“I am a singer/song writer, music producer, and this year will make it 12th year that I have been in music.” Those were the words of award- winning musician, Praise Adejo, popularly known as Praiz. In an interview with ORUKPE NELSON, The 2008 MTN Project Fame second runner-up, revealed how he got into music, family and sundry issues…
Could you tell us who Praiz Adejo is?
From musical point of view, Praiz is a singer/song writer, music producer, and I have been in music for over 12 years. As a person, I am Praise Adejo from Kogi State, Igala by tribe. My stage name is Praiz. I studied Computer Science at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, the second child among five children, three boys and two girls. I was born in Lagos but my father was transferred to Kaduna to work and we have been in Kaduna since 1992. I came back to Lagos for Project Fame and I decided to just settle because Lagos is the heart of the music industry. Since then, I have been working.
How did you get into music?
For me, getting into music was actually a gradual thing. After my secondary school, I used to hang around my friend who was a musical producer, I started learning one or two things from him. That was where I learnt how to make beats, learnt how to record people’s voice, and from there, my music starts growing. It was like a foundation for me. I started making my own beat, then it was like let me record this voice and see how it comes out. I kept doing what I used to do and years later, I went in for Project Fame in 2008. I was able to make it into the academy, made it to the final and came third. That was like the springboard for my music career.
Could you share the experience at the Project Fame Academy?
The experience was an interesting one, I learnt a lot from the academy, it was part of what keeps me going till today. I also met a lot of people, people from different cultures and backgrounds with different temperaments. I had to quickly adjust and acclimatize, it was a great experience.
In the first instance, did you see yourself making the final?
Actually, I went into the competition to win, getting to the final was not a surprise, I knew what I am capable of doing, I knew my strong point, I knew I have something different from most of the people in the academy, honestly, I really wanted to win.
How many albums and singles has Praiz dropped?
Funny enough, a lot of people believe I have dropped a lot of albums but the truth is that my debut album is just on the way. I have dropped couples of singles that have rocked the airwaves in Nigeria, Africa and in the United States as well. I am working on my debut album now which will reach the market by June by God’s grace. It promises to be a bomb because I have done a duet with a lot of great artistes in that album. The likes of Sound Sultan, Ice Prince, Timaya and Wonder Baloyi from South Africa just to mention but few.
With your debut album almost ready, how do you intend to deal with the issue of piracy in Nigeria?
I can say that piracy is being curbed in Nigeria. It is reducing drastically for now in Nigeria music industry, the digital music distribution has been helping which is why I am not scared about piracy.
Your role model in the industry
There are lots of people I have respect for in the industry, John Legend is a great musician, great singer and wonderful song writer. He is also a philanthropist who has given me a lot of inspiration in life.
Most embarrassing moment of your career
That was when I had to perform on a particular stage and the people were just staring at me. Actually, what happened was that, I have been on the same stage in the past, where I performed and the audience were thrilled, screaming and asking for more. But on this particular occasion, the same setting, the same set of audience, I actually performed to the best of my ability, more than the first show, but the reaction I got that day was embarrassing. Although I finished the performance, but deep down in me, I was wondering what went wrong.
Tell us the best moment of your career
To me, the best is yet to come, I have had great moment so far in my career, I can’t deny that, but I am looking ahead for the best.
What is your advice to upcoming musicians?
I will advise the upcoming artistes to know their strong points and develop them. They should be patient, work hard and above all, be prayerful. With these, everything will fall into place.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In the next five years, I see myself winning international award, expanding and becoming a world-renowned musician.
Who is Praiz love, the ‘Yoriyori’ in your life?
The love of my life are my family members for now. They will continue to be the love of my life because they have been there for me.
Do you think music produced in Nigeria is inferior to those produced abroad?
No, I don’t think so. Currently, what we have in Nigeria is entertaining music and I would not wave it off. To me, music is symphony that gives you a particular feeling. It could make you dance, smile or cry. It is just that Nigerian music is mostly dance music which is up tempo. You cannot deny the fact that we are number one in Africa.