Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe popularly known as Kiss Daniel is a Nigerian born recording artiste and entertainer. His music career kicked off after being signed by his present record label, G-Worldwide Entertainment. Known for his monster hit, ‘Woju’, released in 2014, Kiss Daniel is regarded as the hope of the next generation. Born of Ogun State parents, the graduate of Water Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, who spoke to NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA and other journalists in this interview, tells of his motivations, trying moments and his forthcoming album.
How did you come to answer Kiss Daniel?
It was actually given to me when I was in secondary school. Some girls, for no reason, maybe because of my lips, started calling me ‘Kiss’. It kind of stuck with me for a long time so that when it was time to get a name for my brand, ‘Kiss Daniel’ came in naturally.
You started music at the university, at what point did you know you could earn a living from it?
I was doing music while I was in school. I think it was when I got signed. I got signed during my service year. It seemed that God planned everything because when I was in school I didn’t get a record label and it was like there was no way for me. But immediately I left school, I got signed. I actually told myself that if after I left school I didn’t get signed that I would go to the UK, get my master’s and focus on white-collar jobs. But fortunately for me, right after I finished school, I got signed and in that same year I released a song that took the whole of Africa by surprise. It all happened very fast.
People have said you have been in the industry for long, but got your breakthrough ‘Woju’. How would you clarify this?
Though the flair for music was there in my school days, I couldn’t do much on my own at that time. Everything was low key then. It wasn’t until G-Worldwide Entertainment signed me in 2014 that I started professionally. I dropped ‘Shoye’ that year and then ‘Woju’. So, professionally, music career started the same year I released ‘Woju’.
Was ‘Woju’ inspired by any personal experience?
What I sang about in ‘Woju’ is what people experience daily. It’s a personal thing in everyone’s life. There is usually that one person you love but couldn’t walk up to. Would you say you haven’t seen any woman that catches your fancy, but you didn’t approach?
Was there a time you wanted to give up?
Yes, even till now, some people are still discouraging me. There were times when I wanted to give up, but if I give up I will be losing sight of my purpose. My purpose is to use my music to correct some societal ills. First you have to look at the way I drop my songs. When I dropped ‘Woju’, you would see a flirty kind of person. But ‘Laye’ is talking about a loving person, somebody that will give you everything even if you jilt him. ‘Raba’ and ‘Good Time’ address club life with a different touch.
Talking about the underlying structure of your songs, people say you sing about women most of the times, what social ill would you be addressing with your kind of music?
It is not that I have a special attraction for women. I actually notice other things in the society, but then it just happens that the songs I drop happen to be that kind of songs. It’s like shopping. Before you go shopping, you already have a list of what you want, but once you enter and begin to see other fancy things, you abandon what you really came to buy. But somehow you get the needed stuff. That is the way it is with my music. But everyone will get the whole message in my album.
How long did it take you to compose the album?
Two years, between 2014 and 2015.
How many tracks?
Seventeen tracks with three bonus tracks. That’s twenty all together.
Can you tell us about your forthcoming album?
The album is titled ‘New Era’. Nigeria is currently in a new era and I want to pass that same message to my fans. There are no collaborations in the 17-track album. The collaborations I had is with my label mate called Sugarboy. I featured him in three tracks. The album is a story and the best person that can interpret the story is Sugarboy. He knew me when I was hustling and suffered with me. I can’t feature someone in an album that won’t understand what I am trying to achieve. That is why there are no known collaborations in the album.
Questions have been asked why you dropped ‘Woju’ remix featuring Davido and Tiwa Savage from your album, would you reiterate your stand on this?
The truth is, it is not only my stand alone that matters. I have a record label. The record label has a team of industry stakeholders and critics, who selected songs for the album. So, they made their positions known on the songs, including the ‘Woju’ remix. Personally, I got Davido and Tiwa Savage on the ‘Woju’ remix to help push the song. They did a fantastic job. As for getting the song for the album, or not collaborating with any big artistes for the new album, it was deliberate. The album is a personal thing for me. I think I am more than capable to pass the message on my own. New Era is a message coming from me to the fans. I don’t think I need anyone now to help pass the message, except Sugarboy. Hopefully in other albums I will feature other artistes. For instance, I have already featured Wizkid in a song. And I intend to have many more collaborations during the year.
While the release of your album is anticipated, can you tell us the one thing you hope to achieve with ‘New Era’?
I want to correct the impression that good music doesn’t sell. I heard a lot of that when I was starting. I was advised to, you know, shout, say nasty things and all what not if I wanted to blow. But I felt that good music still stands a chance in our industry. Recently I went to a club, when suddenly ‘Woju’ was played and people were screaming. But I was like, “It’s been two years or so now”. Then I realised that a good song is not bound by time. Good songs last long. It cuts across all age groups and gender. In a nutshell, good songs are universal. I want my songs to be good, clean and free of unpleasant words or expressions.
You have successfully released three hit singles, would you say you are getting it right?
Well, yes, but three hit songs are not all I am going to do. In fact, I am not even close to what I want to accomplish. I’m still working.
What would you regard as your greatest sacrifice for music?
My five years in school. I wanted to become a great engineer. I studied Water Engineering, similar to Civil Engineering and I finished with a 4.32 CGPA. For you to know that I actually studied. But after spending five years studying the course of my dream, I left it for music. That is my greatest sacrifice for music.
Does it make you feel bad sometimes?
Yes, I feel bad sometimes. My mates are already established in their fields. Some of them call me. Some of them are doing all right for themselves. Now, it seems my five years is gone to waste. But it is because I love music that I am here. I am not a fan of corporate wears. Maybe that contributed to the reason I dumped engineering for music.
Who motivated you the most to do music?
My dad. He was a very caring and loving person. He was very supportive of my music career. He was the one that gave me my first money to record a song. He did not force me to do anything. I told him I wanted to do music when I was in school. He only told me to finish my education first.
Sorry for losing your dad, we learnt you had a list of things you wanted to do for him.
Thank you. Yes. And all the things I said I would do for him, I would still do them even though he is dead. Like the car I said I was going to get him, I have gotten it. I said I was going to get him a Prado.
Who will ride it?
Don’t worry about that. Everything I said I was going to get for him, I will get them.
The greatest principle he bequeathed to you?
He told me to be patient while doing the right thing. He said that it might seem like it is not working, that it is not the right thing, keep doing it. One day, people will start paying attention. Patience, for him was key.
How does that apply to your music specifically?
I dropped ‘Woju’ in October, but I was patient until December before it became big. A lot of artistes are not patient. If they drop a song and it is not moving, they drop another one. The new song would just take the vibe away from the other song. That’s why artistes are advised to space out their songs. I was in Uganda last week for a show, it was sold out. People were begging for space. I performed five songs. And people loved it. The same thing happened in Rwanda. My point is, whether you have fifteen songs or three songs, it really doesn’t matter as long as you make sure to have massive acceptance of your songs –and as far as I am concerned, timing is important in releasing songs.
What is that thing you do before your performance?
I pray before my performance and commit it into God’s hands.
Has there been a particular social media comment that made you sad?
Yes. It happened when I just lost my dad. Someone said on Twitter that my dead father would be disappointed in me if he listened to my song. I was sad. I had to munch that tweet. He mentioned me in that tweet. It got me crying for three days. I just lost my dad at that time and it was still very fresh. When things get better, I pray the person lives long so that I can tweet at that person and say, “Thank you for uttering that statement years back. You motivated me to become great”.
Culled from - The Nigerian Tribune
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