I don’t want to be a one hit song star-Junior Boy

He came into the industry not quite long and took over with his master single titled ‘ Irapada’ featuring Alapomeji legend ‘9ice ‘, a song that has turned into a national anthem and currently receiving massive air play across the state.  For Ebute Meta breed, Ephraim Bababo better known as Junior Boy, his musical dexterity and stage presence is compared to none as he is ready to take over the industry with his Afro-Pop and dance hall style. Cornered recently, Junior Boy spoke with MUTIAT ALLI on his musical career amongst others.

Recently you were nominated in the Most Promising Act at the just concluded City People Music award, how does that make you feel?

Well the nomination meant a lot to me, it shows that my work is been recognised and I am beginning to gain public presence. It does not matter if I win at the end of the day but the fact that I was given a nomination and that been my first since I started music professionally; it can only be God.

Your song Irapada is presently gain much presence; what brought about the song?

A lot of people don’t know that the song talks more about my hustle for survival; when you listen to the song very well, you catch a glimpse of all that I am saying. In the song I sang about changing from old school to new school, how I want to change my style and fit in into the society properly.

What inspired your choice of 9ice on the song?

If you listen to the song properly, you will see that the style requires 9ice. I have the original version of the song. It was like a request because everybody was talking about it and saying if 9ice should jump on this song, it would be much more better and apparently, that was my choice too.

Knowing that you have a kind of familiar voice texture with 9ice, were not challenged in the studio to want to go extra mile?

First it was more of a privilege for me working with 9ice in the same studio as this is somebody I have always watched while growing up and couple the fact that he is my mentor and someone that I love so much. It was more of a blessing for me working with me; even though a lot of people says we have similar voice texture, 9ice remains evergreen forever and nothing can change that; I sound like me.

With Irapada gathering so much momentum, do you think you can still record a song better than this?

Of course, I still have songs that I know will do well than my present song, I don’t want to be a one hit songs star, I want to be relevant in the industry just the way 9ice is; even after his few break from the industry, he was still big and remains big.  I have a new song and video coming out titled ‘My Prayer’ which I believe will stand the test of time and equally I have a new song with musical Taliban ‘Oritsefemi’.

You doing more of inspirational songs, is it your own kind of strategy in the industry?

You can call it strategy as the case maybe me but for my brand, I love to focus more on songs people can easily relate with and that is why I spoke about my struggle, street and prayer song. At times most of the lyrics in our song inspire a lot of people and that is what I want to achieve with my sound.

If you are to choose a label from the popular ones we have already, which would you wish you are signed on and why?

Honestly, I think I love EME music spare-headed by Banky W because looking at their trend, they have successfully produced a lot of great artistes that includes Wizkid, Skales, and Niyola amongst others. Hence, I am not saying that the other popular labels are not good enough; for me I just have this special string for EME. I so much respect the CEO, Banky W who is talented and reserved.

Where does junior boy see himself two to three years from now?

Only God can predict that for me but in fairness to all I see myself doing great things, winning awards.

For someone just blowing up, what strategy have you put in place so as not to be distracted by fame?

Anywhere I go I always see myself as same with everybody. There is no difference. I don’t have this pride. Let it not be as if because I sang Irapada now I have changed or anything. I still remain the Normal Junior. So that’s it!