By Albert George Sheriff
A social
commentator has said it’s rare. “Yes. To see young folks who take
music for a career, searching for education too and at the same time,
is rear,” he said. In Sierra Leone the trade is becoming lucrative
every passing day. But are the artistes looking for a thing to fall
back on, a life after music? Emilia says she has education to lean on
and a career after graduation, away from music.
The upcoming
female artiste tells Politico’s Albert George Sheriff some of the
resolutions she has to make, her challenges but also her hopes to
reach the top.
Politico:
Your full name please?
Emilia: My full
name is Emilia Aminata Kabia.
Politico:
Why have you chosen your first name as your stage name?
EMILIA: Well I
just don’t want to take any name because I know my name is the most
appropriate.
Politico:
When and where were you born?
EMILIA: I was born
in the northern headquarter town of Makeni on the 18 September 1988.
Politico:
Are you married?
EMILIA: Not yet.
I’m single and not looking out for a relationship until I’m a
graduate.
Politico:
Tell me about your educational exploit?
EMILIA: Well I
attended the St. Joseph’s Primary School in Makeni and I went to
the Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) here in Freetown. I
proceeded to the LICSAL Business College to study ICT, and presently
I’m a first-year student reading electrical and electronic
engineering at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
Politico:
How do you get along with the two, your studies and music?
EMILIA: It’s
really not an easy task but with God, dedication and focus I have
been doing my best in my studies and the in the studios.
Politico:
What inspired you to get in to music and when?
EMILIA: Firstly,
it’s the love for music that inspired me and secondly a renowned
Salone female artiste by the name of Willy Jay has been my role model
in music. Music, for me, is like a family thing because my daddy used
to be a vocalist for various bands around town and two of my elder
brothers are also musicians, veteran Salone artiste Issa Alusine
Kabia A.K.A. King Dus and Wooby Kabia A.K.A Too Sweet. They are like
my mentors, you know. My dream is to take Salone music international
with God as my helper.
Politico:
Have you any album?
EMILIA:
Not yet, but currently I have a few songs out and I’m presently
working on an album. If all goes well, it will be ready for release
early next year. My first song was ‘Shake
En Bounce’
done with a group called the Out
Street Guys
and presently there are two songs on promo that are from my album
which is yet to be released.
Politico:
What sort of music do you play and what is the name of the studio and
producer you are currently working with?
EMILIA: I do play
African zouk, Lovers’ Rock, Dance Hall, and more. But I’m really
good at African zouk music that’s my calling, trust me. My producer
is Wilbert and my studio is the Wilbert music studio.
Politico:
Tell me about your relationship with Wilbert, your producer, and
other artistes. Is it cordial?
EMILIA: Yes, very
much cordial with both male and female artistes, including my
producer. For the female artistes I have strong ties with Willy Jay,
M2, Swady Babe, Lady Love and for the male artistes, Artical Foyoh,
Peepuls, Yoke 7, Sahr Issa…the list is endless. I also have plans
to do a song with Willy Jay and M2 in my upcoming album. My producer
is like a manager to me. He is such a good guy, whenever I’m
bankrupt and can’t pay my way back home after a recording session,
he will give me some money. And most times when recording sessions
extend beyond mid night, he allows me to sleep in the studio, he is
great and one of a kind producer.
Politico:
What is your take on the control of Piracy in Sierra Leone in this
age of computer technology?
EMILIA: Piracy is
never a good thing because it destroys an artiste and it can also
discourage a talented individual not to create what he or she can’t
benefit from. This is appalling, seeing people getting financial
gains out of another man’s talent and nothing is done about it. At
the end of the day they will be the same people laughing at the
artistes when they don’t have basic belongings like good clothes, a
house, and a car, which is expected of a celebrity.
The enactment in
2011 of the Copyright Act was a laudable stride by government to
tackle this menace, but more needs to be done on the part of citizens
of this country to refrain from engaging in the act of piracy. I have
heard about certain computers that can copy 100 CDs at one go. That
destroys especially upcoming artistes who may wish to gain financial
benefits from their debut album. By pirating one’s album before
releasing it officially, it hinders public attraction to attend
official lunching ceremonies. Many up-coming artistes anticipate to
get their first cash at hand. Another uncontrollable sector in the
entertainment industry that aids piracy is the Disc Jockeys (DJs).
They copy with the aid of a computer, songs given to them for promo
without the consent of the artiste.
Politico:
Are they not promoters?
EMILIA: Oh yes,
they are. Truly and frankly not all DJs are involved in such act.
There are exceptional ones that have pride in them and believe in the
promotion of Salone music. I can’t mention names here because there
are many of them I trust. Respect to all of such giant promoters. DJs
must be music promoters not music dealers coz it slowly kills the
industry.
Politico:
Are you faced with constraints in your musical journey?
EMILIA:
Lots of them. The first constraint came just at the start of my
career. In 2007 just after my WASEC, I decided to get my first full
album recorded with the assistance of my brother King Dus at Stress
Inc. studio but unfortunately I was told by the engineer that the
computer’s hard drive, where the album was saved, crashed and
cannot be retrieved. I was frustrated to get along with music, so I
decided to acquire knowledge in Information Communication Technology
(ICT) at the LICSAL Business College, forgetting about music for a
while to upgrade myself academically. Then in 2010 I made a return
and hooked up with Drop
the Beat Entertainment owned
by a popular Salone artiste Daddy Rhymes. I recorded a song and was
there everyday for recoding to get an album out. I was only chanced
to do a song that was never mastered. That was my worst moment
because I really wanted something out.
Politico:
Why was that?
EMILIA: Well I
think at that time there was a very high concentration on an upcoming
kid artiste Fudia Samura commonly known as Chubby Assa, age 7. In
less than two months her album was out leaving me and nine others who
were also getting prepared to do their albums, with no alternative
but to quit the studio.
Politico:
Personally why did Daddy Rhymes choose to concentrate on the little
girl?
EMILIA:
I’m sure it’s because of her talent and age. She fascinated the
CEO, Daddy Rhymes and so her album was put out hastily. It personally
didn’t go down well with me because I have spent a lot of time and
money especially on transportation and fuel to get my work done but
was totally disappointed by the action of Drop
the Beat Entertainment. They
frustrated
my effort and the other upcoming artistes like Morris, Isra Kay,
Leosha and more.
Politico:
How do you see the Sierra Leone music industry presently?
EMILIA:
Its improving rapidly, both male and female artistes are doing well
these days. The music has reached a point that many now enjoy the
songs produced here and there is a keen competition in the industry
which is really nice for its growth. Politico:
Finally, is there any advice for your colleague upcoming artistes,
big ones and producers?
EMILIA: Yes, my
advice to them is to have patience and perseverance as tools they can
use to attain success. Anything one does in life one is sure to face
challenges but with patience, perseverance and God by your side,
success is a must. Love for one another, no hatred, unity is power.
If we are united it will be fine for all of us. And for producers,
don’t look low on upcoming artistes coz they might become bigger
artistes and even make producers renowned. So encouragement, respect
and love for all without discrimination among both big and small
artistes will greatly help the music industry in Sierra Leone to
grow. For the big artistes, sing no “Beef” songs so that upcoming
artistes will emulate your footsteps.
Politico:
It’s been splendid talking to you.
EMILIA: It’s a
pleasure.
