Niyola: An artist should not be pressurize to drop new songs at all time

Eniola Akinbo better known by music lovers as Niyola is one female act in the entertainment industry in Nigeria who has proved her consistency in the game as a musician. The sultry singer, who is the first lady of Empire Mate Entertainment (EME), in this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, opens up on her world of music, growing up and what her fans should expect this year. Enjoy…
Ahead of Eargasm concert, what difference are you bringing on board?

I am bringing my all, myself, my music and all that matters; no matter what an artist does even though you have seen an artist perform before it’s like a new experience every time because am not coming to perform from the CD; now you are experiencing it live and I want you to be in the space with me as I was when I was recording the song. I want you to feel what I felt when I was forming the song in the studio, and people will always hear what they saw and people they know what they feel what I mean to you.

What’s your view on the line-up of artistes for this year’s edition?

I can say that the line-up is fantastic and you can’t expect less from the bunch of talents coming around to perform. I feel excited that I am a part of this year’s edition and I want to show the world the other side of me that they are yet to know. My performance is far beyond just doing DJ track one regular type of thing like most shows does. I feel honored that I will sharing the same stage with super talented stars like 2Face Idibia, Adekunle Gold, Kelly Handsome, Yinka Davies, Shina Peters to mention but few.

You had a break in the middle of last year, was that deliberate?

I really don’t know what that means am just really part of the   Nigeria music industry  and people are expecting an artist to be dropping a song every month, really think I will be this expensive , there is nowhere in the world that is been done. An artist shouldn’t be pressurize to drop a new song every month. I drop a new song in May and the next one I dropped was in September and I don’t think that is too much because I was supposed to drop my album last year.  I think Nigerians are just too impatient. If you visit the mall people drop two songs in a month, three songs in a month I don’t am not that type of artist, you know Nigerians needs to be accepting artist the way they are; and there is more pops that I make and am not going to be turning out music want to do so I won’t be dropping songs like that.

When then should we be expecting an album from you?

All I can say is that all hands are on deck, although the album is ready, little corrections still needs to be done and as such we are working towards releasing the album before the end of the year.

Any working title?

I won’t be revealing that now no matter the pressure, just wait on it and see the finish result.

Any collaborations?

Yes, there are going to be collaboration, but you will find out everything when the album is out

What has kept you going in the music world?

Whether in the music world or the real world, one needs strength as a human being and as a female to survive. My principles which are deeply rooted in my upbringing and also my faith in God keeps me going.

As a graduate of English language, one would have thought that you will end up being a teacher or a journalist. Why music?

I know of people who studied English language and work in banks. I’m sure you do too. This is Nigeria. Anyway, to answer your question, music is my first love. Everything else is acquired but music is inborn. When did you actually discover your music talent? My dad helped me discover I could sing at nine by making me write songs and taking me to concerts and eventually making me to sing at a church conference.

What was growing up like for you?

I come from a large family, so growing up was an experience. I always had several people in my house and it was really interesting, experiencing and dealing with different personalities.

These days we see musicians delve into acting. Do you have any plans to do so too?

I have actually read a few scripts and been offered a few parts. I have also made some appearances in some small productions. Acting is something that interests me a lot. But, like in everything I do, the story has to intrigue me. The script must challenge me.

What is that one thing we don’t know about you?

If I told you now, it would no longer be private. I’m a very private person, so chances are those things that are not known about me will never be known about me.

If you are given the opportunity to change one thing in the entertainment industry, what would that be and why?

It would be the stereotype because it stunts the growth of real talent especially for the younger ones. It makes it almost impossible to evolve as an artiste.

For someone who has been in the music industry for some time now, are you satisfied with the lot of females in music these days as compared to 10 years ago?

I would say I am impressed more than I am satisfied because satisfaction is final and absolute. These ladies have really grown in their craft and I think that’s what’s most important. The rest won’t be too far if things are in place.   What would be that achievement that would make you feel a sense of accomplishment? Well, I am of the opinion that having the talent to sing is a platform to give me the clout I need to achieve my life’s true purpose which is giving strength to others in whatever it might apply. When I have successfully done that on a level that the world feels the impact and people can boldly say that they carried on and didn’t give up because of me, then I would have accomplished success.

What do you look out for before getting into a relationship?

The little yet basic things like honesty, discipline, self-respect, fear of God and confidence.

Aside for the coming Eargasm concert, what other things are you working on?

Apart from my album which is dropping pretty soon, there is something I started last year which I want to continue and make a yearly event which is the ‘Yours Truly’ event which lovers of good music and majorly my fans come experience the life of an artist through quality live performance, no Auto tone and no mixing. With the Yours Truly concert, as an artist I see it as a business and I think is wrong to deprive most people who really care about your music of the opportunity to see you, and that is it and am working on it not just about releasing the album but also letting the people see and know. Also, I am working on another project which is a self-empowerment development programme, that am involved in and I want to use my popularity as an artist to develop  people and I want to start with the women. With the self- empowerment programme, I equally I want to use myself as a tools of National transformation. National transformation begins with you, home and community, society and the entire country as a whole.