The Lawretta Richards Interview(RETTA)



Photo Credit: Jton Productions



          Lawretta Richards is what Hollywood/Nollywood would call a bankable star. Voice, looks, confidence, poise, aggressive sexiness and the ability to twitch a vixenish smile on command at the corners of her mouth - they all combine to captivate audiences in general and to turn grown men into foolish little boys. On paper, Retta’s ascent to stardom follows the traditional route of many cookie cutter, here today gone tomorrow stars. Similar to such stars, she appears on many variety shows and her appeal is not restricted to those with a taste for more serious music.

However, Retta is distinct among these other stars in the mainstream due to her signature pout and believable tough-girl voice. Her songs never come off as sugary bubble-gum pop, but the melodies are not anywhere near American R&B style. Her mature, almost monotone voice evokes a sense of depth and sex appeal achieved rarely by other artists and her beauty comes across as far more than average cuteness. The richness of her delivery nearly stops the heart because you know an angel is singing, and the beauty of this outpouring of love stirs your soul. Her gift of vocal music is wonderful to behold.

        Recently, I had the chance to interview Retta. The songstress popped on the music scene in 2010 with her release of the singles ‘Kolo for You’ and ‘Would You be Mine’, and has soared to higher heights ever since. Although her family has long been involved in the music industry, she only recently discovered her talent as a performer. She was brought to the public’s attention by Joy Tongo, President of Jton Productions while vacationing in Nigeria and has since not looked back.


The full text of the interview can be read below:


How are you doing? Before we get any further with this interview, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am doing great, thanks a lot. My name is RETTA. I am 20yrs old...born and raised in Nigeria (Port Harcourt), where I had my primary and secondary education. Love listening to all genres of music and I got great passion for singing, dancing as well as acting and writing. Studied theatre arts in the University of Port Harcourt after which I moved to Lagos to start a life time career in entertainment and in the Arts.



Let’s go back into your days, how were things for you growing up? What kind of music were you exposed to?

I was exposed to all genres of music but mostly old school...the 80's and 90's...my family’s got a lot of interest in music especially my dad cause he happened to be a very famous DJ in his time (laughs). I am still very much into old school but then I create a balance with the new generational music. Growing up for me wasn't so easy, because I used to be on the very reserved and quite side. I would hardly speak to anyone so I spent most of my time behind closed doors writing about how I felt about myself. I got an amazing woman for a mother because she made me who I am today. My dad was always travelling for business but he managed to still create a balance in his family by still being there for us as much as he could. I had a lot of insecurities and low self esteem growing up but with God and time I was able to surpass all that......

Who are your biggest influences?..

I have been influenced by a lot of people in different ways. I would start with my musical influence...Dido and Tracy Chapman...etc then to stage craft...Rihanna and the Noisettes then to perfectionist....Beyonce Knowles and Michael Jackson...and many more I wouldn't want to put down else I'll begin to bore you(Laughs).

Have the personal experiences inspired you musically?

My personal life and experience is one of my biggest inspirations. When I decided to put my pen and paper together. In different ways my personal experiences have always played a major role in my music.


How are the people outside Nigeria appreciating your music?

They have been very receptive and that gives me great joy.

Photo Credit: Jton Productions

You are currently working on a forthcoming album. Do you mind sharing with us the progress thus far and what will the title be?

Yes. I am working on my album, which will consist of about 12-13 tracks but still not finally decided. We haven't really finalized on what the title would be but before it drops you definitely would hear of it...the album is a mixture of different kinds of genres but still retaining my sound.

What are some of the challenges that you face as an independent artist?

Oh well, the major one should be shortage of funds and support from the guru's in the industry...it is a challenge but I still see the positive side to it which makes me stronger To know I can fight for what I want and achieve it. There's a pride that comes with that you know.


What has been the public’s reception so far to the release of Kolo for You? Any message behind that track?

'Kolo for You' is doing amazingly well. At first I was scared as to how well it would be accepted because I hear people say it sounds too international. But I found out that the music scene is changing and people are getting to give ears to good music' international or not...good music is good music and would be appreciated. ‘Kolo’ means crazy and as we all know it is a well known slang in Nigeria's famous Pidgin English... Kolo can be used positively or negatively. In this record, it portrays the positive side. The message this song is trying to pass across is that of two loving hearts been separated by distance and how much they can still feel each other whether they are together or not... In other words we are saying that distance should never be a barrier to love.

Besides music, what else are you interested in?

I actually love everything entertainment...from singing to dancing to acting and even writing... I am passionate about arts so I have strange for hunger for arts and entertainment.

How would you describe your sound to people that haven’t heard your music before?

I am a soul musical artist with a fusion of pop...I can also be seen as ritual soul' because of that old school feel in my music. It may be hard for you to classify me on a particular genre. Different people hear different sounds as far as rock but that's just cause of my flammable mixture of the both genres.


What is the one thing you would like your fans to know about you?

 Hahaha! Ok that's a tough one. I'll just say one thing am popularly known for is that I smile a little bit too much. Easily tickled. (Covers face).Bringing it home, what's your take on contemporary African music in general? Hmm! Oh well I think it is still growing and many more talents are yet to be discovered. Our artists have done very well for the country. I mean' we have grown so fast and strong. I am proudly African.


