Show Biz Has Picked Up In Abuja

 A-Zee, as he is popularly called, a presenter with Hot 98.3 FM, is one of the presenters in Abuja, who through their job, have been able to effect positive changes in their immediate society, contributing to the success of many artistes, who have come out from the nation's capital.  In this interview with GEORGE EMINE, he spoke on the problems of the entertainment industry in Abuja, his efforts towards improving the industry and many more issues.  Excerpts:

 The entertainment industry in Abuja seems to be picking up and your name happens to be one that is on the lips of every up-and-coming act, as well as the few stars that have come out of Abuja.  How did you achieve this feat?

Basically, as you said, the entertainment scene in Abuja is coming up. When I came into Abuja, I discovered that the entertainment scene was virtually dead in the sense that there was only Style-Plus and even the Style-Plus, many did not know that they were actually from Abuja. So when I came in, for the up-and-coming ones, I tried to do what probably no other person does at the time.  When they bring their CDs to the station, I listen to it and with my own little knowledge, I give them advice.  I even send some back to their producers and tell them to tell the producer that I, A-Zee said he should do this or that on a particular track and so on, maybe on the beat, vocal or diction and sometimes, I even try to know if they are venturing into music because maybe their friend or colleague has gone into music and succeeded or they want to do it as a career.  So I do this for so many of them and when they go back they tell many of their friends, because most of these people do have the raw talent but lack direction, and really don't know what to do.  Some of them do not know that in show business there is the show aspect of it and the business aspect of it and one has to understudy and understand the two.  While most of them concentrate on the show aspect, they tend to forget the business aspect. That is why the business aspect of it seems to be dying; it is left to the artiste alone. An artiste is his own manager, an artiste is his own costumier, Public Relations officer; he does everything himself. But out there, it is not the same thing. As an artiste you have your manager, your Public relations officer that tries to polish your image at all times, you have your sound engineer that creates beats with your voice in his mind, your have your costumier and so on.  But with our artistes here, you see them today and they tell you this is their manager and by the time you see them tomorrow, they introduce someone else to you as their manager. Even the manager does not know what he is supposed to do. His is just to tag along the artiste and if he goes for a show, he collects a little stipend from the fees, without knowing that he is even supposed to be the one that should source for these shows for the artiste.  So in an environment like this, I took my time to help.  Once I see that an artiste is really talented, I try to take one or two of them, talk to them and make them go back to do more work. For example, there was this group, the Game Boyz, who came in here with one rather dead whack song.  But they had the enthusiasm.  One of them, Don Klin was so passionate about his job, but it was obvious these boys don't know the rudiments.  It's just that they were able to gather some money, go into the studio and get some things done.  So I told them to go back, listen to artistes like 9ice, P-Square and others, and listen to the diversity in their beats, and with that mindset, do something better.  I tell you, they came back with something close to a chartbuster especially for their level and from there, they have started getting invitations to perform at events. I also tell them that for a start you don't look at the monetary aspect of it, that with time the money will start coming in. So that I think is how we have been helping ourselves grow.  It's like you scratch my back, I scratch your back.

 How has it been doing all these for free; is it that you are waiting for your reward in heaven?

Well, it's not about waiting for reward in heaven; it's all about trying to make things happen around you.  You know, Abuja is the nation's capital, the seat of power and Lagos used to be the seat of power, commercial capital and of course probably the most populated.  But Abuja is picking up, it's also becoming very populated and the seat of government has also been moved here so certain things, I think, should also operate from here.  That is why we here, of course you are also part of it, all of us, myself and my friends from other media houses, both electronic and print, who are into the entertainment beat, try to do our best to make sure things begin to happen here.  Of course, some people must spearhead it, but most times, those that spearhead it do not reap the fruits of whatever they spearheaded.  You will definitely be remembered for your efforts but others will always benefit from such legacy. 

 So for now, how would you rate the entertainment industry in Abuja?

