By Bolatito Adebayo
Simi is a phenomenal musician and her kind of sound is unique too.
The petite music star whose real name is Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye dropped an album recently, and she opens up about the new work, her relationship status, her perception about men and many more sundry issues. Enjoy it.
Simisola, you just dropped an album, is it your debut?
It’s my debut album. I had a gospel album in 2008.
What can you say about the reception of the album?
I’m extremely blown away. I featured only one act and a lot of people were skeptical that ‘why would you have featured just one?’ ‘Are you sure it’s going to be a good enough album?’ ‘Are you sure the album would be all that good because you don’t really have people on it?’ So, I was a bit nervous and at the same time I wasn’t. But the reception has been amazing.
You featured Adekunle Gold in your album, was it some sort of payback?
No, that is ridiculous. It’s an incredible coincidence. I understand that, and it’s not a payback. I wrote ‘Take Me Back’ four years ago, but I didn’t decide on the song until early last year before he (Adekunle Gold) dropped his album. It just turned out that he was the only one at the time when the songs were compiled, the only song I had a feature was the one with him, and that’s all there is to it.
Would you do international collaborations?
Oh definitely. Like I said earlier, the life span of my music is long and there are so many things we have in store. This is my first album, so it is also like an introduction. There are a lot of people who know me by the songs I did with Falz and Adekunle Gold. I want to show them what I can do on my own. I want to show them that I can hold my own especially as a woman. You know, you have to prove yourself over and over again. I’m trying to prove a point, and it’s not easy, because you don’t know what people are going to say when they hear these songs.
So, I’m definitely going to put myself out there. There are some collaborations that I’m going to do with some African artistes and artistes outside Africa.
Did you write all the songs yourself?
Yes, apart from Adekunle Gold’s verse.
How did you feel about Adekunle Gold calling out your names in Orente?
It’s very flattering. My two favourite Adekunle’s songs are ‘Sade’ and ‘Orente’, and I think it’s flattering to use my name.
Who is your boyfriend?
My answer would not change. One thing that I keep close to myself is my personal life, and it’s not just my relationship but also my personal life. I always say that when you are singing or acting, your life becomes entertainment. So, you have to keep as much as you can keep to yourself.
But are you dating someone?
I am in a relationship; I have never denied that, but I’m not just going to mention him.
Was there any fear that the album would not sell?
I have never been afraid of failure. I’m not afraid to fail because I feel that you learn when you fail. But for me, it was like ‘what are people going to say?’ ‘Are there things that I did wrong that people would notice?’ I was not thinking about failing.
Nowadays, guys don’t speak up and even when they do, they cheat. What would you advise?
There is nothing wrong in showing someone that you like him. There are definitely boundaries, there is the limit I think you should adhere to; it’s not to just be all over the place. For example, because a guy likes a chic, she becomes very rude and very dismissive, that’s not necessary because there is nothing wrong in liking somebody. If you don’t have feelings for that person, all you have to do is to tell the person. A guy that thinks a girl is cheap because she likes him has a very small mind. Sometimes, a guy likes a girl and maybe she has not been noticing him, there is always something he does to get her attention and that doesn’t make him cheap either.
Growing up, has everything always worked to your advantage? Have you always felt comfortable with your vocals?
Growing up, I was a little bit different because I was small and felt that everybody would take advantage of me, so I became defensive. I have always been a very strong-minded person. Before you give me two, I would give you five. I had to learn that sometimes not everybody is trying to get at you. Even if there are people that are trying to take advantage of me, I am always sharp and ready to give it back to them.
Has it been all rosy for you career wise?
When you blow, that is when people know you, but they don’t know the hustle.
Was there a time you were overwhelmed with challenges that you wanted to stop singing?
I never wanted to stop singing. My attention span is very short. There are a lot of things I enjoy doing, but singing is one of the things that I am extremely passionate about. Some things don’t’ hold my attention for long. Music is one thing that, regardless of anything that I face or come through, I just never give up on it. There was a time I was really frustrated though, I just felt that is how it supposed to be. That period was the time I found my sound. No matter how you can sing, there is always someone that can do better.
Were you bullied as a child because of your small stature?
It’s not easy to bully me. I went to three secondary schools. I think the best thing about me is that I have a mind of my own, and when I think about something, I say it. I don’t have to sit back. I’m not saying that there were not people that wanted to bully me, but I’m not easy to bully, so they probably gave up.
Most of your songs are about love, why?
It’s true that I have a lot of songs about love, but one thing I like to do, even when I’m singing about love is to ensure all my songs are not saying exactly the same thing. If you listen to ‘Love Don’t Care’, if you listen to ‘Smile For Me’, and ‘Jamb Question’, they are all telling stories about some certain things. I think that love is a universal thing and I don’t have any problem with it.
What type of lover are you?
I’m a loyal lover, and when I’m in love, I’m all in it.
What is your deal breaker in a relationship?
That’s when you betray my trust. For me, trust is a big foundation for love. If I don’t trust you then it’s hard for me to be with you.
What are the things you look out for?
Lies. I hate to be lied to.
Are Nigerian men romantic?
No!
Why do you think Nigeria men are not romantic?
They feel that they don’t have to be. I’m not saying this to bash anybody. I think nobody pushes Nigerian men to fight for anything and so there is a sense of entitlement. They believe that they are entitled to everything. I was watching a Nigerian movie the other day, and there was this man who left his wife and went to meet another woman. He was just sleeping around. I think he impregnated the woman, the other woman then misbehaved and left. He then went back to the old one and her mother told her to go and knee down before him. That bothered me a lot. It’s the truth, that’s the way it is. A lot of men grew up in this country feeling they are entitled to everything.