by crossriverwatch admin
Aj, as she is fondly called is indeed the next music art the world should look out for soon because of how her gift of singing holds a true charm on her. After clinching the most sought for Star Quest 2008 prize and also landing as top ten finalist in the Nigerian Idol… the sultry diva has since held sway. Aj , in this exclusive interview with our reporter, bares her journey so far ; talks about her kick back hit single musical video debut ‘could this be’; her prospects; and reveals her forlorn crotch for popular American singer Beyoncé Knowles; as well as her view about sex before marriage.
Excerpts:
About AJ
My name is Ajomuke Nwaeze but I’m popularly called AJ. I’m from Rivers State and I am a born singer. Am a graduate from the University of Calabar, where I studied Genetics and Biotechnology.
Motivation to be musician
Growing up, I just saw myself that I love music; I love singing, singing in the bathroom, singing in front of my family and it’s something that when I am not so in a good mood I sing, I get better. I feel better singing and it’s just like oh my God this is what I love to do in my free time and this is what gives me happiness. And so far it’s been putting food on my table. So it’s a good thing that I do what I want to do to have fun and I still make money from it.
How much music pays-off for Aj
Music pays-off. If you are good at what you do people come for you and you will sell definitely. My highest point so far has been when I won Star Quest in 2008 and you know it doesn’t come like that, it comes with cash. We had a car and then an accommodation in Lagos for a year, all other goodies. We were also signed to the biggest label in the country, we were signed to Kennis Music, and that was like a highest point. And also I have been to different tours: Star Quest, Star Mega Jamz- I have performed on same stage with big artists like Buster Rhymes, Ludacris and all that. It’s really been fun; and of course those are not for free. So it pays off.
Why she took a break from music
After I won Star Quest in 2008 people were expecting that I will just come up with songs, albums and all of that. I would have done that but I had to go to school and being a student here in Calabar and having my career run in Lagos and I also had to do a lot of travelling. So I decided to keep music low and concentrate on school. Being a musician, you really do not have to go to school, but I wanted to be a schooled musician. Because when you are educated it affects, positively, the way you write. And I want to make good music that’s why I went on the low. But now that I’m done with school-I just graduated newly- I’m telling my fans that I’m back for real and for good.
‘Could this be’ video premiere as welcome back
Actually, this is my second single. I did ‘Kini’ before now and it’s been on air, on Tv and on radio stations. So this is my second.
Journey so far in the entertainment industry
Winning Star Quest and being a top 10 finalist to Nigerian Idol; put together has been awesome. I’ve just done my second premiere. My first music video, I did a premiere for it, which also made debut here in Calabar and so far the brand name is graduating and its moving forward; and it can only get better.
Calabar as an obsession
No am not obsessed with Calabar, I came to Calabar to school and now that am done with Calabar am leaving to where it happens and you know where that is, the once capital of Nigeria (Lagos).
Why Lagos sells better
I would say if you want to buy crayfish you know where to get it. If you want to buy a car you don’t go to the market where they buy crayfish to get a car. For what I do Lagos is the best place for a music art. Like it or not, Port Harcourt does well, Calabar does well, Abuja does well but the main thing is in Lagos. I have decided to premiere twice in Calabar because I’ve been in Calabar these periods and am doing the second as a kind of send-off, saying goodbye to Calabar and my friends in Calabar.
The future of AJ
You need glasses to look at my future, do you have one there (jokingly)…What you say represents the glasses.
AJ’s prospective musicians she would want to work with
I will always say Asa is my number one; followed by Femi Kuti; and then I could work with very good musician’ which 2Face is one of them, I love him and I adore him. I could work with good female musicians; I have mentioned Asa earlier on; Omawunmi and Waje. Waje is pretty good, she is commercial, but then her value still remains, I love and adore her, she is good. I will love to work with these persons, but that is when the brand name has already been made.
AJ’s role model(s)
First of all, I look at every good musician and I take bit and bit from everyone; but then I adore Asa, I have said it before. I love Adora and I love 2Face.
Beyoncé, once AJ’s role model, why the change of heart on her
I was not only in love with Beyoncé; I used to be crazy about her. But maybe it was just a crotch because it didn’t last. I grew up and I just realized that am not so crazy about her like I used to be back then when I was in secondary school. Maybe I grew and knew things better. That implies that you see a person from the outside and you love the person and then when you get to know the person from the inside, you know better. Although then I still have some love for her; if you noticed (during her ‘could this be’ premiere), I did her song, so I still love her.
About AJ’s ‘could this be’ singles
‘Could this be’ is a love song about the heart and love. If you’ve listened to the song it talks about someone who is in love and maltreated in love. So she is wonders if ‘could this be’ love? You tell me you love me and then turn back to hit me. That’s what the song is all about. And then the video depicts the song, it talks about domestic abuse.
AJ’s growing up
Growing up was fun. I grew up in a family of 10 and I was the seventh child. It was fun; I had a lot of people around me. Though, I grew up in a crowded home, I still grew up like an individual who was born alone because I had all the privileges that an only child will have. I was my dad and mum’s favorite and I was like the center of attraction in the house and so I got all the attention despite the fact that i had lots of siblings it was really fun growing up in a house of 10.
AJ’s thoughts of being able to hold her own among the current singers in the industry
As far as you could produce a note; you could sing; and then you have a good producer to bring you up and then you have the right connect. Well, it’s all about the connection; if you have the right connection to put your songs and videos on top chats, you are there. It’s not a big thing breaking into the industry, when you do the things right; and when you have the right connect, which I think I got.
AJ’s values
First of all, I love honesty. In my doings I love to be honest and I love to be plain in everything that I do. And also I love stability, you know sometimes an artist wants to sell so the artist needs to sometimes switch and then forget the values, those they so much belief in. I love simplicity. You know when things get so complex, you know how it is. What I cannot do for music, I cannot go nude in a music video. Like you just saw the video (Could this be), I was well covered if you noticed. I will not be caught nude in a music video.
Is Aj into any relationship at present?
When you say relationship, like we have a relationship right (she coy off and giggles)…
Aj’s view about sex before marriage
In the world we are today, it seeming very random and its seeming like its normal but the truth is sex without marriage is not legal and it’s not supposed to be practiced. The Bible teaches us not to do that. But the world is getting so corrupt that even a child of 12 is even having. And then sometimes people get to say if you want to get married to someone, you have to know the person intimately before you get married to the person and know what you’re into, but I would say it’s false. I wouldn’t say I’m practicing it or I’m not practicing it. It is not right. We have to come up with things that are right, even though we cannot change it ultimately, we have to maintain consciousness that sex before marriage is not right and should not be practiced. For people that have started practicing it, you could stop and encourage those who have not started practicing it not to go into it.
Any man in Aj’s life?
Yeah I do, of course I should, and that ends it. As hot as I am if I don’t have it … I should and I do. I wouldn’t be telling who he is right now and may be you could get to see things for yourself later. My mouth cannot say; it’s only your eyes that can confirm it. Seeing is believing! ‘I cannot categorically tell you right now that his name is this when oga at the top says his name is something else.’ For how near, I will say am a full blown adult it’s all in God’s hands so I wouldn’t say. But when the time is right and when he puts a ring, I say ‘I do’ and that would be it.
How she deals with pushy advances from admirers
Even a normal female who is not a musician has admirers, it’s a normal thing. We are used to it right from when we were growing up so it’s something easy to handle. If you like the person and you are single, you could say yes. If you’re not available you could say no. I don’t believe in double dating. It has to be one person. Right now since am in a relationship and am interested, I just tell you straight up.
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