Earlier this year, Rose May Alaba, younger sister of Bayern Munich forward, David Alaba returned home to promote her music. Since her return, she has released a single ‘My Love (Sabi oh)’ which is currently enjoying massive airplay. She also wrote and performed the theme song of the 2017 Special World Winter Games in Austria.
She talks about her passion for music, and also shares her opinion on Nigerian men.
You seemed to love dancing a lot?
I love to dance. I used to be in a dance group before when I was in my teenage years. You can see that in my music videos.
Since you’ve been back to Nigeria, what do you think the music industry needs right now from what you are used to in Austria?
I think that Nigeria music industry for me needs classic stuff, proper classic afrobeat but mixed with pop music. I think that’s what I am bringing. I’m bringing optimal afro fusion; afro like nobody has, so it’s actually a good plan for me to just spread my music all over the country.
What other talents do you have, you said you also discovered your talent for football?
I used to play. I used to try it out but I decided to do music.
At what point did you realise that this football thing isn’t working and music was far better?
When they told me that I have to come in for training three times a week… I was like ok, bye!
So is music quite easy for you to do?
Music is quite easy. It was always been in me. I had it always in me, so it’s easy for me to do; but easier than playing football.
Having the likes of Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay who also came in from USA to Nigeria to do music, what are your fears? How do you plan on breaking into the industry?
I already feel the love on my social media. People have been lauding me, loving my music, appreciating me for coming back and they are like super intense. I feel the general love, so I am not really scared of coming here and putting out my music. I feel like anywhere is home to me.
Do you feel under pressure at any point to produce songs that are obtainable in the industry today?
Yes, that’s for sure. I feel like the particular sound that I do… like mixing harp with afrobeats, like doing this afro fusion thing really makes my sound different from the rest. I feel like I have a good chance here to show the people that I am here now and that I have a different sound and I am here to stay.
What will you call your kind of music?
I don’t really have a name for it but I just want to call it afro fusion. I don’t want to call it afro-pop; I don’t think there is something like afro-pop.
Why do you have a problem with the word ‘afro pop’, what other name could you have given it?
“I don’t know, like afrobeat is just so strong. I don’t want to take something and put it into another. I want to leave pop as pop and afro sound as afro sound. So, let me just say afro fusion.People have been lauding me, loving my music, appreciating me for coming back and they are like super intense. I feel the general love, so I am not really scared of coming here and putting out my music. I feel like anywhere is home to me.”
You sing a lot about love songs, are you in love?
No, not right now, I’m really focusing on my career right now: trying to do great music. I’m in love with the music.
Now that you are in Nigeria, what do you think about Nigerian men compared to others?
They are very flirty. But you also got to take care too because you can get lost in their eyes. They know how to talk.
When you were back there, how was their acceptance of African music?
They love it. They play me on radio, they really like it. I feel like they are really accepting me infusing afro sound into my music, much more than me singing pop. I think I’m on the right path.
