Nigerian music star, producer and songwriter, Cobhams Asuquo has been announced as one of the judges of the second season of talent and reality show, Naija Star Search. In this interview with Eko Mi, Eko E’s Tosin Brown, he opens up on his experience as a music personality and his hopes as a judge.
How do you feel being chosen as a judge for a music talent show like Naija Star Search?
I think this picks up the best people who represent, you know, Africans who represent the music that we make. So it’s a humbling experience, one that fills me with that sense of responsibility. For one I also feel totally able to deliver on the task because of the quality of just a habit that I’m working with.
Talking about the contestants, what exactly are you looking out for as a judge?
As a judge, I’m looking out for originality, I’m looking out for stage presence, I’m looking out for just that edge, that thing that comes from your soul and connects with human people connects with the crowd, you know, looking out for just your ability to have the crowd at the palm of your hands when you see, you know, I’m looking for an artiste who actually can connect with the music that they make, in the music they are putting forward, you know, so that I can believe them. So yes, I’m looking for believability and looking for sticking melodies. In the area of personal compositions, are you giving me stuff that I can remember? In areas of putting out other people’s songs? Are you delivering it, you know, with an edge that says you understand the words that you’re saying? So, you know, it’s a lot of all that good stuff that I’m using for, you know, just being able to connect with me as well as a judge.
There are arguments about Afrobeats about the genre being a way of the western world in classifying our kind of music, what are your thoughts?
I think that the music is increasing in Nigeria or in Africa, I feel like the spectrum is very wide. It might be tricky to lump it under one genre. And so I can understand that argument. But I think also, it’s important that if there is some kind of rise to the music that’s coming out of this space, it really doesn’t matter what you call it for me, right? I can call it Afro funk for like, the most important thing is, we have a sound that is intrinsically as it is unique. It has a lot of nuances and our cadences, and it is actually hitting the world right now. And I think that’s what’s important. It’s not so much the name you give it, even though I recognise that name is important, but it is the power that it has to evoke emotions, and to put us out there, and to create a different image of us as a people. I think that’s what that music is doing for us right now. And as we progress, I think other genres, you know, or sub genres, if you will, are going to find expression within this one namespace. So yes, the spectrum is very wide. And there’s room for variety. You know, Johnny Drille does not make Afrobeats as it were, but his music resonates with Nigerians, Timi Dakolo’s music resonates with Nigeria. So I think, let the music find its feet. And we will, also, name it appropriately as we progress. What matters is our music is to try and fasten, you know, borders, and continents and beliefs and ideologies. And that’s what I stand for.
As a producer, and as a musician, What are your thoughts on the sound we have now?
As a producer, as a musician? I think that the sum we have now is evolving. On the question of whether or not everyone sounds like if you look at every genre that music has evolved from, there’s always been a similarity and sound. So the Elizabethan per somewhere between the 1600s and the 1700s. You know, whether it was Bach (inaudible) or Beethoven, it was pretty much the Elizabethan Baroque style of writing that we had, it was also reflected in the art of that period, as well, it’s in the nation’s period, or the classical period, or, you know, Chicago in the 60s, or, you know, New York in the 40s and 30s. It was a swinging era of, you know, jazz and what have you? So there has always been similarity in music whether it’s classical or R&B or Yele music in Senegal, or whatever it is. And this era is no different. You know, it’s an expression of music that has its roots in certain ideologies and certain expressions, and certain temples and certain experiences. So naturally, there will be a lot of similarities. But as we evolve, you know, people begin to find their identity. And as you look deeper, you can hear the identity in the lyric and the weights and all of that, that makes the songs work. So yes, there is similarity, but I don’t think there’s anything bad about that.
Is there anything lacking in the music industry?
Well, there’s a lot we can do. I would hate to see that there’s anything lacking necessarily. I think, now it’s an opportune moment for us as a people to take charge of the economics of our music, we’ve established that we have talent. But a lot of the talent that we have is being exploited by infrastructure that is set up outside of Nigeria. And I think that, you know, we need to function from a place where, as opposed to, you know, government sees this as just a means to make money by, you know, imposing whatever on musicians, it’s, you know, and creating an enabling environment, so that, you know, business and credit, and all of these things are support people who can deal with the technology, and the economics of music, so that, you know, we have our own Apple Music, our own Spotify, our own, you know, basically do what you know, China has done with Tiktok, when, as opposed to America’s Instagram.
What are your thoughts on this current administration and how can the government also boost this industry, the creative industry?
I like to talk about politics through my music, because I feel like that way it’s better thought out and best expressed because sometimes when I talk about politics, a lot of emotions run wild. And I think that’s, it’s good for one to be careful and think about occupying a position of responsibility. I have my thoughts, but I wanted to share my thoughts in a manner that is succinct. Catch me in my music if you want to hear what I think. Thank you so much.