The entertainment industry in Abuja is still low.  It's coming up however, but the unity isn't still there.  But for the industry, it's growing up.  All we need is unity because right now, the unity is lacking.  So once we are able to get united, things will get better. For example, the Lagos artistes, you see them do collabos, if you see this artiste there, the next thing is that you will se another artiste and before you know it, that place has become a star-studded thing and before you know it, press guys are already there and it becomes news. This builds the industry, that is why you see them having sponsorships and support even from the multi-nationals. But in Abuja here, it is not so.  Here you see an Abuja artistem see another Abuja artiste and they “beef” each other, not even the courtesy of a simple greeting.  Instead, they begin to 'form'; one thinking, why, after all I have a top chart-busting song just like you and so what can you tell me?”  I think it is high time we put a stop to that, put all these barriers aside and forge ahead. I have heard of an incidence, where an Abuja-based artiste was invited to go and perform in Aso Rock and he was told to go and cut his hair and all that, but he did not tell any of his colleagues.  If it were to be a Lagos based artiste, he will come with at least one other artiste, maybe a rave-making or even not so popular artiste.  Look at Wande Cole for example, it's D'Banj.  Without D'Banj, there will be no Wande Cole and of course, Wande Cole will always be grateful to the Mohits family.  Right now he has got his own songs, he's got collabos with D'Banj, and he's got colabos with his colleagues in the Mohits family.  But here one person will go and just collect the whole money and leave without involving others. So you all grow together.

 What motivated you into broadcasting?

Right from school days, my school had a radio station and I presented in the radio station.  Of course, I read Mass Communication.  During my final year, I discovered that my shift had the hottest request card sales and anytime I come out, everybody just keeps hailing me.  Even during our Radio/Television production in class, they were always telling me I have a great voice and all that. So I thought there was no other place for me to go than the radio.  Although, before I entered the higher institution, I wanted to become a lawyer but that dream didn't come through, that was why I had to study Mass Communication and end up here.

So how has it been coping with the women because they are always there and I can tell you that a lot of them out there like your voice and would give anything to meet you?

The world is beautiful and the women out there make it more beautiful.  We have got mothers, sisters, cousins that are women and for me personally, they are my friends. I have lots of female admirers and friends but I try to put everything in check.  For some of them, I am their confidante, some just want me to be there as a friend, you know, just to let people know that I am one of their friends and things like that.  So it comes in different ways but you have to handle it right.  I handle mine properly.  And don't forget that it is a revolving world.  Sometimes they are the ones that blow your trumpet to high heavens and even make you grow. 

 How long do you hope to remain in broadcasting?

(laughs). I don't know, maybe soon.  I don't know how soon, maybe in a few years time or longer, but I think I am conquering radio broadcasting; I have gotten to a certain level that I am comfortable with. So maybe I will think of going into something that will give me new challenges because I love challenges.  It might be TV presenting, independent TV production, maybe talk-shows or anything else that I eventually decide on.  But how soon is what I don't know yet.  But of course, it has to be something within my field, something I know how to do well and which I understand.

 

Still A Show Stopper At 50

 At 50 years of age and still going strong.  What better way can the ever so controversial Madonna be described?  To her, the age-long American axiom that “age ain't nothing but a number” is just apt.  kicking off her new world tour in Cardiff about a fortnight ago, she proved to fans that despite celebrating a golden jubilee of life, she can still cut it on stage with the scintillating performances, grace and daringness she has come to be known for.  In a typically energetic performance, the pop superstar played two hours of hits from her 25-year career.

Treating fans to some radically reworked versions of some of her old favourite hits such as the remixes of Like A Prayer and Borderline, including Europop version of La Isla Bonita, Madonna gave fans value for their £85 tickets, even as she appeared on a jewel-encrusted black leather throne with the letter M written on its back.  The show was first of 51 dates for the pop superstar, who celebrated her birthday a week earlier.  And in the traditional Madonna glamour, the show involved 250 crew members, 16 dancers, eight costume changes and £1m worth of jewellery.  The concert was also split into four sections, namely: Pimp, Old School, Gypsy and Rave.

Meanwhile, it will be recalled that Madonna recorded a chart double early in August as her latest album, Hard Candy went straight to number one in the UK chart, to sit along with her song 4 Minutes, featuring Justin Timberlake, which was on top of the singles rundown for three weeks running.  Hard Candy is the pop superstar's 10th number one album.