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| Mike Aremu |
Nigeria’s most recognized and
celebrated Jazz artiste, Mike Aremu who has performed alongside top
jazz artistes across the world is set to take the centre stage of the music
world with his ‘Sax Appeal’ concert holding on Sunday.
Speaking about his concert (the
fourth edition), the renowned saxophonist took the time out to speak about
music and bemoan the inability of most musicians of today to play musical
instruments. Hear him speak to Iyabo Aina (Vanguard Correspondent) in a questionnaire:
What are you working on presently?
I am presently planning the fourth
edition of my musical concert “Sax Appeal” which is slated for November 23rd,
2014. It’s going to feature artistes like Mexican saxophonist Jessy J, Yinka
Davis, Kunle Ayo and Timi Dakolo and it will be held at Transcorp Hilton,
Abuja.
Why Abuja?
We’ve always wanted to do the
concert in all parts of the country. Why we decided to choose Abuja is because
Abuja residents hardly have live shows brought to them like the Lagos
residents. In Lagos, shows are always happening all
over the place. Though I started the concert in 2009 and the response and
turn-out has been huge, but this time around we are looking to explore Abuja
and have Abuja residents feel us.
Why Timi Dakolo among other Nigerian
popular artistes?
In ‘Sax Appeal’ concert, we try our
best to look for people who are really talented, people who are true musicians,
not mere singers. I also looked at the fact that Timi has done a song for the
nation and because we are taking the concert to the capital city, we felt he
should have a place in it.
Going by the turn-out of people in
Lagos, how sure are you about getting the same response in Abuja?
I have a good feeling about the
Abuja people but you should note it is not permanent. I just believe that
people who have been hearing this kind of music in Abuja would love to watch
the artistes performing it live on stage. Jazz is not what they get to watch
regularly and I promise to give the best by bringing one of the best female
saxophonists, Mexican Jessy J, Yinka Davis, Timi Dakolo and Kunle Ayo on to the
stage.
When you just started you were more
of a gospel musician, but now you have deviated to jazz music, why?
If you look at the industry, you
will notice that music itself is revolving, but that hasn’t changed anything about my personality. And it hasn’t
changed who I am as a Christian.
If you listen to my music you will
notice that there are three major factors you can’t take away from my song,
which are; God factor, jazz factor and African factor. These three things show
that my music is for everyone. What matters most is the melody and not
religion.
About your last album “Coat of many
colors” how is it doing in the market?
It’s doing well. I even had six
nominations from the album in a gospel award and I titled that album ‘Coat of
Many Colors’ because it has different genres of music and different artistes in
it.
Why is jazz not accepted like other
genres of music in Nigeria?
It’s because Jazz is a kind of music
that selects its own audience. But personally, I am trying my possible best to
make it more acceptable by organising jazz shows that can bring people closer
to jazz musicians. I believe jazz is a choice music people can relate with in
several spheres.
Has there been a time you felt like
totally abandoning jazz or gospel music for secular one?
I have been invited to different
kinds of functions that have no connection with Christianity. Christianity is
just a way of life but we tend to define everything by religion here and it is
one of our problems in Nigeria today. They don’t look out for what people can
deliver. Like I said earlier, three factors; God factor, African factor and
jazz factor define my music and my life. Whether I do secular music or gospel
music, you are still going to find all these factors in my music.
What’s your view about musical
artistes not being able to play music instruments?
I personally don’t believe everybody
should play an instrument, but whatever you do, just do it well. In Nigeria,
there is no music in our curriculum unlike abroad where you have to learn some
kinds of instrument before you can become a musician.
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