Since childhood, Blessing Akhere had always
desired to sing. Known in music circle as Akhere,
the Economics graduate and former model who
currently works in the aviation sector, is making
her mark in the music industry. Akhere, who
recently recorded a song, ‘On My Mind’, speaks
with JOE AGBRO JR about growing up, the
struggles of the industry and her aspiration.
Excerpts
How did music start for you?
Music is my passion. I fell in love with music very
early in life. And I used to remember making
sounds, very beautiful sounds at age five. Even as
young as I was, I was aware that I loved music
and I could make very beautiful sounds. As a
child, I longed to be part of the choir, the senior
choir actually. But of course, you have to start
from the children’s choir.
In which church?
Brotherhood of the Star and Cross. And I had a
very good choir master who was able to help me.
Initially, I started as an alto singer. I was
fantastic as an alto singer but I don’t know what
happened. One day, we were doing a choir
practice and rehearsal and I was switched. They
switched me from alto to treble and that was the
beginning. I was like, ‘wonderful’ is an
understatement when it comes to singing the
soprano. From there, as I grew older, I started to
write songs. I migrated to writing secular songs. I
wrote my first eight songs while I was still in the
university. I was able to come up with a complete
album. And by the time I finished university, as
much as I loved music, music wasn’t appreciated
then. That was around 2005 because I finished
university around 2008. So, I just thought the
sensible thing to do at that point is to just get a
monthly job. That’s how I found myself flying.
The Nigerian music industry is a very
competitive. What are you bringing to carve a
niche for yourself?
Trying to be unique in my own way. I don’t want
to be someone else. I just want to be me. And I
believe the sky is big enough for everyone. We
might probably not get there at the same time
but as long as there is life, then I’m still pushing.
One of your songs, ‘Irin Ise’ (Man of Steel)
trended not long ago. What was the motivation
for the song?
There is a story behind it. Initially, my past
relationship actually gave birth to that song. At
the point I wrote this song, the relationship meant
so much to me. That sanity and happiness and
contentment you want in a relationship was there.
And I never imagined it was ever going to end but
that’s life for you. You have to give it your best
shot which is what I did. The love around the
relationship at that point led to that song.
So, are you back to being single?
Do I have to talk about that? I don’t think I want
to talk about that. Anyone who comes close
would get to know if I am single or off the market
eventually.
You’re a beautiful lady and some men would be
attracted to you. How has the interest in you
from the opposite s*x been like?
Well, I get that a lot. I handle them as they come.
Can you share an experience?
To a large extent, I think they’ve been able to
behave themselves.
So, what has a fan really done to you that you
feel ‘this is too outrageous’?
Like I said, I have not really had any terrible
experience. They’re able to keep their hands to
themselves even if they drool which is fine by me.
They can look and drool but can’t touch. To a
large extent, they are well-behaved.
So, no one has attempted to touch?
No one has tried to touch indecently.
When we look at the music sector, there is a way
females are portrayed as s*x symbols, especially
in music videos. How do you see that trend?
Well, I think everybody has the right to dress the
way they want to even though there is a saying
that says ‘dress the way you want to be
addressed.’ At the end of the day, I’m sure if they
do that for a video, probably the job warrants
them at that point because that is the contract
they have signed to do that way. But it’s not
enough for anyone to want to look at them as
s*x objects. I think it has to do with one’s
perspective about life. I have my own limits when
it comes to dress sense. I can’t go further beyond
a particular limit.
But for anyone who feels free to bare it all, it’s
not enough licence for anyone to think she’s
cheap. And the man should also have control. So,
don’t blame it on the girl because she is exposed
dress-wise, then you think you can lunge yourself
on her indecently. The girl also has a right to get
down with whoever she wants to get down with.
So, it just has to do with individual perspective
about life. We are responsible for our actions.
How do you combine your work and music?
It’s tough because flying alone drains you. So, I
still don’t know how I have been able to combine
flying with music because music on its own when
I was doing fulltime music, takes a lot of my
time. And when I ask myself how I have been
able to cope, the only answer is my passion for
music. Even when I want to give up, it’s not
something I can easily give away. I’ve tried
keeping away from it but it keeps on coming
back.
How do you relax?
Once in a while, I like to go dancing. It helps
relieve my stress. But most of the time, I don’t
even have that time to go dancing as often as I
want. What I do is I always have my earpiece
with me. When it blasts my head for a while, it’s
more like it massages my brain and makes me
calm down. When I get home, I still have it on the
speaker. So, when the music is playing, I’m
moving around at my pace doing things. The only
time I turn off the music is when I want to pray
and want to go to bed.
How do you stay athletic and beautiful?
I try to exercise on my own. I’ve never been to
the gym. Whatever exercise I do, I do it within the
four walls of my room.
How about relationships?
Right now, I’m busy with myself.
So, no space for any man?
When the right man comes along.
So, what are the criteria for the right man?
Of course, he has to be God-fearing. He needs to
love me. I don’t want a Master-Slave relationship.
Someone I can trust and find sanity and
happiness with. If he is good-looking, it’s an
added plus. But he has to be very presentable.
And he should be able to speak good English.
Source: thenationonlineng.net/fans-can-drool-cant-touch/
