He is famous for his performance with the hit track, ‘Sweet 16’ and ‘Naija boy.’ A multi talented entertainer, Tosin Igho talks about his latest venture into movie production in his latest interview with punch newspaper. Read on and get it all as it is.
You have been missing from the music scene for a while…
I have not been missing but I took a break to work on some projects in Abuja.
How did you delve into music?
The musical gene runs in our family and music has always been a passion of mine. My father was a singer in a band. When I was 17, we started a group called ‘Immaculate.’ Our song, ‘Rock the party’ was very popular in those days and people still remember us from that time. We also made a movie with the backing of my father, Peter Igho and Femi Lasode. After the success of our two songs, I left to attend a film school in South Africa. While in South Africa, I was signed unto Sonny BMG as a producer and musician. I was a member of a group called, ‘The pyramid’ and we released an album that had a single titled, ‘Sweet 16’. We made a lot of profit from the sales. I still get royalties every year from the album sales. As a producer, I produced a song for a famous American, Deejay Khaled and a South African rapper, Wiz. Both songs made it to DJ Khaled’s mix-tape in America.
What about Naija Boy?
When I graduated from the film school in 2009, I came back to Nigeria where I released the single, ‘Naija Boy’ and other songs. I spent more than a year on the music before moving over to Abuja.
How do you intend to get back into the industry?
I am combining other things with core music at the moment. While working on another song, I am putting my production studio together. Music is a passion and I will chase it properly. In the process of setting up my production company, people should expect to hear more music from me. I had a song I released recently with Orezi, which is on the airwaves. I am currently working with a couple of deejays.
What music genre are you focusing on at the moment?
What I want to do now is a mixture. I am looking for a new style that will appeal to the market.
Compare the times you were in South Africa to Nigeria, what is the difference?
I combined a lot of things in South Africa. I produced the music videos, ‘Do me’ for P-square, ‘Booty call’ for Mo hits, and some for Sammy Okposo and others. My godfather and I started the South African rush for music videos. We were working together at the time. I directed the music videos while he was the producer. Now that I am in Lagos, there is a lot of profit in music production and performance. I don’t want to face one and neglect the other. I am into video productions, but I don’t plan to do them as much as someone who is doing them about three to four times a week. I will probably handle two videos per week in addition to my music.
Are you finding things challenging or exciting?
It is exciting. People that I knew from the past are still in the industry. Word is spreading out about our studio and the services we render. The relationship is still there, everybody is still interested in what I am doing.
Do you face a situation where people try to take advantage of you because of the familiarity?
Yes. I have friends who want things done free of charge. Sometimes, it is good to do it, especially when you know how far it is going and if it will help your image. A lot of people try to be smart, but one needs to accept the process because everybody has to eat. The best way to work in Nigeria is the way musicians do. They wake up in the morning, create the business for themselves and make the money. It is not a case where they have to go and look for clients who owe them money. That is what we are trying to aim at; a situation where money can be made regardless of a client. Also, because of the way television works in Nigeria, one has to pay TV stations for shows. Independent producers are in trouble. That is why we don’t have many successful production companies. When you are a freelance production company, it becomes difficult because if you have to get a show on TV, you have to pay for the airtime. That means you need an enormous amount of money to start that project before sponsors start buying into it.
You are competing with people like Clarence Peters and other successful music video directors, how do you intend to break in?
I don’t know how the other directors operate, but I have always been friends with everybody. I am not coming in to compete.
What are the challenges you currently face?
The major challenge is that life in Lagos is filled with hustle and bustle. Too many things go wrong every day. There are people who want to cheat others and take advantage of the fact that they are new. Doing anything in Lagos is a challenge. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong before you even start.
How do you see the music industry currently?
The industry is amazing. Now, there is money for everybody, from producers, video directors, models to the managers and technicians. Music is making enough money to pay the whole industry. It is very big now. When we started, the industry was not as big as it is now. It is a multi-billion naira industry currently.
How do you see earnings from record sales in Nigeria?
Earnings for artistes come from shows not record sales. They don’t always know how much they sell and Nigeria is not a country where royalties are paid. Radio stations don’t pay, neither do the TV stations. The thing about the current culture is that something is happening almost every day. If you are very big as an artiste, you are booked almost every day. Artistes make a lot of money performing at shows every weekend.
Tell us about your love life
It is very healthy. I have never been the kind of man to have many women. I just have one person. That is all.
He is famous for his performance with the hit track, ‘Sweet 16’ and ‘Naija boy.’ A multi talented entertainer, Tosin Igho talks about his latest venture into movie production in his latest interview with punch newspaper. Read on and get it all as it is.
