Interview With Timi Dakolo
I had not been home for five years and my dad was excited to have me to himself that day, after complaining that I was out too much. We were attending Praise Jam 2008 and most of all he was excited to see Timi Dakolo perform. “Who?” I asked. “Timi; he was the winner of West African Idols 2007. Don’t worry you will hear how awesome he is”.
My dad is over 50.
This was the first time I heard of him and that night after he performed “Let it Shine”, I could see why my dad loved him. I never heard of him again till the video of his first single “I Love You” from his self – titled album “TIMI” came out.
Boy, was I impressed!
His voice is like no other we have heard from a Nigerian Artist. If you are like me when you hear him the first time, you are implored to hear more, to see if indeed this is his voice or just the strain of his nostrils. That’s what hooks you. He convinces you with the strength behind his vocals. His song – writing skills are even more enviable. His music inspires and encourages and is soul stirring. This is somebody destined for greatness and all the glory that comes with it.
His self-titled album “Timi” will be out for sale across the continent March 2010 and I for one cannot wait. After hearing about his album listening party on the 20th of January, which happens to be his birthday, we at Angonemi.Com had to hear from “the horse’s mouth”, and he was gracious enough to accept our invitation to interview him. You can tell a lot from this interview, the kind of person he is and what makes him a successful artist.
One on One with Timi Dakolo.
- I think the first question anyone wants to know right now is who the beautiful woman in your video is and if you guys are dating? *Bawo and I are not dating! Lol! She was doing her job! She’s a model! But I’ll tell her she was paid a compliment! And thank you on her behalf!*
- If you are not dating, was the song inspired by any true person? * The song was written a while back when I was going through the same thing my character went through in the video! And yes, it was inspired by true incidents!*
- Which begs the question; do you write your own songs, have writers or collaborate with people? * I write my own songs but because I’m working with the brilliant Cobhams Asuquo, he co-wrote some of the songs with me!*
- When choosing your songs, what inspires you? Is there a particular message you are trying to put across? *Each song tells a story! I’m inspired by different things when I write, sometimes it’s my situation and at other times, people’s situation. And yes, there is a message in each song- a message of love, hope, and laughter!*
- When your career is over somewhere in the long future, what would you want people to say about you, what do you want your legacy to portray? * I’d like to be known as one of the greatest that came out of the otherwise ‘dark’ continent!” I’d want to be remembered for a making a difference! To share the same hall of fame with the world’s greatest while letting my country’s flag fly proudly!*
- Everyone has goals. So what is yours for the next 5 – 10years? * To better my skills as a musician! To keep turning out music that the people will love and of course, to have given something back to the society that has given me so much!*
- What do you have to say to those critiques of the Nigerian Music Industry? * I have nothing to say to them! Lol! Somehow, I ‘m glad they are there! They help me work harder on perfecting my art! Every society needs them! It’d just be better if they would criticize fairly.*
- When you think of your sound, your voice? Who are you most likely to compare it to? And how does it affect what your idea of your sound shall be? *My sound…my voice! I didn’t choose the way I sound! God gave it to me! Lol! I’ve been told I sound like Lemar/Seal/Jaheim and its a great honor to be compared to these great musicians and that only makes me work harder ‘cos a bar has been set and I have to go beyond it!*
- Can you give us a little insight into the industry in Nigeria? What are some of the politics that go on behind the scenes; and how you have been able to succeed? * Wow! Politics!? Every industry has its own share of politics, you cannot remove politics from entertainment but u can remove yourself from the politics and rise above it!*
- You have a university degree, but it seems like most artists (and not only in Nigeria) don’t have one. Why did you feel it was important to complete it and how can we encourage our youths to follow their dream and still have a degree? *Someone always told me to have a back-up plan always! God forbid but what if something happens to my voice tomorrow? How will I survive?! Music is great and it’s a fantastic ride while you are at the top but we all know nothing lasts forever, we just pray to last long enough to make a difference! My advice to them is that they should follow their dreams because sometimes that’s all you need but they should never forget reality. Get an education, it doesn’t hurt to have that under your belt along with everything else!*
- What is a typical day in Timi’s life? And how have your past struggles and disappointments helped you in the business and in your personal life. *Typical day is me and my PS3! Lol! That’s when I’m not writing songs or when Cobhams or my manager is not drilling me! Lol! My struggles and disappointments? I call them life’s experiences that have helped to shape me as an individual! And that has made me the person that I am today!*
- People have said it is easier to be more of a success in Nigeria if you are male. Why do you think this is so, and how do you think the females can breakthrough in the industry. * I don’t think so! Good music sells itself whether you are female or male! We have successful female artistes in Nigeria and their sex has not stopped them from achieving their goals! Artistes like Asa, Nneka, Ara, Omawumi, Kel, Sasha and so many more! If your music is good, it will be heard and will be a success whether you are male or female!*
- What has been if any your biggest price of fame and success? What has been the biggest blessing likewise? *Biggest blessing would be, the opportunity I have been given and the biggest price….would have to be my loss of privacy I guess! Lol!*
- Congratulations on the album release. What inspired if anything at all the title “I Choose Greatness”? * I Choose Greatness was a working title! My management and I have settled for ‘TIMI’ as the title of the album because the album is my story….each song tells a story of my life! The sad, the happy stories! The struggles of growing up! The joys of falling in love! It speaks my story.*
- Describe the moment you got the final copy of your album. How satisfying was that feeling? *lol! What do you think?! Phew! Sometimes I still don’t believe it…but I’m grateful to God and the producer of the album…..Cobhams! I know its not easy working with me! Lol! It felt fulfilling!*
- At the album listening party, explain to us how you felt and what the experience was like? *It was one of the best birthday gifts to receive! I felt so loved and I’m grateful to everyone that came through!*
- What was the feedback from the party and since then? * Oh the feedback has been great! People really want the album…..! Lol! Wow! But we are working on it! *
- Who else contributed to the album and what was the reason for the choices? * I had a few people on the album….a few very talented individuals….people like MI, Jesse Jagz, Joan of the Idols fame, Cobhams Asuquo, Yemi Sax and of course my brother, Elvis a.k.a Mr Shawn (he likes to be called that!).They all contributed to the album and I had my different reasons for working with them, but when you buy the album, you’d understand!
