Despite the influx of upcoming acts in the Nigeria music industry, there are few artistes who have crested their name in gold. One of them is; Olugbemiro Ebenezer Adeboye, with the moniker Lese. Lese, formerly addressed as Ebzy shot into spotlight with “Lese Lese” the track gained massive acceptance within his vicinity. He has now had to stick to the name Lese.
The Afro-Infusion artiste did not just stumble on music. He grew up in a music oriented family, while growing, He sharpened up his vocal dexterity cum stage craft, this attracted the owner of Idol Records, who signed and invested in his career. Ever since he was signed on the label, he has since proved naysayers wrong by churning out good vibes that enjoy massive rotation on radio.
In this exclusive Interview, with the Publisher of CITYSPY.COM.NG, SOFOWORA OLADAPO, The Abeokuta born artiste, spoke extensively about his new jam with wave making Teni The Entertainer, his sojourn into music so far and other pressing issues. ……EXCERPT
You have been doing music for how long now?
Well, I would say I have been doing it for long, I was born into a music family. I have been doing music for a while now, can’t really say when, but all I can remember is; I have been doing music from when I was a little boy.
What genre of music do you do?
I call it Afro-infusion. I can infuse my own afro sound into my style of music. I can do any genre of music.
What are the qualities that distinct you from your competitions despite the influx of up and coming artiste in Nigeria??
What distinct me from the rest is that; I am a man with the message. I don’t joke with the message in which I am trying to pass across. I don’t do music for the sake of doing it. I enjoy what I do but I know what I do is a calling. I didn’t just stumble on it. I do music that has a positive message to my listeners.
How has the journey been so far after being signed unto Idol records??
I thank God that I am not where i used to be. The struggle was different, it used to be me all alone doing my thing. Now I am signed to do good music, which is bonded by the law. I am going all out to make good sound, and I can see the result. With Idol records, it’s a new journey to greatness for me.
Are you satisfy with the pace at which you are moving or you still want to do more??
I am never satisfy with my self. I always want to bring the best out of myself. If I do something, I always want to surpass my previous feat. I am not relaxed cause I have Idol Records doing stuffs for me. I have to keep pushing also so as to play my own part to complinment what Idol is doing.
You recently recorded a song with Teni The Entertainer, what inspired that feature with the wavemaking songstress?
That song is a great song. The day I recorded the song, I was with my producer Tefar. He said, Lese we need to get to the island, We had to go to Askamaya. I have been telling my producer that i wanted to record a song with Teni. We fixed a date already and I told my producer to give me a beat after sharing my idea with him so I can keep rehearsing. Fortunately, He didn’t give it to me. On getting to the location where we are meeting Teni, we were chilling for her to arrive, my producer flipped out this laptop. He had his own idea as well and I always key into his ideas cause it has worked for me. I wanted to do something different from the norm. He played several beat and said He knows Teni would love it and I will also be able to jump on. When I heard it, I was amazed. While I was vibing to the beat, Teni arrived and walked past me upstairs. I was called to come in and met with her. My biggest inspiration was meeting Teni that day. She asked me various questions, and I told her that; I want to be out there. She laughed severally and confessed that she liked my rapport with her. She then asked me if I pray fervently? I said Yes. She asked if I fast? I said I dont joke with food cause I love the kitchen. She further advised that, I add a little fasting to my prayers, that I will see the result. She said that the music work we do is quite spiritual. After that, we went to the booth and started recording, I recorded my own part and I gave her space to do hers ad well and she recorded her own part and she nailed it.
What is the difference between the song and the ones you have recorded previously?
I appreciate every song I have recorded. it’s not easy to have a good sound. I always liked to be better than what I have before. It does not make the one I used to have less of value. All I do is to motivate myself and be a better version. The song I have with Teni is Dope and the ones I will record will be better.
When are you dropping the song?
The release date is yet to be announced. I want to catch everybody by surprise. I am also thinking of releasing the video and audio at once. It’s going to be a massive song.
What is your projection for your brand in the next 6month?
I know am going places, with the fact that am on the right track doing what am supposed to do. I am going to be different from the way I am.
To you, what makes a good artiste?
Your attitude at a point in time goes a long way. How your fan’s precieve you matters a lot. As a celeb, you don’t mislead your fans who look up to you. There are lot’s of challenge out there, we have Naked challenge, it’s so disheartening because we have kids out there who are watching. It’s how you portray yourself people will see you.
