Nene Johnson is an up and coming artiste. Formerly, a member of Ecstasy group, she tells The Octopus, about her music, her kind of man and how reckless she can be.
You used to be known as Nej, but suddenly you changed to Nene. Why the change of name?
First, I need to tell you that my stage name used to be Nej, an acronym of my full name Nene Johnson. I changed it back to my real names, Nene Johnson, when my fans and friends started telling me that, they like the way it sound. So, at present I am Nene Johnson.
How did music find you or did you find it?
I found music from my childhood. I started music from the children choir; then proceeded to the youth choir, before I formed a group known as Ecstasy. We later broke up to do our things solo, and here I am, doing my own thing. I have actually been off and on, but I became more focused in the middle of 2012, after I graduated. After I broke up with my group, I did my first song as a solo artiste, titled Ligali. Since then, I have done others songs like Tonight, Be my bobo and Ile Aye.
When is the debut album dropping?
We are not thinking of any album yet. What we are focusing on are a couple of new videos. The album will drop next year, but I am not in a hurry to drop the album.
How did a church girl like you find herself doing secular music?
My time in the church was when I was a kid and that was back in those days.
Having spent your childhood as a member of the choir, a lot of people would have anticipated you doing gospel music; why did you change that?
I am a woman and an individual right now. After the youth choir and going through the University, I think the real me would want to express the real vividness of life.
What has your transition period thought you?
It has thought me that if you plan some things, it may not work. Likewise, you can’t always have what you want. Some people will like you, while others, who do not know anything about you, will not like you. The period made me understood more about the basic things of life, like relationships and friends. During that time, I lost my mum and that was the biggest challenge of my life.
You said you lost your mum while in school. What kind of relationship did you share with her before her death?
What we shared was beyond description. And that was why, when it happened, I was really devastated. I was with her in the hospital, and she actually died in my arms. It was like a big shock, because I grew up with her. I started school while I was with her and lost her while I was still in school. It was very challenging, but I had to forge ahead, because I knew her as a very strong woman, and she would have wanted me to be strong.
Tell me about your music, what genre do you do?
I do Afro-pop with an infusion of Soul and R&B. My love for R&B was motivated by the fact that I am a passionate person; while the Afro-pop, has to do with Africa, where I come from.
You cut a startling image of a sexy lady, has this helped your career?
Being sexy and beautiful has its negative and positive sides. The advantage is that, you can just drop a song and people will say they want to listen to what that sexy lady has done. But the disadvantage is that some people will say, okay she is fine, we are not interested in what she has to sing.
Have you found yourself in a situation where a producer says he wants to have you because of your looks?
Yes, I did.
How did you manage it? Because, such is termed as sexual harassment
I wouldn’t call it sexual harassment because; different guys have different approach to express what they want. Some people hang around you just because they want to offer one or two favours, but they have their ideas in mind. I wouldn’t call that sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is when you want to do a song, and a producer says, even if you have money, I don’t want your money; I just want to sleep with you. I handle such situation in my own way when such things happen.
Specifically, how do you handle such situations?
If I like a person, then I can do it. But if I don’t like you, you can’t force me to date you. Even, if you are the best producer in the world, I will not date you if I do not like you.
Are you saying if a producer promises you a guaranteed hit song, you won’t sleep with him if he asks you?
I won’t sleep with him if I don’t like him, because one day, he will expose what we did secretly. Hit tracks cannot be guaranteed by any producer, even if you are the best in the world. And the fact that a person has produced a lot of hit tracks does not mean that all the songs he will produce will be hit songs. So, I can’t just jump at that offer. Apart from that, if I don’t feel anything for you, I just don’t see it happening. And, it is not like I am hearing this kind of story for the first time, so there is nothing to be panic about.
Have you ever said yes to such a proposal?
I have just told you that if I don’t like you, you can’t force me. It is not about what you say that astound me. For me, it is a natural thing. Naturally, I am a warm person, but your approach may make you perceive me as a cold person, especially for a person who has told me that he wants me and will get me, he might never get to see the warm side of me, because I will always be on the edge each time I see such a person. But if you approach me differently, and you allow what you feel to grow naturally, then it might just work out well. All those authoritative things don’t work out well with me.
You seem to be a person with different personalities, how do you explain this?
I am a diva and a lady at the same time. As a diva I hustle positively to get what I want, and as a lady, I carry myself in a classy way. Of course, there are different ways to being a lady, depending on how you play your role. So, you are right to say I have a mixed personality.
You have a lovely skin, why did you decide to dent it with tattoos?
Tattoos are a way of expression. The Nene you see on my hand is my name and the stars means that I am a unique person.
How many tattoos do you have on your body?
I have two which everybody can see and some personal ones.
Where are the personal ones located?
Let us just say the two you can see are the one for public consumption.
Are you in a relationship presently?
Yes, I am.
You hesitated before answering, were you thinking about it?
I was thinking if this was the right place to be talking about such issues; whether to keep it private or public.
What is your man like?
I like a man who is bold and free spirited and open minded. It takes a real man to be able to back up a lady, no matter what the world offers. Someone people think because you are a public figure they know your story or just because you gave a person a cold shoulder today, they think they know you forgetting that despite the fact that you are a public figure you are also a human being. So, it takes a man who really loves you and who is really strong to stand by you no matter what he hears because hearsays come up every day. It is good for him to look good, but I think that personality matters a lot. I like a man who is optimistic and not pessimistic or negative, someone who has the fear of God to guide his recklessness. We are all reckless, but when you have the fear of God, it is good.
How reckless have you being in your life?
I could be reckless to the point that I would do what other ladies won’t ever think of doing, without caring what people would say about it.
Are you the kind of person who would ask a guy out, if he is not responding to your overture?
I am that kind of person. If I want to do it I will do it, and if I don’t want to I won’t. If I find a guy who has the personality that I want, and he is flashing me the green light I will reciprocate him.
Can you make the first move?
Yes, but I will do it in a lady-like way, so I don’t look desperate. In this case, I could build up a conversation, and throw in a compliment or two of which in a normal day, it would be the guy making the speech and throwing in the compliments. So, if the guy knows what’s up, he will pick it up from there, and if he doesn’t, I will have to leave him.
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