Math Dolce: Staging a comeback to first love

Matthew Onuoha, also known as Math Dolce, is a Nigerian artiste who was formerly based in Italy. He returned to Nigeria to explore his musical talent after discovering that his motherland is the best place to showcase his talent and also because of the kind of music he sings. Signed into Xstacy music in 2014, he released Ego which he featured top music act, Ill Bliss. After a break in music, he resurfaced and released Sisi in which he featured Chocolate City diva, Victoria Kimani, and the song is enjoying massive airplay in various media houses. In this interview with ABIMBOLA OBATAYO, he disclosed why he had a break in music, family issues and his aspirations among others. Enjoy…

Who is Math Dolce?

My real names are Matthew Onuoha Chijioke. I am from Imo State. I was born and brought up in Nigeria before I travelled on a family trip to Italy. I schooled and went to a music school over there and I was also playing soccer to support myself. After everything, I came back to Nigeria to do full music and also because of the kind of music I do. I feel that coming back to Nigeria will give me what I needed, so I decided to come back. I do highlife music and my stage name Math Dolce is coined from my name. Math for Matthew, Dolce is my Italian name which means something sweet. Was music what you wanted to do or because of what it brings to the table? I have a passion for music and it;s something I want to do. If s for money, I would have stayed back in

Italy to play soccer, but I have a passion for music. I just want to do it and when I look back, I will say I have achieved a lot being a legend. It is not because of money yet, money comes in as well but to start with, it the passion. So when did you start music professionally? About six to eight years now, but I signed into Xstacy music in 2014 and towards the end of that year, I dropped rock and roll Ego featuring Ill Bliss and the video was shot by Clarence Peters while ‘Rock and Roll’ was shot by godfather in South Africa. The one you have on ground is Sisi which I featured Victoria Kimani. So I have been working.

Why did it take you so long to release another song after Ego?

Why it took so long was because I wanted to understand the industry well, I wanted to get a good song. I have songs in my archives, but I just wanted to save myself up to that standard that I will be sure I am set to come out. I just needed something good and perfect as well as a good team. Right now, I have a team that I work with, those I can beat my chest and say these guys are good. So when you have this kind of people working for you, you will be able to come out well.

How do you see the music industry compared to where you are coming from?

I see that everybody here is hustling, even if you are good or not you just have to work hard to meet up with the standard. Some artistes drop new songs almost every month, so you just have to work hard to be up there. How do you intend to make yourself known in the industry because after your song with Ill Bliss, a lot of people might have forgotten your face? As you can see, my music is going everywhere and we are working hard to make sure that my face is everywhere. Not only in Nigeria but Africa and I have people working for me in Europe as well. I just have to make everything work well, pray well as well to make people get accustomed to my music. In order for people to know you more, you have to drop more songs

How soon are you dropping another song?

I have songs already, but my management has to decide when I drop them. I have collaborations but I just have to keep that law because it's not me that will decide. You are popular in your own way, if not to everyone but to some people, so how do you cope with your female fans? Yeah, I love them and they love me. I appreciate them and when you sing, you still have to give them that respect because I respect women a lot.

What inspires your songs?

I can just say it’s God’s gift. I might be somewhere thinking, and I can just say, why don’t I use this and from there, I bring it up. It’s like a story, I just need to get the video in me and through the video I write my songs.

What motivates you to want to do more?

It’s the passion that I have for it and I don’t think I can stop because I so much love music. Even when I am angry, music makes me happy, so I don’t think I can stop it. We have a lot of fine acts in Nigeria, which of them would you want to work with? I like the way someone like Flavour sings, Davido is working well and others. These guys are doing great job. I also love when Wande Coal sings.

Asides music, what else do you do?

We have a family business, I don’t want to open it up here. So apart from music, it’s soccer. So many people complain of artistes in Nigeria because of the kind of songs they release, based on the content. How do you want to deliver to your fans as well as doing something creative that will stand the test of time? I always think about that anytime I work in the studio or write my songs. I don’t want to do a song whereby it will fade off tomorrow. I love to do songs that people will listen to for a very long time. So I always look into that anytime I work. So far, you have worked with two famous acts, what can you say about them? Ill Bliss is a great man to work with. I see him as a boss in the industry. I respect him a lot and Victoria Kimani is a very good person to be with. We still have a lot to do together in the future.

Where do you see the music industry in five years?

It’s going to be a great one. If you watch now, a lot of Nigerian artistes are doing collaborations with international artistes. So I see the industry up there if we keep working hard.

Are you in a relationship?

For now, No. I am glued to my music. I’m still searching.