How Talking Too Much Got Me into Trouble Nayosoul

Odunayo Ayorinde, a.k.a, Nayosoul, may be new in Nigeria’s music industry, however, she’d pitched her tent with the superstars already. A lawyer by training, a firm person and a gogetter, Nayosoul debuts clutching the horn of soul. She opens up on her journey into the world of music and how she hopes to claim her crown.

 

How was growing up like?
I grew up in a family with four girls.My parents were very strict considering the values they set. I grew up with a very strict Christian background and it still affects most of the decisions I take, even as an adult. My grandmother, mother and aunts were all in the choir and because I was very close to my maternal side, singing became part of me. Soon, my sister and I also joined the choir and the whole thing just flowed from the oldest to the youngest. My sisters and I have always been close, but, we also fought a lot. If I were to rate, my father was very strict, unlike my mother, who was a bit lenient, but, never spared the rod. But I started doing serious music during my university days at the University of Lagos, whilestudying Law between 2003 and 2008.

 

Why Law, in the first place?
While growing up, I used to talk a lot and nobody could shut me up. I always had my own opinion about everything. I’m still that way, but more matured and I also know when and what not to say. So, when people saw how much I could talk, naturally, they started saying I would be a good  lawyer. I also watched a lot of legal series back in the days and somehow, I started thinking I was perfect for it. But it was after I started studying Law that I realised that being a talkative and being a lawyer are two different things. It took me a while to adjust but when I did, I started enjoying it. I love books, I love school and I love exams, so I’m happy I studied a professional course. One day, I’ll go back to study music too.

 

I’m sure talking too much would have gotten you into trouble, sometimes…
Many times! Even now, that I’m older and more matured. I know there were things I should have kept to myself, but, they found their way out of my mouth.

 

Like what?
I remember a time I overheard a conversation and went ahead to tell my friend, but, had no idea my mother overheard me talking from the balcony. I can never forget the long conversation we had about it afterwards. But she thought I hadn’t learnt my lessons, so she grounded me for days and made me do all the cooking and cleaning. My sisters made it worse for me because they were allowed to go out and play. And anytime they returned they would make jest of me. Although, I can’t remember whose story I told my friend about, but, I remember feeling horrible afterwards.

 

So what happened after you joined the choir at a young age?
After joining the choir when I was 14 years old, there was a day the teen choir was to minister, so I took the solo. My choir director noticed me and by the time I joined fully, I was already a soloist. Soon, I fell in love with music and started writing my own songs. Then, when I got into the university in 2003, I started singing alone on stage as an artist. I sang in the Christian fellowship choir and started growing with music. To be honest, I didn’t think I would end up in professional music because, at a point, I stopped singing in 2007 to focus on my final year in school. I just thought that I’d had enough fun with music and it was time to face real life.

So why return to it?

It was between 2009 and 2010 when I felt something was missing in me. Although, I wasn’t sure what it was, but, later, my friend, who became my manager, Ijeoma Evander Aniemeke, kept talking about how I used to do music while in school and kept asking me why I wasn’t doing it anymore. Then he took me to a producer friend, Effiok and then to Cobhams Asuquo. Being around music made me realise how much I missed it. That’s when I started writing inspirational soul music. It took me almost a year to write a song that I was happy with it because I wasn’t in love with my first single. My team pushed me to release the song and I’m so grateful I did.

 

That’s what the like of Iyanya said, but now, he’s dumped R&B for Hip-Hop and Dancehall. I’m sure you will soon do same…
I don’t think I will. I’m not saying it’s wrong to change your style of music, Iyanya wasn’t wrong to have rebranded. But, I’m not sure I can do his kind of music

 

But soul artistes hardly get shows in Nigeria…
Nneka and Asa have had endorsemen deals and have shows in Nigeria and abroad. Same thing goes for Bez. I have come to accept what and where the market is and that’s where my shows come from. If you don’t accept that as an alternative artiste in Nigeria, your market is limited to a certain people, then, you will get increasingly frustrated.

 

So how do you intend to compet with the like of Cobhams, Lami, Asa, Bez, Waje and Nneka?
Bez, Cobhams and others have put in much work. It didn’t happen overnight for them and I’m willing to work harder too. Hopefully one day, I will become a reference point to other artistes too. My music is great and I’ll keep pushing until it goes international.

 

I can imagine the look on your parents’ faces when you told them you wanted to abandon law for music…
My dad and I used to argue about music, two or three years ago. But I think they have both seen my persistence and that their fear that I would become a different person is unfounded. To be honest, my mom seems to be coming around a little more than my dad. My extended family and sisters on the other hand, completely, support me.

 

So what are you working on now?
Ultimately, the album, but right now, I’m starting work on an extended play (EP). I’m recording the first single of the EP, it was released in November. I released my first video for the song, Go Where You Are, starring OC Ukeje some months ago and, hopefully, another one will drop any moment. Hope your boyfriend supports you, because some guys get jealous whenever they see guys coming around their girlfriend…

 

How do you know I have a boyfriend?
So you are denying him in public! Let’s just say I’m in a happy place. That means you are with a guy that treats you well and doesn’t get jealous I won’t be with a jealous guy.

 

You know, most female entertainers have issues maintaining relationships. That’s why they remain single for a long time…
Entertainers, generally. I’m not sure it’s a gender thing. Nothing in life comes easy, especially, when you are in a relationship. It’s hard work. Both parties have to be willing to work hard at the relationship. That means you will soon get married. That’s nice! Soon, eventually, now, next month, next year! It will happen when God says it will. I don’t stress myself about it, especially, since I have so much going on in my everyday life, but, you’ll hear about it when I am to get married.