My woman must have good cooking skills —Harrysong

Harrison Okiri but popularly known as Harrysong, is one of the raving musical artistes who have upped his game in the entertainment industry, dishing out good quality songs that have kept his teaming fans riding along with him. The five- star music actor who became well known on the Nigerian music scene with the hit song, ‘Beta Pikin’, is not relenting on his good work. As part of his good will, Harrysong staged the maiden edition of his One Delta Peace Concert to foster peace amongst the Niger Delta Region, an initiative that received positive response. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Harrysong reminisces his work in 2016, his aim with the peace concert, new project and why future wife must be a good cook.

It’s barely two months to the end of the year; how has your 2016 journey been so far?

2016 has been challenging, fruitful, amazing because we have achieved a lot, went on tour in Dallas, Houston and Maryland. One music feast was an eye opener for me because of the massive crowd responding to not just the songs but the brand name, ‘Harrysong’. The welcoming and love were just so amazing.   Regarding what we can do in the last month remaining in this year, as a writer I try as much as possible to check what’s going on around me before putting out a song to my audience out there. There is a song we are about to drop called Bakana. In the next one week, the video is ready and was shot in Atlanta.

What was the aim of your first major concert held in your state and should we be expecting an album soon?

The main aim of the One Delta Peace Concert was to give another face of the Niger Delta race which is not just about fighting and war. It was to create a voice of peace and form a peaceful atmosphere where people can come, have fun and also pass across the right message. And as for the album, we were meant to drop an album before the end of the year but that won’t be possible anymore because of the many programmes on ground. It has been postponed to the first quarter of the New Year.

Still on the One Delta Peace Concert, if there had been no crisis in the Niger Delta region; would you have gone ahead with having the concert?

Yes, but we would have tagged it something else like, ‘Harrysong live in Warri’ or ‘Harrysong back home’ and it wouldn’t have come up this fast. It will amaze you that the concert took us just three months to plan because of the many issues on ground and the state government was very supportive and helpful.

We look forward to holding it every year in different states of the Niger Delta.

Would you say that the aim of holding the concert was achieved?

Yes .It was because the youths were given opportunity to air their views, opinions and re-orientation programmes took place as well as talent showcasing . I can boldly say that the aim of the concert was achieved and that is one of the major reasons why we want to make it a yearly thing.

With your album dropping next year, what is the direction of the album and who are those expected to feature on the project?

Over the years, the brand, Harrysong, has been trying to develop and improve on both the sound and the message .If you have been following the sound from ‘I’m in love’ ‘Ofeshe’, ‘better pikin’,’Reggae Blues’ and the most recent, ‘Baba for the girls’, you will see the way we change  and progress we have made. For the album, it took different direction as we have different genres of songs with best collaborations with my other colleagues that include Olamide, Flavour, Timaya, MI, Orezi, Iyanya, and Kcee amongst others.

With the One Delta Peace Concert, talents were discovered, what will you say is the way forward for those talents discovered?

The state is supporting the programme. The governor is trying to create an office and platform for them because they are talented but confused .They don’t know how to go about recording and going on sessions. We are recording some artistes already; we have comedians too .So, we are creating platforms for them and I think they are still in the building process and when they are fully ready, I will unveil them to the world.

Speculation has it that you have issues with your label, 5Star music, how true is that?

The thing is I am Harrysong and have said it several times, 5star music is home, we are cool and we are together. If my contract expires and probably leaving here, 5star should be able to launch something new for me. I have got my own various businesses oversee, I don’t see myself leaving 5star to another record label.

Other businesses like?

First, Football is not my thing even though I have the physique. For now, I am an entertainer and also into properties and some other acquired businesses.

Being an entertainer, what would you say makes you stand out?

All these years, I won’t say it’s been easy but it has been the grace of God. It has been my dream not to fail, but to make my grandma proud and the dream has kept me going all through the years. The picture of where I am coming from keeps me going. Work and pray.

Music has given so much success, fame, it has made your dreams come true, what has music taken away from you?

It has given me a lot and yes, it has taken away my freedom of movement and speech. Sometimes, I’d like to go back to my roots and do the way I did before, but it’s never possible anymore because things have changed. I am that kind of person that want to stop by the roadside and buy roasted plantain and feel good.

When is Harrysong getting married?

When the right person comes along, I will let you all know.

Some of your colleagues in the industry now have affiliations with international labels, are you also working towards that?

No, that’s not and has never been my intention. If they do come around and say they like what we do and equally want to come together with the brand, they will need to talk to my record label. For now, I am not working towards that, I’m satisfied, blessed and doing ok with what I have.

Your fashion trend had changed over the years from when you first came into the limelight, what else should we expect from you?

This is Harrysong, and he is all about serious business. We can’t change the name, so we just change how he looks, spice the brand up so we don’t get boring but the sound, music while person remains the same.

A lot of people consider a woman who is good in the Kitchen and with sound minds as criteria for marriage; would you settle for a woman who does not know how to cook?

I can’t see myself marrying a woman who doesn’t know how to cook. I love food especially Egusi soup and Eba as my favorite and also Banga soup. I can cook for my wife, assist my wife but at least a woman should be able to attract a man with these certain qualities aside from her duties in the other room.

How do you like them, tall or short?

The height doesn’t matter, as long as she’s beautiful and presentable.

Is Harrysong creating his own label and signing anybody soon?

No, I am not.