From MTN Project Fame to Lokoja

Congratulation on the launch of your debut album?
Thank you very much
What has been going through your mind since the release?
I’m just excited, super excited, I can’t wait for the world to hear my music and appreciate the brand Jeff.

Everybody of worth comes with a story; what is the story behind the album?
The album was a different story that just got bumped up into a full package which is Lokoja, it’s for a diverse audience such that there is always a particular song that will appeal to you at any given time. The major story of the album is preaching unification amongst several audiences. So the album is like general knowledge we do in school.

Will you say as a son from Lokoja influence the title of the album?
Definitely. Like I said Kogi state that’s where I am from, and Lokoja is the capital of Kogi state and my music is a music that translates psychology to different places, it appeals to different people, to the Africans, by God’s grace to the white crowd, to Europe, to different part of Africa too so that’s the idea of Lokoja.
One of your song ‘Shanu’ struck me with the strong lyrics; what inform the music?
Well for Shanu, I heard the beat and it just connects to every part of my soul and I was just like God should just have Mercy on all of us. And thank him for all the things he has done in my life, so just give him praise. The song further tells more about my struggle in the industry and life generally.

OK, the album also has your input on different artists, and different directors, producers rather, so which of that song is so dear and so deep to you?
Everything. Everything affects me in different ways, so they are all active they all did something to me.

Your album shows how diverse you are; did your management influence the output of the entire album?
For me a musician, I don’t want to be boxed-up to a certain genre of music and that with my debut album; I have been able to showcase to the world that I can fit into any genre of music at any given time. In as much as I make music according to how I feel, I am also conscious of the messages of some of my music. As to the influence of my management; we sit down as a team to see to the smooth outcome of the album at the end of the day.

Shokolokobangoshe for me is out of your own comfort zone while recording, did you ever believe the music will come out this good?
Shokolokobangoshe, I won’t say it’s out of my comfort zone because I have always loved music being that it was the first time attempting to do that kind of music so it was always good. So like I said it was experimental but I knew what I was doing, it was great and I am glad I was able to pull through.

How has the relationship been since you joined Temple Management?
A lot has changed for me and the fact that the entire members and the team of Temple Management are good people; they don’t get to treat you as an artist but as a family; like the slogan of my CEO, ‘ Be the Movement’ and indeed we are in all ramifications. I have never lacked anything since I joined them and as such, I have been exposed to a lot of things I do not know when it comes to growing my brand.

Take the music away from Jeff, who is Jeff?
Jeff is just Jeff, Jeff is music. I was born to this so definitely doing and giving my best at it always. The truth is if I have done music then I am not Jeff. So, in essence, Jeff is music; Music is Jeff.

Will you say that being a product of a popular music contest (MTN Project Fame) has shaped your life musically?
Definitely, Project fame was just a bus stop, it’s just like a gas station where I feel up my tank and go. So big up to all the teams of MTN Project Fame for giving me that wonderful platform to ride on. They have changed so many people’s lives through that platform and I was equally opportune to be of them. I owe it to me and to God Almighty for sustaining me this far.

Your new album has few collaborations from some of the industries rising stars; in all your collaborations, which do you love more?
I think it will be totally wrong if I begin to pick a particular song against others because all those I worked with from the artists down to the producers are amazing people and are people I appreciate their respective bodies of work. Throughout the process of the album; I have been able to learn from each and every one on the project and as such, I appreciate all of them from the bottom of my heart.