You must have a steady source of income to succeed in music —Singer Malyna Abdul

Malyna Ajoke Abdul is a young singer, songwriter, who prefers to call herself an Independent Artiste. Born in Kwara State, Nigeria, Malyna Abdul started singing as an undergraduate before going on her solo career in 2012. In this interview by Newton-Ray Ukwuoma, the University of IIorin-trained Microbiologist, who recently released an EP of eight tracks, discussed why recorddeals aren’t good for her music career.

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How did you raise money for your music career?

My biggest source of funding is my parents. They help me whenever  they can. I do not have a 9 to 5 job. I am always in the studio. I get support from home. As an independent artiste, the most important thing is to have a source of income. I am a trader as well. I sell vintage materials to people who need them. That way I make money to keep myself. During the day, I work as an assistant studio manager.

Would you say that an artiste with no rich parents cannot become an independent artiste?

No. It may not be easy. Being an independent artistes takes sweat. There are days you would not have anything, there are days you will be broke. Because I have a studio does not mean I haven’t had my down sides. There are days I do not have money for my personal needs. Every artiste needs people to work with them and as a young singer, you have to make people see that this is your dream, people are willing to help. Like I said earlier, every artiste must have a steady source of income. It might not be a 9 to 5, but it is very important to have a source of income. Because when I said that my parents support me, it is not as though I get like 1 million every month or so. I have to work to raise my own money. I have met a lot of signed artistes, their stories are not different, some are even worst. Some of them don’t even get paid by the label. Some are there wasting away their talents claiming to have arrived when they have nothing to show for it.

Have you had any offers to join any record label since you went solo?

Yes. I turned most of them down.

What would you say is the reason you rejected their offers?

They wanted to change my style. You meet me in a show performing, you bring me to your office and about one week of trying to sign a deal you are telling me that you want me to be like a known artiste. Why don’t you go and sign the artiste instead? I went through that ordeal and I am therefore afraid of signing contract deals that will alter my vision and personality. Also, I have worked with people whose problem is not even the contract or the money, but their own ego. They believe that once you are signed under them, they have your life in their hands and therefore can use it any way they choose. I have passed through these things as well. That is why I decided to do it myself. It is not that I am not open to working with people, but I don’t want to sign just any deal. And I am open to working with anyone, not just a deal.

Do you believe record labels in Nigeria are not doing enough for young artistes?

No. What I am saying is that some people started record labels as a way to achieve success in music. And it has been working for them and everyone else. So, being independent is my own way of doing the same thing. I know what I went through. I believe so many people have also gone through the same things and might want to follow this path. I do not have any problem with record labels. I do alliance with record labels, I use their studios, I work with their artistes. I know that there are good record labels even in Nigeria. But for me, I am afraid of signing the wrong deals.

How did you start your journey into music?

I didn’t actually know I was going to be a singer. I had a classmate who was an artiste. One day, I wrote a part of his songs and when he saw it, he asked me to record it with him. That was how we formed a group. I would perform the song with him. But at some point he stopped and I had to carry on. Immediately I started singing, things began to make sense to me. I saw I had a purpose. I was playing basketball at that time. But the moment I started singing, I knew that this was where I am supposed to be.

You studied Microbiology. Were your parents happy with your decision to become a musician?

No. They are not happy to date. That is the point. Sometimes we want to become who our parents want us to become. For some children, it works for them, while for others; they get stuck and then turn around to blame their parents for their failure. I didn’t want to allow that. I wanted to make my own mistakes. I have always been a rebel. That’s my kind of person. But at the end of the day, it is about me. I came to this world to write my own history. I am not here to rewrite or correct the history of my parents. My parents have been supportive regardless. They have seen my works on TV and all.  But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt to know that they are not with me 100 per cent. It does.

What do your parents do?

My mother manages a hotel in Kwara, while my father works with the World Health Organisation.

What sacrifices have you made to retain your independence?

I sacrifice a lot. I keep wearing wigs upon wigs. I hardly make my hair. I am always thinking of what dress to go to a show with. I have to cut a lot of cost. I have to learn not to be conscious of time. There are days when friends try to mock me about not getting married. It is not as though these things don’t bother me. I go through emotional pain. Just thinking that my parents are not happy with me doing what I am doing makes me sad sometimes. I am human. I love my family. There are many things I sacrifice. When I want to buy myself a nice thing and remember I have to do a video I don’t. It is like doing everything for the music every day. It is crazy. But I know it will be worth it in the end.

What kind of music do you do?

I do Afro-Junk, that is infusing Afro with foreign sounds. I do electronic dance music. But anything I do I infuse Afro into it because Afro works for me.

You recently released an EP. Tell us about it?

My EP entitled, ‘Alter Ego’ has 8 songs. At the point when I recorded the songs, I found it very hard to place my sound. I felt like since the concept of Alter Ego is having like a second person inside of you, I will title my EP Alter Ego. So, the first four tracks are Malyna songs, while the last four are Ajoke songs. Ajoke is my middle name. Ajoke is that older girl, mature and sensitive, while Malyna is a carefree personality. The EP is on soundcloud.

Have you started making money from music?

No. It is too hard for a young artiste to start making money off music immediately. People are currently making money off me. I spend money promoting the songs. The more I spend, the more I feel I have to continue. I do not have a big sponsor or anyone to invest in an independent artiste. So, I cannot afford to promote my songs the way I want to. What I do is I go out, to talk people and share my songs and dream with them. I love the experience, I love being an independent artiste.

What in your opinion is your ultimate sacrifice to becoming successful as an independent artiste?

Time. That is the ultimate sacrifice I have to make to remain an independent artiste. Everybody will have their shine one day. But we got to keep doing what we are doing. I would rather blow in six years’ time than blow today and fade away. I keep working, everyday I am working, and I believe it is adding up. One day I go make it.

Which musicians do you admire for their successes?

I admire Burna Boy, 2Baba, Jimmy Jatt, Wizkid and Davido. I just love anybody winning. I like Sheyi Shay. I love Cynthia Morgan. Orezi is my friend. I like him.