You have been missing from the music scene for a while…
I have not been missing but I took a break to work on some projects in Abuja.
How did you delve into music?
The musical gene runs in our family and music has always been a passion of mine. My father was a singer in a band. When I was 17, we started a group called ‘Immaculate.’ Our song, ‘Rock the party’ was very popular in those days and people still remember us from that time. We also made a movie with the backing of my father, Peter Igho and Femi Lasode. After the success of our two songs, I left to attend a film school in South Africa. While in South Africa, I was signed unto Sonny BMG as a producer and musician. I was a member of a group called, ‘The pyramid’ and we released an album that had a single titled, ‘Sweet 16’. We made a lot of profit from the sales. I still get royalties every year from the album sales. As a producer, I produced a song for a famous American, Deejay Khaled and a South African rapper, Wiz. Both songs made it to DJ Khaled’s mix-tape in America.
What about Naija Boy?
When I graduated from the film school in 2009, I came back to Nigeria where I released the single, ‘Naija Boy’ and other songs. I spent more than a year on the music before moving over to Abuja.
How do you intend to get back into the industry?
I am combining other things with core music at the moment. While working on another song, I am putting my production studio together. Music is a passion and I will chase it properly. In the process of setting up my production company, people should expect to hear more music from me. I had a song I released recently with Orezi, which is on the airwaves. I am currently working with a couple of deejays.
What music genre are you focusing on at the moment?
What I want to do now is a mixture. I am looking for a new style that will appeal to the market.
Compare the times you were in South Africa to Nigeria, what is the difference?
I combined a lot of things in South Africa. I produced the music videos, ‘Do me’ for P-square, ‘Booty call’ for Mo hits, and some for Sammy Okposo and others. My godfather and I started the South African rush for music videos. We were working together at the time. I directed the music videos while he was the producer. Now that I am in Lagos, there is a lot of profit in music production and performance. I don’t want to face one and neglect the other. I am into video productions, but I don’t plan to do them as much as someone who is doing them about three to four times a week. I will probably handle two videos per week in addition to my music.
Are you finding things challenging or exciting?
It is exciting. People that I knew from the past are still in the industry. Word is spreading out about our studio and the services we render. The relationship is still there, everybody is still interested in what I am doing.
Do you face a situation where people try to take advantage of you because of the familiarity?
Yes. I have friends who want things done free of charge. Sometimes, it is good to do it, especially when you know how far it is going and if it will help your image. A lot of people try to be smart, but one needs to accept the process because everybody has to eat. The best way to work in Nigeria is the way musicians do. They wake up in the morning, create the business for themselves and make the money. It is not a case where they have to go and look for clients who owe them money. That is what we are trying to aim at; a situation where money can be made regardless of a client. Also, because of the way television works in Nigeria, one has to pay TV stations for shows. Independent producers are in trouble. That is why we don’t have many successful production companies. When you are a freelance production company, it becomes difficult because if you have to get a show on TV, you have to pay for the airtime. That means you need an enormous amount of money to start that project before sponsors start buying into it.
You are competing with people like Clarence Peters and other successful music video directors, how do you intend to break in?
I don’t know how the other directors operate, but I have always been friends with everybody. I am not coming in to compete.
What are the challenges you currently face?
The major challenge is that life in Lagos is filled with hustle and bustle. Too many things go wrong every day. There are people who want to cheat others and take advantage of the fact that they are new. Doing anything in Lagos is a challenge. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong before you even start.
How do you see the music industry currently?
The industry is amazing. Now, there is money for everybody, from producers, video directors, models to the managers and technicians. Music is making enough money to pay the whole industry. It is very big now. When we started, the industry was not as big as it is now. It is a multi-billion naira industry currently.
How do you see earnings from record sales in Nigeria?
Earnings for artistes come from shows not record sales. They don’t always know how much they sell and Nigeria is not a country where royalties are paid. Radio stations don’t pay, neither do the TV stations. The thing about the current culture is that something is happening almost every day. If you are very big as an artiste, you are booked almost every day. Artistes make a lot of money performing at shows every weekend.
Tell us about your love life
It is very healthy. I have never been the kind of man to have many women. I just have one person. That is all.
Need Prayer?) Call: Olaatunbi On 08179675091, 08067367028 The Apostolic Church Of Christ(Higher Ground Parish): Address:12 Celestial Church Street,Off Igbokoda-Okitipupa General Hospital Road, Okitipupa, Ondo.
For Your Advert Placement, Music Promotion And Information Contact: Mr Oluwaseun at nairayouth@gmail.com 08175479919 or 09039648668.
ADD US ON BBM ON 2BB4ED95
Post a Comment