Asikey
Albright George, better known by her stage name “Asikey” is one of the new soulful voices that are expanding the
frontiers of Nigeria’s booming music industry. Born in Ogun State, she hails
from Rivers State and has recently completed the requirements for the award of
Bachelor’s Degree in History and International Relations from the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka.
Following
her recent impressive outing with her sonorous song “Let Us Be” which was
released under Pendulum Records where she is an artiste, Asikey talks to
Apotheosis Art House about her music and career prospects.
First, let me congratulate you on your new single "Let
Us Be". I think the song is soulful and you have an amazing voice.
Congratulations.
Thank You.
You are welcome. Obviously, "Let Us Be" is not
your first ever recorded song. Which of your songs would you say has been most
successful out there?
Oh, it’s
got to be “Let Us Be”. But one of them, "So Far So Good" really did
well for itself even without a push.
Of course, and I like to think that making a music video
boosts the visibility of a song to a large extent. How exactly did you feel
when you saw yourself on SoundCity?
(Laughs) Okay, technically I haven’t
"seen" myself on SoundCity (laughs).
I have not really watched TV in months. But being on SoundCity was/is a very
big step for me. I was so happy at the news. It was something I anticipated for
a little while.
As it seems, you are being promoted by Pendulum Records, a
label you are signed to. Was the process of getting signed to your record label
a rigorous one? How did this happen?
Okay. It wasn’t
rigorous, really. It was just a tough decision to make. It took me weeks and
devotion to a lot of research. My older sister gave the CEO one of my songs and
he reached out to me personally. He happens to be childhood friends with my
older sister.
So, at what point in your life did you realize you could be
a singer and at what point did you take the decision to start singing
professionally?
Not too long
ago, really (laughs). In 2013, I
decided to take music seriously and the same year, the next month, I recorded
my first song.
Great! This suggests you had already started studying
History and International Relations before you started singing. Looking back
now, if you had the chance and choice, would you have preferred to study Music
rather than History and International Relations?
No.
Certainly not. I would most likely take as much short classes and do whatever
to get better at what I do but I don’t know about studying music. No regrets.
Why not? Do you think it would have been a waste of time and
resources?
Not
really. I don’t know about that. Right now, I just don’t think it would have
been a wise choice especially in the University of Nigeria. I am pretty sure that
as a non-music student, I have given more of myself to my craft than the
average music student.
The first time I heard you perform was in August 2014 when
Poetry Friday hosted my birthday at Marlima, UNN. You played the guitar while
you sang and I thought that was lovely. Do you write your songs? And should I
assume you also started playing the guitar in 2013?
(Laughs) Thank you. Yes I started writing
really seriously at 15. I started playing the guitar in 2011.
So, how do you get your inspiration? And how often do you
write songs?
When I am
at home, I write pretty often. In school, I write when I consciously put myself
up to it. I am inspired by my life experiences and that of others around me.
Artistes are often wont to express themselves via their art
and this trait is likely going to stop only when the world ends. So, should we
assume that your song "Let Us Be" which basically talks about being
different and being misunderstood is about your personal experience or feeling?
Yes. I
have had to explain this to a lot of people (Laughs). Recently, a friend of mine asked me about the lyrics and I
told him it’s about my personal experience. I also know there are lots of people
out there who have not "fit in" once in a while because of some things
about them that people can’t just simply accept or ignore. Not to go into
details but I was a really different kind of kid while growing up and somehow I
felt I didn’t fit in. People have given me the opinion too that I am not the
norm. Fine. I know there are others out there facing the same; kids, adults,
etc.
A friend
of mine also told me that “Let Us Be” could be used as LGBT anthem (Laughs). I
would stop at saying that anyone feeling misunderstood is totally allowed to
use “Let Us Be” as an Anthem any day.
It could be a bit discouraging to live and work in a society
where you are judged for being different, as it were. Many people do not
understand that all of us must not be the same and that diversity adds beauty
and colour to the world. If the entire human race were to be the same, the
world would have been boring. That said, I am still striving to follow the
narrative of your music video. How did you come by it? It seems to be telling a
story that tends to be a discordance of sorts to what you are singing about?
(Laughs). My hands are totally out of the
video matter. The director, Promise Charles would answer that best. To be
sincere, I loved the script for the video when I saw it. I'll leave it at that
(Laughs).
Asikey, you are a soulful singer. Your emotions reflect in
your music. Tell me, who do you often listen to? If you receive an invite by the
BBC or CNN to come on air, talk about your music and most importantly to do a
cover, whose song would you cover?
Yaaay! (Laughs). I listen to every good work of
art I come across. You want to hear names? Asa, Brymo, Bez, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran,
the list is endless. I didn’t think this through and I am sure my answer may be
different if you ask me tomorrow, but I may want to Cover "I see
Fire" by Ed Sheeran.
So do you take any cautious measures to preserve your voice?
In addition, how often do you practice? Do you keep a strict schedule?
Nothing
strict, recently. In 2013, I was very strict. I had a practice schedule. 1am every
day I would lock myself in a room and I won’t be out for hours. I spent those
hours studying, practicing guitar, writing, etc. I think I would return to that
as soon as possible.
That’ll be apt considering the fact that you are currently
on a pedestal. I'm sure you don't want to have a poor performance if you are
invited to perform anywhere. So, which musician would you love to work with in
years to come? Should I take the aforementioned names as your response?
(Laughs) Yes. You sure can take some.
Just take note of Brymo, I love him (Laughs).
I cannot work with all the acts I love because they are just too many. Two
lifetimes won’t be enough.
Oh well, you are right. So in 2015 you have your first music
video and so many lights are beginning to beam in your direction. I think five
years will be enough to see you evolve greatly in Nigeria's booming Music
Industry. So, where do you see yourself in 2020?
In 2020 I’ll
still be making progress even though I am pretty sure I would still be at a
spot many would be contented with.
Beyond your penchant for music and history, what else
fascinates you Asikey?
Art and
science. I think these things shape the entire world. I love paintings and I
paint for fun (Laughs). I would love to visit the Louvre Museum in Paris ASAP!
I love science too. My favourite scientist is Sir Isaac Newton.
Oh well, music is also science, in a sense. That'll be all
for now, Asikey. Thank you so much for your time. Any closing remarks for your
fans and our readers?
Fans huh?!
(Laughs). I like to call them family.
I just want to appreciate them as always. It’s really amazing to find out that
some people out there just love you and nothing feels better than that. I want
to say I love them with all my heart! Thanks.
Please click on this link to download Asikey’s new single: http://notjustok.com/2015/08/07/video-asikey-let-us-be/
