The Wrap Up`s Afrobeat columnist Nonny Orakwue recently caught up
with Davido one of Nigeria`s hottest new kids on the block. Making his
emergence on the scene in 2011 with the smash βΛBack When`, the teenage artist and producer has already performed to audiences in four continents, opened for D`Banj and been nominated for a string of awards. We speak to Davido about the evolution of the Nigerian music industry, his heart throb status and moreβΒ¦
The Wrap Up: How would you describe your sound in three
words?
Davido: Sexy, enjoyable and danceable.
TWU: You could be described as a triple threat with your skills
in performing and production. How did you start out?
Davido: I started as a producer at first in Nigeria, just pushing local artists, then I just thought I would sing. I got tired of taking my work to the studio to get mixed, so I learnt that too and that`s how I got into the producing, singing and engineering.
TWU: Which artists have influenced your sound and music?
Davido: A lot of Nigerian artists, from 2Face to D`Banj. I like American
music as well, people like Timbaland, Pharrell, Vybz Kartel, Movado a
mixture of stuff really.
TWU: You`re best known for your two distinctive hits βΛBack When` and βΛDami Duro`. If you could have any artist remix
them, who would it be?
Davido: Chris Brown and Tyga for βΛDami Duro` because I heard a DJ mix
on the internet where they put Chris Brown`s verse on it and it was
insane. For βΛBack When` I`d put Rick Ross on it for something hard.
TWU: What was the inspiration behind βΛDami Duro and βΛBack
When`?
Davido: I recorded βΛBack When` in London on Old Kent Road. I just did
it; I came back from the club and went straight into the studio and that`s when it just came out thank God it worked. I recorded βΛDami Duro` back in October. In Nigeria I was getting a lot of critics asking if I was a one hit wonder, so I made that song for the haters really but I`m happy with how it came out.
TWU: You hooked up with UK afrobeats artist Dotstar on the
βΛExpensive` remix. How did that come about and do you have plans to work with any other UK artists?
Davido: My manager was helping Dotstar with some stuff when I heard that Dr. Sid was there me and him are close, so I just hopped on it. I want to work with Tinie of course. And L Marshall; we went to high school together before he moved out here and we`re planning to do something as well. Tinchy tooβΒ¦ that`s it really.
TWU: When you`re not making music, what do you usually get
up to?
Davido: I chill with my cousins and friendsβΒ¦ but my life has always
been around music. I`m trying not to slow down because in this industry
I feel like there`s always somebody out there that`s hungrier than you and wants your spot. If you try and relax, somebody will take it. So I`m Just trying to work, work, workβΒ¦ I`m not even trying to take a break at all.
TWU: Which three items can`t you leave the house without?
Davido: My phone, of course! My headphones, because I try and take
them everywhere so that I can listen to stuffβΒ¦ and my ATM card.
TWU: Right now in African entertainment you`re seen as a bit of a heartthrob. What is your ideal woman?
Davido: I don`t really have an ideal woman, it is just whoever I fall in love with; but she would be smart and have her own money because I`m not into girls who just want money. I`d like someone who has her own goals and who would support my stuff.
TWU: You and the whole HKN crew are quite distinct in your style you dress in a similar fashion to UK and US artists. What has been the response from the older generation in Nigeria?
Davido: If I am performing at a wedding or something I make sure not
to expose my body, but I feel like the people that really care about things like that are getting older and younger people are replacing them. In America, there are a lot of things you can get away with in the industry you can have sex tapes or pictures of people smoking and people don`t really care. I am not saying that it is right, but I feel like in
Nigeria people are moving more towards that direction; but people have to be careful. I look at myself as a role model and I wouldn`t want kids looking at me saying βΛDavido has tattoos, I want tattoos!`
TWU: Speaking about the evolution of the Nigerian music industry, where do you see it going?
Davido: I see it going super international. We have D`Banj working with Big Sean and Kanye West and P Square working with Akon. It`s crazy,
it`s about to go down!
TWU: Finally, what features or collaborations can we expect from you in the future?
Davido: I have tunes with Ice Prince and Wizkid coming out, and May
DβΒ¦ and I would like to work with Flavour.
Curled from: MTV