One thing that makes a good artiste to me is how I sell myself to my fans.
Who were the artiste you grew up listening to that helped developed your interest in making music?
I have a lot of them. I used to be mummy’s boy. I am happy to be cause, she is a good woman. She believed in me and never questioned what I wanted to be. Growing up, I listened to Sketa Davids, lots of country music, I listened to Michel Jackson, Lagbaja, Sir Shina Peters, Bob Marley and Fela Kuti where I tapped my Afro-Infusion genre from and a host of others I cant remember.
If you are given the opportunity to feature another artiste who would that be?
That would be BurnaBoy. He is different. I can’t compare him with other artiste. He is in a league of his own.
If you are given an opportunity to with something about yourself what will you change?
I love myself. I dont know what I want to change about myself. I would still love to be me and I would love to remain myself.
There is recent feud making the round on the internet about some artiste endorsing internet fraud, what’s your take on this?
I don’t judge people, the nation has damaged the youths. Kettle calling pot black. Our nation has cause the lingering issues. You hear politicians siphoning Billions of Naira to offshore accounts. The nation is not helping anybody. I am not supporting anyone but the nation is not supporting the youths. It’s wrong to arrest young people trying to make a living for themselves. The nation is not allowing us thrive. I am not saying internet Fraud is good and I don’t have the right to judge anybody, but am saying let the government put all measures together by providing basic amenities. Afterwards they can arrest those against the law.
How do you treat your female fans?
I don’t have a problem with my female fans. I am open to my fans. I am open to conversations. Some hit me up on Instagram, we chat and I have even invited some of them for lunch. I am not that kind of guy who just want to jump from one girl to another. The ones who love me, I love them right back. The female fans are the major. An artiste needs the female to be bigger cause they make the world a better place.
If you were not an artiste what would you be known for now?
I will be a business man, I am a catereer. I love doing the kitchen work. After music I might own a big eatery and venture into fashion as well.
Are you the only artiste on your label?
No, when i got signed, we were two. I and charmelee, and Kayzmore was signed few months after.
Record labels and artiste fall out some times, we the fans assume the artiste are happy, but at some point, we see that the issues between the label and artiste turn out sour, Between you and idol records, what is the true story and picture?
In life it’s a race. Being in Idol records, I see it as an institution. It’s a step after the other. Nobody is better than the other person. I believe life is a race and we have to run it differently. It’s an institution and at the end of the day, we pass out with our grades. We don’t smile all the times. There are times we have our own differences, as human, we settle things and move on.
Labels offer artiste slave deals and at the end of the day there is a fallout, do you think an upcoming artiste needs a label?
Appoligies, Nigerian music industry is messed up. If you have a good song but you don’t have the resources to push the music, it’s a waste. I know better artiste out there who make good music but because of nobody to support their talent, it becomes a wasted talent. An active label makes u move forward.
Some artiste leave their label and afterwards there would be bad blood between them. If Lese leaves idol records today hope there wont be a form of bad blood between Idol and Lese?
The reason that happens is greed. Either coming from the label or the artiste. Everything needs to be balanced. If things are going on fine, there shouldn’t be problem. For me, I don’t see myself signed unto idol records, I see myself as a body of Idol records. I know the story and part of it. There is love and where love is peace reigns.
Give a runthrough of 5 artiste that have consistent in the past 10 years and how you see yourself in them?
Everybody has what they portray of themself. Runtown, I like his vibes, he is consistent regardless of the issues he is having. Wizkid, Olamide, Burnaboy, Teckno I believe they are consistency and always something to deliever. They have a style of music and what they are known for.
Which female celebrity would you love to date?
The ones I would love to date are married. i dont like ladies with revealing outfit. I will like to date Genevieve, she is a single mother but she is a perfect example, Asa and Omotola Jalade. I love decency a lot. I dont like nudity. Just see Teni she does not wear revealing outfits yet she makes good music.
If you have 10million naira, how much can you share with your fans?
I love it when you work to achieve something not making claim to luck and all. I am someone who worked for everything i have achieved. if I didnt do the music my label boss wont sign me. I would prefer to give money to those who are in need of it to do things that makes sense. I would support the right thing. I can give for fun but I love to give to touch a soul. I can support motherless homes and juvenile homes.
