By Tosin Ajirire And Damilola Fatunmise
In 2011, Everlasting Nnamdi Mbamara debuted within the leisure trade when he launched his first gospel album, Strolling on H20. At present, as a prodigiously proficient producer, he has his imprint stamped on a number of award profitable music tasks throughout the continent.
Born in Benin Metropolis, Edo State however hails from Imo State, Mbamara’s love for music started at an early age when he was uncovered to church music and cultural festivals.
Previously referred to as Everlasting 3:16 and now Everlasting Africa, Mbamara had an opportunity assembly with Alex Okosi, former Government Vice President and Managing Director, VIMN Africa & BET Worldwide, and his life modified.
Okosi acknowledged Everlasting’s expertise and invited him to South Africa to participate in an audio coaching programme. Afterwards, Everlasting determined to remain again within the rainbow nation, the place he was concerned in church choir actions, writing songs, and enjoying the keyboard and drums. He additionally labored with a consulting agency, offering audio and music providers for the outfit.
Everlasting Africa labored on compositions for AFREXIM Financial institution, African Union, and United Nations’ documentaries amongst others. As an artiste, he carried out at numerous festivals and occasions in South Africa. And as a producer, he’s a serious affect within the nation’s music trade.
On this interview, Everlasting Africa, who’s now again in Nigeria, traced his profession trajectory and concluded that it’s work-in-progress.
Inform us briefly about your background.
My identify is Everlasting Nnamdi Mbamara often known as Everlasting Africa. I’m a music producer and sound engineer. My journey to South Africa impressed me to rebrand and alter to Everlasting Africa as a result of I had the chance to provide artistes from numerous African international locations. I additionally began an occasion referred to as African’s Gala Night, which I used to advertise unity, love, style and sound of Africa.
How precisely did you come into music?
From childhood, my mother and father had been concerned in church ministry. That was in Benin Metropolis. I’m from Imo State however was born in Benin. My dad took me to a church the place he enrolled me to discover ways to play piano. I used to be 9 or 10 years outdated then and I used to play conventional devices like Conga. Additionally, I grew up in a royal setting the place I used to be uncovered to a lot of cultural occasions and festivals. So, my curiosity in music began from there.
Is any of your mother and father a singer?
Oh no, none of my mother and father is a singer. However they had been concerned in cultural actions and festivals, as a result of my grandpa owned cultural teams just like the masquerades. And in our compound, we had a lot of conventional devices like conga, speaking drum, gong, maracas, flute, and picket guitar. So, I began studying easy methods to play a few of these devices.
Okay, at what stage did you determine to enter full time music?
That was throughout my college days. I attended Nnamdi Azikwe College the place I studied Parasitology and Entomology. Once I was 18 or 19 years outdated, my dad gave me some cash to report a track. He took me to a studio in Ikeja, Lagos the place I recorded a gospel track referred to as ‘Mbakosa Christmas’.
In my second yr within the college, I began an organization, Studio316 with two different folks in Onitsha. So, from college, I used to be getting cash whereas producing music.
What made you modify from a recording artiste to music producer?
I didn’t change; I used to be combining each. For manufacturing, I really like growing new abilities. Once I see a proficient individual, I might need to create one thing out of him; and that was the drive behind my being extra of a music producer than a recording artiste.
Are you able to point out a few of the artistes you’ve got labored with as a producer?
In Nigeria, I’ve labored with DJ Neptune, Patoranking, Goya Menor, Joe El, Eltee Skhillz, Niniola and plenty of extra. I’ve been a part of their productions. Additionally, I’ve labored with a lot of artistes from South Africa to Uganda.
Are you able to inform us a specific large track you’ve got produced?
It’s ODG (Odogwu Na De Spender) by Eltee Skhillz. I produced that track. I first did Lucy remix with him and Niniola, and it turned out to be one among his finest songs. He then mentioned he needed one other large track. That was how ODG happened. Truly, I used to be alleged to launch that track myself.
Why did you now give it to Eltee Skhillz?
That’s one factor about me; I really like growing artistes. I really like seeing artistes shinning. It’s a ardour I’ve. Although, I didn’t know that the track was going to be that large. The entire concept behind it was the track, Ameno Dori Me. No, it wasn’t that of Goya Menor. It wasn’t Goya Menor that first did the track. Ameno Dori Me is often performed within the membership anytime they need to pop champagne. So, I mentioned ‘this track is just not an African track. Let me do an African model of it’. That was after I did ODG (Odogwu Na The Spender), which implies once you’re popping champagne within the membership, you might be an Odogwu, an enormous spender.
I wrote, created and designed the track. He (Eltee Skhillz) got here to the studio round that point and heard the track. He mentioned ‘Everlasting, give me this track please’. I declined initially. However after I noticed the hearth and the fervour in him, I mentioned ‘okay, run with the track’. He ran with the track and it grew to become large.
And did he compensate you for it?
