
standing tall. So why would there be just
one person shining here? After all, here in
Nigeria, we have male acts like Davido,
Wizkid, M.I, Tuface and other big names at
the same time. It’s not fair to have just one
female act in the industry. So, I’m glad that
more female acts are springing up. Having
more female acts in the industry will open
more doors.
In the song, Ife
Wa Gbona, you
featured an artiste
and there’s this
scene where both
of you were in the
forest singing to
each other. He
spoke Yoruba to
you but you
replied in English.
Is it that you don’t
speak Yoruba?
Of course, I speak
Yoruba fluently,
omo Yoruba ni mi
(I’m a Yoruba ).
We did it for a
purpose because I
have a mixed
audience. If he
speaks Yoruba
and I reply him in
Yoruba language,
how will my fans
in South Africa,
Uganda and all
over the world be
carried along?
The track Eminado
has this special
kind of tone. How
did you come
about it?
That sound and
name is the handiwork of Don Jazzy. We
got the idea when we were in the studio
rehearsing. We were just playing around with
words and sounds. So when it came up, we
thought it was a good one and we decided
to turn it into a song.
What was growing up like for you?
Growing up was very interesting. There were
no barriers, I was just free. I had a very
healthy upbringing. My parents ensured that
I was grounded and I had lovely brothers.
You appear like someone who will easily be
affected by negative stories. Have you had
any scandal?
I don’t think I’ll feel bad whenever I read a
negative story about myself. I believe
everybody has an opinion and that’s life for
you. No matter how beautiful you look, ,
there’s someone somewhere who would still
say you are ugly. So, for me, I’ve only done
something from my heart and haven’t
compromised my integrity. In my album, I
have party songs and tracks for everyone no
matter your preference. So, I’ve satisfied my
fans and I think I’m going to leave the rest
to God.
A lot of people see you as a sex symbol.
Are you one?
No, I’m not. If you ask my family whenever
I’m home, I’m not like this. I’m far from the
Tiwa Savage you see on stage. I’m a quiet
person.
What has fame done to you?
Naturally, I’m the outgoing type but fame
has made me more reserved unlike some
artistes who would claim they haven’t
changed once they start making more
money. It’s a lie. There’s nobody that can
tell you they haven’t changed. I think I’ve
changed because I’m more wary of those I
move with, where I go and those that come
around me. I trust people less now because
I want to keep my sanity. I also think people
around me have also changed because they
expect more from me. I might make a
mistake and that’s normal for everyone but
because it’s Tiwa Savage, my mistakes get
blown up and exaggerated. So I’m more
conscious of what I do and say in public
than before.
Why did you suddenly go into partnership
with Tunji by co-owning 232 Entertainment.
Are you not scared of the unexpected?
Tunji is an exceptional man. We’ve worked
together and we trust each other. So, I’m
not scared that anything negative will come
up between us. I don’t work with fear
because fear is not of God.
Why was the Marvin crew absent at your
album listening session?
You well know that I’m also part of the crew
and the day I held my album listening
session was an important day in my life and
career. So, their absence wasnt deliberate.
They were away in South Africa for the
opening show of Big Brother Africa- The
Chase. They had to perform live. But they
surprised me on that day when they sent in
a live recorded message to me. It was
played for all to see . I was so happy
because I didn’t expect it, honestly.
Is there any track dedicated to Tunji in your
album?
Yes, there’s this track Written All Over Your
Face. I dedicated the song to him for the
role he played in my life. I met him at a time
when no one was ready to help because I’m
a female artiste. And whenever I wanted to
give up and cry sometimes, he always
encouraged me to be strong and move on.
He’s my back bone. I love him because he’s
been there for me. He wiped my shame
away when he put a ring on my finger.
Why did
you say
he took
your
shame
away.
Were you
ashamed
of being
single?
(Laughs).
You know
in Nigeria
when a
lady isn’t
married
and is
just
focused
on her
career, people think there’s something
wrong with her. But he understood my
journey. He was able to push me career-
wise and encourage me. So, I just had to do
a song for him.
There’s a mix up somewhere. Are you
signed to Marvin or 323 Entertainment?
I’m actually signed unto 323 Entertainment.
It’s owned by Tunji Balogun, T.J and he’s
also my partner, we own it together. 323 is
under Marvin but Tunji handles my day to
day business.
You’re signed to Marvin and 323. Where is
the place of Sony Records?
I’m still signed to Sony in America as a
songwriter. And even as I’m doing my album
there, I’m still writing for other artistes. I
just had to make that commitment. I just did
a song for Monica called Catch With Me Him
on her last album. And they just called me
few weeks ago that I have another song
with Fantasia again, and other songs I’m
writing for other artistes. So I’m still signed
to the label. .
Have you started your project?
Yes I have. I’ve met with a lot of
organisations and already put up something
to fight breast cancer. Very soon,
screenings will start especially for young
girls. I also visit the motherless homes quite
often but I don’t put it in the press because
I don’t want to expose those kids. And the
video I did, Olorun Mi is to give back to
people who lost their loved ones in those
tragic situations.
What inspires you?
I get inspired by a lot of things; life
heartbreaks, happiness and Nigeria as a
country. If you listen to the Olorun Mi track,
I wrote it because I missed those close to
my heart who have died. But I’m disturbed
because as a country when we lose our
loved ones, there should be statues and
memorials to remember them. But here, we
just move on as if nothing happened. So I
got inspired by those lives we lost during
the Dana plane crash to do that song.
What would like to be remembered for?
The late Whitney Houston is remembered for
what she accomplished while she lived. She
inspired many people. I want kids to say
when I’m gone that if Tiwa Savage could do
it, they can equally do it.
Is there anything you would like to change
in the Nigerian music industry?
I’d like us to be more international and be
the pioneer of African music and I think it’s
happening slowly. I’d like a situation where
I go to the UK and hear more of Nigerian
music on radio and have our artistes
nominated for the Grammy’s . In addition,
I’d like to put necessary structures in place
and ensure that piracy law is enacted in the
country . by chibabynaija1