Gloria Ibru’s single titled Suga Mama has set the stage for her debut album. In this interview with our REPORTER she talks about her music, forthcoming album and her person.
What motivated the title of your debut single, Suga Mama?
My life has always been one where I try to see that everyone is happy. I hate to pass by and see somebody sad. I will ask if everything is okay, what can I do for you? So, the story ofSuga Mamais about me in my bar where everybody is happy. I see a young man walking with a long face, he is sad, I ask my barman if he knows him and he says no, but I insist and ask him what should we do and he said, “Mama, you know how to do what you do best.” So, I welcome him, he sits by me and I tell him to just be happy for life.
So the title does not insinuate anything?
No. It’s not about sex or romance, but all about one person being happy and carrying on with life.
There is a mix of several genre of music in this song, what specifically do you tag it?
First, I have a sound that is universal, which is one of the reasons we had all the delays this while. Being an African, we had to replicate it in my music. Now, that the song is out, all the qualities of good music such as acoustic, jazz and the rest is what you hear in it. The idea is to tell the world that the music is from Africa, but it is going places all over the world.
After a long period of waiting your fans have heard a single off the album; how will the main package be?
The album, when it drops will have 10 tracks and it will be something worth waiting for.
Apparently, the challenges in doing good music caused the delay in the release of the album, tell us about them
First, the whole track is played live and it is not simulated music. Now, we do not have the facilities to do that in Nigeria all at once. So, today we bring guitar in and that is over, tomorrow we bring in the talking drum, and next week we bring in another thing. All that doesn’t take only time, it also takes money and you know time is money.
Do you think Nigeria is ready for your kind of music?
When Asa started a lot of people did not believe in her, but today she is one of the biggest stars not only in Nigeria, but also in the world. I am doing my music, I want Nigerians to like and appreciate it, but I also want the rest of the world to appreciate it and that is why I am doing real music; music that in 30 years from you will play and say, “That is good music.” I don’t want to do music that in six months it’s forgotten. I tell you that there are people in Nigeria who love good music, not just old people, but young people too because it is a song you listen to two to three times and you are able to sing it because it will be in your head.
Are you prepared for the rejection that might come from this single if Nigerians don’t like your kind of music?
I am an optimist. I don’t think like that at all. My motto is ahead, ahead.
Do you see a return on your investment?
Believe me, the money will come.
How do you think the challenges you spoke of earlier can be surmounted?
Well, such challenges can be eliminated if people who love good music can come into the country and invest in studios, proper studios, because after we did the everyday routine I told you of earlier, we then had to send the song to Los Angeles for mixingsu and mastering after which they sent it back because we don’t have the facilities in Nigeria. If we have such facilities, young people can do music well. What I have done is expensive and that is why you see young artistes drop beats on keyboard and drop whatever songs they have on it.
Tell us about the video concept, where did it come from?
The video concept was that of Elvina Ibru, but the location construction and video shoot was done by One Soul. At a point, we had to do what is called time freezing where someone in the video is active while another is paused, someone has to be coloured and another person has to be black and white all in the same environment. It is very technical and we shot everything in our backyard here within three days.
Tell us about the artiste you featured, why him?
Most people would expect me to feature a known face, but what will that benefit the song. O Franklin is a fast-rising artiste who is doing well and I think we had a good synergy.
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