Positively! Apart paying for my studio time, the royalties are additionally there; these issues will certainly come. I personal 50 p.c co-composition of that work.
Do you’ve got any remorse that you just didn’t do the track your self?
No, no, no. I actually needed to come back out as a producer first. I didn’t need to come out as a recording artiste. So, I believe it’s an excellent basis for me.
Are you certain you’ll be able to re-enact such feat once more?
The hearth, inspiration and present in me are so huge; I can’t exhaust them. It’s like going to the ocean to fetch water; you can not exhaust water within the ocean. I’ve produced a whole lot of worldwide artistes like Amifaku and Lungisa Shamela. They’re each SAMA (South African Music Awards) profitable artistes. The yr was 2020. Amifaku received award for the Greatest Afropop Act album on the South African Music Awards, whereas Lungisa Shamela received award for the Greatest R&B and Soul album. I produced the 2 award-winning albums titled, Imali and From My Coronary heart to Your Soul respectively. I’ve additionally produced some high artistes like Manuwo Star, a South Africa-based Congolese artiste. I co-produced his track titled, Naningi. I additionally produced his EP. In truth, I used to be a part of his musical growth. The Amifaku’s track that I produced happened after I produced Niniola’s track, Maradona. I produced the duvet of Maradona for Amifaku, however he rendered the track in Xhosa language and it received an award at SAMA, and have become viral in South Africa. I additionally produced the track, Go Down that was used for the AFCON South African tv industrial tagged: ‘Expertise the Unforgettable’. That was in 2019.
You had been in South Africa for some years, what took you there?
I met Alex Okosi in Onitsha, the place I wrote a tribute track for his late father. He listened to the track and was amazed at my manufacturing experience. There after which, he took curiosity in me and later invited me to South Africa for an audio coaching programme. After the coaching, I made a decision to remain again within the nation. I simply needed to know what the nation has for me, and I discovered love there. I began working in South Africa and many individuals cherished me, and regularly my model began rising. It was a protracted journey although; I met lots of people.
For what number of years did you keep in South Africa and why did you permit?
I spent eight years in South Africa. All through my keep within the nation, I didn’t expertise any xenophobic assault due to my setting, and the form of folks I mingled with as a result of my expertise. I got here again to Nigeria to community, to see what the trade has in retailer for me.
How would you examine the South African music trade and that of Nigeria?
The South African music trade is blessed with good administrative construction. There, issues are accessible however right here in Nigeria, it’s form of difficult. In South Africa, issues are at all times so as. There may be quick access to trade folks. South African music stars are so humble and all the way down to earth. However right here in Nigeria, earlier than you’ll be able to meet Davido or Wizkid and even Burna Boy, it’s various work.
What’s your opinion about Afrobeats usually? Do you suppose we’re getting it proper?
Afrobeats is the heartbeat of music in Africa. I believe we’re getting it proper in terms of the standard of our manufacturing. However by way of administration, I don’t suppose we’re there but. I might need us to have our personal music streaming platforms like iTunes, Spotify and so on. It’s like our petroleum. We now have oil abundantly in Nigeria however who’s refining it for us? That’s precisely what is going on to our music. We now have good music in Nigeria, our Afrobeats is all over the place however the white individuals are those controlling the market. So, we have to have management over our music, by having our personal digital streaming platforms.
Is Everlasting single or married?
I’m single.
Describe your form of lady.
My form of lady have to be lovely, kindhearted, and should imagine within the imaginative and prescient of marriage. Marriage is an establishment, so my lady should first imagine within the establishment referred to as marriage. And when she believes within the establishment referred to as marriage, she have to be able to act on it. When you’re married, you have to be recognized as a married individual. You should not break the vow. Nonetheless, I’m but to seek out any individual that matches my description. I’m nonetheless looking. In truth, it’s one of many causes I got here again from South Africa. I’m in Nigeria in quest of love. No, I’m not below any strain to marry. I’m the primary son of household of 5, which might carry some strain, however I’m not feeling any strain. It’s simply that I’m prepared (to marry).
Let’s speak concerning the Snoop Dogg undertaking. How did you get contain in it?
I received concerned within the undertaking by means of Kenny Ogungbe. He contacted me and mentioned there’s an enormous undertaking involving Snoop Dogg and he would really like me to be the producer of the track. It’s an Afrobeats Amapiano track titled, Can’t Let Go by Honorebel and it options Snoop Dogg, Goya Menor and Joe El. The monitor was launched in August this yr. So, I’m proud to provide a track that has legendary Snoop Dogg on it. I imagine it’s going to get me extra manufacturing jobs from America.
What’s your recommendation for the up and coming artistes?
The trade is crowded and busy. So, they shouldn’t be an excessive amount of in a rush to blow. Simply maintain doing what you know the way to do finest. As you do it gradual and regular, you may be fortunate sometime to see somebody who will belief your expertise, and is able to spend money on it.
