He rocked the music scene for some time with his highlife-induced style which made him one of the most talked about rising stars but, soon after, he went silent. With questions being raised about his whereabouts, the Osinachi singer who has now returned to the music scene, wants his fans to join him on a new journey. He speaks with SEGUN ADEBAYO about this new journey and what God told him about his life.
You have been away from the music scene for a while and your fans have been asking about your whereabouts but you have responded with a new single, Omalicha. Why did it take you this long to drop another song?
I have actually not been away from music or the music scene, I have just been quiet dealing with my music and preparing for the unveiling of the new Humblesmith that my fans and music lover across the globe are about to experience. The new journey starts with this new song and I am hoping to go from here to a new level that people have not even seen or heard before. This is not a new game for me and I am grateful to God for this special moment in my life.
What happened to the old Humblesmith and why do your fans need to have a new one?
There is nothing wrong with Humblesmith. As a matter of fact, there is no new Humblesmith. It is the same great guy but with a new approach to music and how it should be done. I am coming out now with what I call ‘Afro bongo,’ which is a refined highlife music. Everybody knows me as the highlife king, but right now ‘Afro bongo’ is here- a little advanced and new level to my music.
How do you want to convince your fans who are familiar with your highlife music to switch ‘Afro bongo’?
I was born into highlife music but this is a new style of music. There are no barriers to music and I am being guided by that philosophy. My music cuts across now and that makes it more interesting. I can’t be held down by anyone or anything. My music has to evolve and my fans have to understand that life is about moving forward and breaking new grounds. Afro bongo, is not totally different. It is just a classical approach and new dimension that will be acceptable to everyone around the world. My music has leaped from what it used to be. People don’t expect me to sing they way I sang seven years ago. Things have to change and it starts with your approach to music.
But what you went silent and it got many people worried…
Let me come in there, I didn’t go silent but I went on a journey with God to show me things I need to learn and understand about my life and music. In life, you never really know what you are up to until you make certain changes to your life and begin to see what you have been missing. God took me on a journey that revealed a lot that I will be sharing with my fans very soon. I am looking forward to a great moment in the music industry now that the music has begun to flow again.
While you were away, a lot has happened in the music industry. New artistes have taken over and they don’t seem to be resting. You may be coming back into a more competitive afro pop industry. How are you going to handle this moment?
I am not coming into any competition with anybody. I have faced some trials in the past and I am happy to be back on the beat with something fresh and unique. I really don’t have to force my way into where I never left. Things may be different now, but God gave me this talent for a reason and that is enough for me to thrive and survive anywhere I find myself. Those who are rocking the music scene now are doing so well and I am proud of them and what they have done so far. I am grateful to God for this talent and lessons learnt over the years; let us just keep taking it one step at a time. I believe that nothing is bigger than what God is ready to do with my life having gone through the dark times.
So you are not worried that you may have to start finding your feet again?
Why should I be worried about anything? Like I said, I am not worried at all because this is the game I have been playing for a while and I now understand things better. I think God took me on that journey so that I would not be blown away by the breeze and to come out a stronger man. I know that a lot of artistes are dotting the music scene now and I am really happy to see the beautiful things they are doing with music. The sound is lovely. The atmosphere is charged up but one thing is certain, I am the best in what I do. Everybody knows who Humblesmith is and what he is capable of doing and has been doing. The sky is so big for everybody to fly without having to run into anybody. The truth is that the market is wide and you can’t even serve the audience at once. I have been blessed with a special talent and I don’t have to struggle about getting into the game at all because I am armed with what I need to be noticed and valued.
You seem to have gone through a lot in the past few years; would you like to share with us how you handled the dark moment?
How I handled that moment and the lessons learnt have all been explained in my new song. The song took me to the deepest part of my life to get the best out of me. The journey helped me to discover a new way of expressing myself through my music. Even when the cloud got so dark, God showed up for me and told me to keep trusting Him and holding on to my faith. That was all that mattered to me and it helped me to deal with the hard times. The message in my song is for everyone looking up to God for a miracle: they should keep believing and trusting God in the middle of whatever challenges life may throw at them.
For somebody who was constantly performing at shows and getting all the attention from every part of the country and beyond, going quiet and not doing what you were known for could have cost you a lot. Can you tell us what you lost when you were not actively involved in music?
As long as there is life, there is hope. There is nothing you have lost that could not be regained once you have that life going. When God takes you through a phase, He will bring you into a new one that will restore all that you may have lost. So, basically, I believe more in myself now than any other person. I am seeing God taking me into a new phase of my career with my new song and subsequent projects that will be coming out soon. I didn’t lose anything that God cannot give back to me, so that in itself is the best feeling ever. Opportunities abound everywhere for anyone who could see it and utilise it. The future, for me, is bright, no matter what has happened.
What kept you going in those trying moments?
God and my music got me going. I just had to keep believing in myself by looking forward to the big moment.
You appear to be more spiritual now…
I have been drawn closer to God during my dark moment. I discovered that whatever you have working for you was given to you by God but many people forget the God factor when they get answers to what they have been praying for, and when they lose it, they begin to wonder what went wrong with them. We are only privileged to enjoy God’s grace but we not misuse it. I am grateful to God for His love and grace. We are taking the music to a new level.
What should your fans be expecting after Omalicha?
A new EP is coming after this song but I want people to draw lessons from this new song. It is a powerful song, one that will emerge as one of the biggest songs in 2022. So a new EP is coming and couple of other projects that will shake the music industry.
How is your relationship with other big acts you once worked with in the industry?
We are doing fine; I must tell you that with all sincerity. Davido, Olamide, Harrysong, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Burnaboy, Psquare and others are doing well on the music scene. We are all fine and I am open to new collaborations that will further add value to my music and how I see things now.
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