EXCLUSIVE | Interview with the Fast Rising Songbird, NANYA

Jessica Chifumnanya Ijeh aka NANYA granted 03Media's Ifeanyi Kelvin an exclusive interview tagged 'THE CHRONICLES OF NANYA'. Here's what's up; Beauty, Brains and the Music! Warning: She smiles and laughs a lot!

Kelvin: Hello and good evening to you.

Nanya: (Smiling already) Hello, good evening

Kelvin: So, can we meet you?

Nanya: Yes, you can (laughs). My name is Nanya Ijeh, I am a singer, song-writer.

Kelvin: Hmm! A singer, song writer! So, we can call you the SongBird?

Nanya: Yes, yes, you can (Chuckles)

Kelvin: Where are you from?

Nanya: I'm from Delta State, Nigeria ooh! But, I grew up in Benin, Benin bread and buttered, if that's the correct word (laughs)

Kelvin: Interesting. What inspired the name NANYA, because I'm guessing it's not your birth name?

Nanya: Erh! Well, it's kinda my birth name (laughs), just a shortened version of my name. My name is Chifumnanya and NANYA is taken from the end, basically.

Kelvin: Cool! So, enlighten us. Tell us a little about yourself, growing up, music and all.

Nanya: Okay. Well, I grew up like I said in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria and music has just been like a fall back for me basically. When your parents always want you to be a Lawyer or a Doctor, music has always just being in my head. It's not like I thought I was going to be a musician when I was younger, but then, it found me at the end of the day.

Kelvin: Does anyone in your family play music?

Nanya: Ummm, No! They just love music basically but, No, nobody does music.

Kelvin: So you are the only one who does music professionally and the rest are just music lovers?

Nanya: (Laughs) Yeah, that's it.

Kelvin: When can you say you went into music, professionally that is?

Nanya: Um, professionally, that was 2011 and that was when I left Benin city after I graduated from school and came to Lagos. You know now, to come and pursue the Nigerian dream, you know, then from there, we have been pushing it and we pray God will bless our hustle (laughs)

Kelvin: Ameeen! So, what kind of music do you play?

Nanya: Well, I like to call it Afro-Soul, Afro-Fusion, because it's like a blend of so many elements. I refuse to put myself in a box. My music is inspired by the things that I see around me. Some people call it conscious music. So, I write about the stories of a Nigerian as they come to me. That's what I do.

This is not my real face o!

Kelvin: So, you tell stories about everything and anything that is happening to you as a Nigerian (Yeah) and also things we see day by day?

Nanya: Yes, like I have plastic people, it's about people who are not real and then there's this new one I'm about to release which is about poverty, bye-bye to poverty (The one you just did on stage?) Yeah (So, it's the first time we're going to be hearing this?) Yeah, nobody else has heard the song.

Kelvin: Wow! Privileged. Okay. Who are your musical influences?

Nanya: Ye! Okay. I...honestly, I don't want to call like...specific names because they are so many. But, I really do love Asa, I really love Cobhams Asuquo, I really love Adele. Yeah, so, these are some of the people I listen to and they are really...well, let me just leave it there. But, these are the people sha! (Laughs)

Kelvin: What's special in the way you play your music. What sets you apart from the others?

Nanya: Well, what I like to call my music is True music, that's what sets me apart. If a person listens to it, they should all...at least out of 10 people, two or three people should be able to relate to my music because it's everyday life, it's stuff that we all face, it's real music. That's what I think stands me out. It's not really about the money, it's about just telling my story and telling my truth.

Kelvin: Apart from artistes generally, who or what influences your music career?

Nanya: Yeah, um, who or what, um...for me, it's family. As in, just knowing that there are people who know that I have this gift and they would be really glad to see that the music is heard out there in the world. That's the 'who' that inspires me. And also, the 'what', would be the things that happen like I said earlier, just telling the truth. So, I feel the need to do that and that's what makes me keep going.

Kelvin: Do you play any musical instruments?

Nanya: Erm, I have tried to learn, I've been trying to learn. Well I'm currently learning the guitar, yeah, hopefully, one of these days, you'll see me on stage with the guitar. But, still learning though.

Kelvin: Okay, to do something like Asa does?

Nanya: Yeeesssss, you know...(laughs)

Kelvin: It's cool. How do you handle mistakes during any of your stage performances?

Nanya: Erm...as for mistakes (smiles) I laugh at myself a lot, so people know that (laughs). Knowing say I don mess up but (laughs) sorry make una no vex but though. I make it a joke sometimes, people think it's part of the act, then sometimes too, I maybe, calm my nerves down, if it's being caused by nerves and I move on basically.

Kelvin: Have you ever been involved in competitions and any prizes won?

Nanya: Hmm! Yes I have been involved. At least the one I really tried out for was The Voice Nigeria, 2016, the first edition and well, I like to be happy with myself because thousands of people went in and then I made top 100, I went to South Africa with two of my family members and, well, that was as far as I could go. Maybe, it just wasn't my time but that was one of the open competitions I went for.

Kelvin: So, we know Nanya is married (Yes she is) with a lovely husband (Yelz) and a very beautiful daughter. How do yo balance mommy duties, family with your music?

Nanya: Well, I won't lie, it is harder than it looks. Nobody prepares you for what motherhood comes with and then I would also be honest, at some point, I felt like I was losing my hold on my music and every other thing. But then, it's all about knowing why you started in the first place, that way you can always push even when the zeal is not there. In my own case, it was just that other things became more important to me. Having a child to take care of, so, the fire wasn't there as much as it was meant to be. Well, that's life for you. But, now we're back, we're stronger, we're balancing it out, getting help as much as we can and doing the little we can.

Kelvin: Okay. So, let's say Nanya is single. Which musical artiste do you have a crush on?

Nanya: Ah! (chuckles) Crush, crush, crush, crush, crush (hisses). Hmm! All of them that I used to crush on, they have started changing in my eyes. (Kelvin Laughing) I don't know now. I used to crush on Praiz, those days, well, I don't know if I still crush on him anymore. Uh, who again do I crush on...Well, there are other ones now, you know how girls are now, I no know jare. I can't say one now (Laughs)

Kelvin: (Laughing) It's okay. Moving forward, this is 2018. What should we be expecting from Nanya?

Nanya: Ah Nanya is not joking anymore ooh! Nanya is working on her album, Nanya is recording music and content. And now, it's not just free music anymore, we are going to actually do digital distribution and you know, actually make this money, that's what we are up for now. So, yeah, watch this face, watch this space (Kelvin Laughing), be ready, yes. (both laughing)

Kelvin: Okay, everybody is going to be watching out for Nanya (Yes o) and we are sure we're going to be getting the best from her. (yeah) Thank you very much for granting us this exclusive interview.

Nanya: You're welcome. Thank you too.

So there you have it guys. Keep up with us for more exclusives!