A classy event attended by fans and associates of the vocalist, it was also an opportunity for the artiste to reflect on her humble beginnings and share her aspirations with the press.
Some four years after she returned to the country from the United States where she had worked with A-list artistes including Fantasia, Akon, Snoop Dogg and Baby Face amongst others to pursue her solo career, Tiwa has grown into a formidable force. Not only does she now collaborate with other high profile artistes, she is also enjoying lucrative endorsement deals with companies including Pepsi and Baileys’ Irish Cream.
It had not always been like this, however. “A lot of people discouraged me saying people who come back from abroad are not really accepted because they don’t know how to connect with Nigerians, especially for a female. They said, there’s no way a brand would endorse me, there’s no way I could be on a stage with the likes of 2Face and Wizkid and I got discouraged and I moved back to Los Angeles after I dropped ‘Kele Kele Love’ and then I dropped ‘Love Me, Love Me’. So, I moved back as people around me encouraged me that if I could be consistent I could make it,” she says in recalling the early days.
Given her prominence, it is a bit surprising that it has taken her two years to release her debut album but Tiwa says the wait was well worth it. “This album is from my heart and it’s something that I worked so long for. A lot of people wondered why it took so long and that’s because we had to go through a lot of legal processes to clear some of the samples that we used and that took months.
Also, we wanted to work with some notable producers in the States like Warren ‘Oak’ Felder who worked with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. So, we had to work round their schedules and that’s why it took so long. This is an album that I don’t want to be the usual Nigerian album with patchy tracks from beginning to end. I want it to have a meaning.”
Tiwa discloses what ‘Once Upon A Time’ is about. “It’s a story. My life has been an amazing journey and I wanted it to reflect that. I also wanted it to motivate budding artistes. Once Upon A Time, I was a little girl in Isale Eko who wanted to do this and here I am doing it. So, I want their once upon time to turn to reality.”
The sexy artiste dedicates a track in the album to her partner and explains that it is the least he deserves. “You know the culture here. If you’re not married and just focus on your career, people would start asking questions. He understood my journey, he was able to push me career-wise and he encourages me a lot. So, I had to do a song for him.”
Clarifying her involvement with 323 Entertainment, Tiwa says, “I am actually signed to 323 Entertainment and it’s owned by Tunji Balogun (Teejay) who is also my partner but 323 is under Mavin Records. So, Mavin oversees the label but 323 Entertainment handles my day to day activities.”
Long before she relocated to Nigeria the actress had a gig with Sony Music as a songwriter. Though now a star in her own rights, she discloses that the deal is still on.
“I am still signed to Sony in America. I’m signed to them as a songwriter. I write my songs, I perform but I still write for other artistes. I just did a song for Monica called ‘Catch Me’, which came out in her last album and they called me a few weeks ago that I have another song with Christian Michel.”
Asked her sources of inspiration, Tiwa says: “A lot of things inspire me; life, happiness, heartbreak, Nigeria as a country and circumstances. Especially in that ‘Olorun Mi’ song, I felt sad for a few days and the Dana crash inspired me to do that song.”
On the perceived competition among Nigerian female singers, the artiste who grew up in Isale Eko before she travelled to the UK to complete her education says she has no cause for concern. “Why should I be scared of competition? You have Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and they’re all female artistes and they’re all big stars in the US. Why should it be only one person that will be known for quality music among women in Nigeria? I am actually glad that more female artistes are coming up,” she says matter of fact.
