Mo Cheddah "I MISS MY DAD A LOT"

Modupe Oreoluwa Oyeyemi, the 22yr old Osun State indigene popularly known as Mo'cheddah talks to Debourgeois about her growth in the music industry. The graduate of Creative Arts from the University of Lagos who started her musical career with Knigthouse has been churning out hit after hit such as Ko ma roll, See me and has been featured by the likes of M.I, eldee and so many others. Although she recently split from Knighthouse, she has three new singles out, Lady, d'ting and Louder and is working on launching her own record label.




DB - You started music at a young age with a lot of hype, how have you been able to maintain the same momentum you started with?
Mo Cheddah - Its all about hard work because  getting there and staying there is a different ball game all together..its basically about evolving as a person.

DB - In your opinion, how have you grown from your first appearance in Won Beri to your newest single Louder?
Mo Cheddah - As a person and artist I always wanna stay true to myself and change is a big part of the growing process so as I grow as a person I also grow as  an artist..

DB - What inspired the song Louder and also the video?
Mo Cheddah - The beat was composed by chopsticks and that was what inspired me to write the song..it was bold loud fun and free...and I wanted the video to depict people having fun.

DB - Tell us about your label, Cheddah music and do you run the label alone?
Mo Cheddah - I'm still putting together the plans I have for the label so I don't wanna let anything out just yet.


DB - Who are your musical influences?
Mo Cheddah - A lot of people..from Beyonce to India Arie, Joe, Usher, JayZ, Rihanna...I listen to all kinds of music.

DB - You have a new album in the works "Supercharged", when is the album
scheduled for release?
Mo Cheddah - I can't give a specific time yet but early next year..


DB - What collaborations should we expect off the upcoming album?
Mo Cheddah - Plenty!!! That's what I wana try and dive into..mixing different styles and ideas with other talented artist to make beautiful music..so expect a lot of that

DB- If you had the opportunity to work with any artistes in the world,
which three would you pick?
Mo Cheddah - Most definitely Beyonce...Rihanna and JayZ

DB - What would you be doing if you weren't into music?
Mo Cheddah - Truthfully I really don't know..maybe i'll be a fashion designer or something..

DB - You've been called a musical prodigy, fabulous fashionista, Nigeria's pop princess etc how hard has it been living up to all to all the expectations people have of you?
Mo Cheddah - Its impossible to please everybody so as much as possible  like I said I stay true to MYSELF and God and everyother thing would work out.


DB - Who is your favourite designer?
Mo Cheddah - Kunbi oyelese of April by kunbi!! I love her soft feminine detailing and use of fabric..


DB - How can artistes who are interested in joining your label get in touch with you?
Mo' Cheddah - When I am on a search for artists you will definitely find out..


DB - If you had the opportunity 1)to go on a date with anyone
 2)go on a vacation anywhere
3) have a lifetime supply of anything,
 who, where and what would they be?
Mo Cheddah - i would love to have just one last dinner date with my dad..I miss him a whole lot..
 I rilly wanna go to borabora!!!i think about it a lot!!
Louboutin shoes!!

RUBY "MUSIC IS ALL I EVER WANTED TO DO"

Ngohide Rubyann Gyangyan, stage name Ruby is a graduate of Economics from the University of Jos. she is one of the newest members of the LOOPY music family, the group of young and talented artists from Jos taking over the Nigerian music industry

DB - How did you get into music?
RUBY - I come from a family that loves music so much, with my mother being a singer and writer, my uncles being recording/performing gospel artists and my father an avid soul and high-life fanatic, it was impossible not to love music and make it a part of me. I remember performing in church at age 6, singing, dancing and acting. I always wanted to be a singer, a performer and an entertainer.

DB - How did you meet MI and how did you get signed to Loopy music?
RUBY - I met JesseJagz about ten years ago and he introduced me to M.I who formed the Loopy Crew. I started recording with M.I in 2005 and being a part of the Loopy Crew secured a spot for me in Loopy Music, the label recently launched.


DB - How difficult or easy has it been working with the likes of MI and Jesse Jagz?
RUBY - Working with M.I and Jesse Jagz has been a blessing. They are talented professionals who know how to ease you into the recording process and versatility is a very strong quality they both possess; this makes it easy for them to work a wide range of talents.

DB - Your style of music is different from the usual in Nigeria. What and who are your musical influences?
RUBY - I consider my type of music to fall under the AfroSoul genre. It is true that this is different from your typical Nigerian music, but it also creates an advantage for me because this genre has not been tapped into as much as others and that positions me as a pioneer. I am influenced musically by Miriam Makeba, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Onyeka Owenu, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, and John Legend.

DB - The Nigerian music scene has very few successful female singers. What challenges have you faced that are peculiar to females?
RUBY - I've been blessed to work with people who truly believe in me and constantly push me to be better and help me do the kind of music I do. However, it is relatively more difficult for a woman in this industry to thrive when she is not showing off skin or doing something outrageous to remain in the spotlight. The Nigerian music industry is highly competitive and I applaud all my female colleagues who have managed to stay relevant and consistent.


DB - What inspired the song OKAY and what has been the response to the song?
RUBY - My aim as an artist is to make music that is good, timeless but most of all sincere.
I drew on past relationship experiences, personal lives of close friends and relatives and recreated that in the single OKAY. Many people have written, called and sent me messages saying that they could relate to the song and some have even said it helped them get through a bad break up.

DB- When is a new single to be released? And are there plans for an album soon?
RUBY - New single will be out in August 2012. Hopefully my debut album will be released sometime in 2013; I spend a lot of time in the studio.


DB - Who would you like to collaborate with in Nigeria and internationally?
RUBY - I would love to collaborate with Femi Kuti, Asa, Nneka, Tuface , Liquid Deep, Lira, and Mi Casa.

DB - If you weren't into music what other career choice would you have made?
RUBY - Music is all I've ever wanted to do

DB - What is the one thing you treasure most?
RUBY - My Faith

DB - What inspires you as a person?
RUBY - God. Experiences. Relationships, MUSIC


DB - If you could steal three things from any person(s), one material thing, one personality trait and one material thing. what would they be?
RUBY - A penthouse apartment or a private island, Patience and Celion Dion's voice box