- What genre would you label this album? Any ideas to diversify if it all? * Wow! Errm! I don’t have a genre yet, it’s a potpourri of different genres! There’s something for everyone on this album! And I mean, Everyone!*
- Any plans for an international release? Online retail? How far a market are you hoping to reach, and might you be considering moving abroad to gain further notoriety? *We intend to bring a bit of Timi into every household! My management is putting a distribution plan that’ll cater to everyone together! Online…..music stores….street vendors…..everywhere.
- Where can those of us in the States get this album? * The album will be available online for people outside Nigeria to buy*
- Thank you for the opportunity to interview you. I appreciate it and Congrats again
Thank you for the opportunity!
Heaven Please
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Your information in this article contain seriously made it simpler for, many thanks
This was really good. Kudo’s Neefemi.
I just love Timi’s voice right from Idol and I’m happy for him that the album is finally out. All the best to him.
Timi is not a university graduate. Why all this falsehood being repeated all the time over and over again. Let him produce a university degree certificate. What did he study? Which school did he graduate from? Which year? Has he done his youth service? This is an outrage. A scandal.
By the way, Madam Manager answered all the questions for Timi. He doesn’t have the ability to answer simple questions coherently. Not that it matters to anyone anyway. Phew!
Lovely interview. Nice opening.
@Artistes 4 truth… wow! U sound like a hater, a deep one. Probably a hurt person, mayb Timi wronged u sometime ago. Of all u read u had nothing positive u saw in dr. Wow! Relax & get a life!
I bumped into another {great|good} post today….
I saw this really great post today….
I fell in love with Timi’s voice from his audition for West Africa Idols and proclaimed him the winner at that moment. Timi not only sings brilliantly, but he is a great performer as well. When he sings, he puts everything into it. He sings from his heart.
Just breezing by to check if Timi Dakolo has answered our questions or corrected the falsehood in this interview. Still keeping shut, and pretending that lies would fly. We shall see.
@Esther: All we want is that Nigerian artistes tell the truth. We are calling out other Nigerian acts who perpetuate lies in order to build a profile. This page is about Timi hence, we direct our question at him. Over and beyond Timi, we are a group of people very angry at lies and whoever is telling it. If a politician lies about his education history, I don’t think he will last in office. So, why allow people in entertainment claim what they are not and get away with it. It is not just an insult to the public, but these false claims disparage to institutions they lie about attending because they never live up to the billing. I have had artiste who claim to be university graduates in their interviews, walk up to me and be unable to speak proper English or unable to write simple sentences. At first, I wondered what kind of university would graduate these people. Till I realised that the artiste was lying. So rather than try to personalise my simple request for the truth from Timi, you may do well to ask Timi to start telling the truth about his educational qualification. Nobody asks a singer to show his college degree before listening to his music. So, it’s not clear to us by people just have to tell lies that don’t help them in anyway, but could ruin them in the long run.
I’m not here to droll over Timi or his music, which I have no comment on because I am music deaf. I can’t tell good from bad when it comes to music. All I am after, is that people in entertainment tell the truth and stop deceptive advertising.
@ Artiste For truth, Stop beefing, for those of us who know the young man, we don’t doubt your story. In the interview, He never even said he’s a graduate but that doesn’t make him a dunce.. I think his whole programme went into thin air with the Idols audition after which he got 2 scholarships from his state government that did not materialize alongside the Recording contract but that doesn’t take away the shine from who he is. I know someday he’ll still go back to school cos he is truly cut out for that. Please go get a life!!!!!!!
@Replier without a name …
They told Martin Luther King to go get a life. They told Nelson Mandela to go get a life. So, I have no response to that cheap remark. We disagree with you, lying is a great character flaw and it takes the shine of a glowing talent.
Read this interview well, Timi conveniently agrees with the interviewer who assumes that he is a university graduate. So, it is a claim.
*You have a university degree, but it seems like most artists (and not only in Nigeria) don’t have one. Why did you feel it was important to complete it and how can we encourage our youths to follow their dream and still have a degree? *Someone always told me to have a back-up plan always! God forbid but what if something happens to my voice tomorrow? How will I survive?! Music is great and it’s a fantastic ride while you are at the top but we all know nothing lasts forever, we just pray to last long enough to make a difference! My advice to them is that they should follow their dreams because sometimes that’s all you need but they should never forget reality. Get an education, it doesn’t hurt to have that under your belt along with everything else!*
Of course, he may not be able to lie to those who know him well. But not correcting this impression is tantamount to lying. Going ahead to confirm the notion that he has one in his reply is lying. All we want, is a public statement on the truth about his educational history to put the records that he created, straight. Is that too much to ask?
All u TIMI haters u will remain where u are and he will succeed and if u have any problem with him succeeding jump into the ocean.lol Artiste for true who made u judge over people Wat certificate do u have.