Where can fans get your latest music, photos etc?

On the Internet, my Facebook Fanpage, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter.

What does it feel like to perform in front of a crowd who feel and really respond to your music?

Wow! That's all I can say... (Hahaha) and many more expressions like ehhh!jeez!... Its breath taking, exciting and extremely mind blowing... You can actually get carried away with excitement if not put together...the feeling is indescribable.


What’s been your biggest musical achievement?

 Well for now I will say been giving the opportunity to stand in front of a crowd and get people actually listen and appreciate my music. These are all huge achievements for me and as time goes on there are better to come.


Where do you see yourself in five years?

 In 5years I see myself on top of my game. I am going to be heard and recognized in the world and I coming back home with the Grammys and many more international and local awards. I am going to take over Africa with my music. I would have taking over by then and started building my music school in Nigeria.


So what’s set for 2011?

2011 is my year... I will bring the best music you would ever hear in Africa and an album to my credits, touring around the world. 2011 is just the beginning of something very BIG.


Thanks a lot for your support. It is a privilege to have this interview.


         Success requires the right qualities. Image is one of the most important qualities besides talent that can aid one’s possibility of success. Retta possesses that and more too. She is a lovely lady and the combination of this look, her sweet disposition and her huge talent, will make her very successful. Her singing voice is so pure. She just naturally knows when to modulate and when to crescendo. She has all the variations of a singer who has been trained by the best music teacher. In my humble opinion, Ms. Richards would certainly go places and I would urge readers to purchase her full length album when it is eventually released.


        So there you have it. A little insight into Retta’s world. For more details about upcoming tours, releases, and performances, visit www.reverbnation.com/rettamusic or following her on Twitter@Rettarich.

The Afrikan Child © Copyright 2011. All Rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be duplicated without the author's permission. Also, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. General inquiries should be directed to our Web feedback box, accessible from this link or from the footer at the bottom of most pages on our site.

Nneka: The Neo-Soul Philosopher

Photo Credit: Nnekaworld

Few artistes garner the kind of attention and interest like Nneka Lucia Egbuna does. Nneka as she is called by her fans, is captivating to witness in concert. She may not be a household name in the States just yet, but she's carved out a nice following abroad and every time she releases a record, critics go crazy with praise. Nneka also follows in the footsteps of very notable female singers such as Laura Izibor and Sade from her native country of Nigeria.


This half -Nigerian/German was born and raised in Warri, in the Delta region of Nigeria. It’s worth pointing out that this region of Nigeria where Nneka grew up is home to vast oil reserves, but with a troubled history of violence. She has seen all this with her own eyes as a child and teenager and now expresses it through her art. Her voice is amazing--it's strong and beautiful. She is mesmerizing to listen to and she makes you really care what happens. An uncompromising perfectionist, she worked hard to develop a personal, pensive sound, somewhat reminiscent of Erykah Badu and Neneh Cherry.

Since her first album which made waves in the music arena in 2005, she’s been on a raging hit sequence. An archeologist by study and singer by heart! Her style of music and the way its’ fusion mixed is just amazing. This lady with a unique charismatic voice counts Life, Kahlil Gibran, Bob Marley and Fela Kuti as some of her influences. Her music and lyrics are totally different from usual music makers. She has her own inimitable style which has made a mark in the music world. I am an ardent fan of Nneka. Her first song which I heard was ‘Kange’ feat. Wesley Williams, which was my favorite then. ‘Africans’ is my favorite now! The lyrical content of some of Nneka’s songs have focused on the plight of her native Delta people such as the aptly titled 'No Longer at Ease' album released in 2008, which pays homage to a novel by the much-revered Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. The trajectory of Ms. Nneka’s musical career has been both steep and upward. In the last 5 years, she has opened up for some of the biggest acts such as Lenny Kravitz, The Roots and Gnarls Barkley, during which time she’s released 2 full length albums and 3 compilation CDs.She was awarded the Best African Act at the 2009 MOBO Awards. In 2010, Nneka recorded a song for the just-ended FIFA World Cup in South Africa called "Viva Africa”. Key in all this has been her tireless drive as a performer and graciousness to all, with no airs to speak of. She has a distinctive style and ability to engage her audiences.

All her songs present a great mix of R&B, reggae, jazz, soul  and hip-hop with the latest style which makes them soothing to the ears. Her videos are very different and make you watch them again and again. Her latest album “Concrete Jungle” is just awesome. And she looks amazing in the video. I recently bought her latest album “Concrete Jungle”. Get yours!

       We consider ourselves very privileged to have been given the opportunity to share with you a very insightful and candid interview with a lady who is as humble and down to earth as her sound which is out of this world! We hope you enjoy it as much as we had.


Could you explain the pronunciation of your name? My name means mother is supreme. Nneka sounds like (hm neck car).


Tell us a bit about your story and how you got into music. Who is your biggest inspiration?

I got into music at a very early age, I was felt devoted to music, the fact is that no one in my family had anything to do with music...well I would sing to myself while doing my domestic work at home and sometimes I sang in school or ended up singing at festivities in church, but it was never professional until I traveled out of Nigeria ,when I went to Germany, I ended up understanding I really had a passion for music and it helped me through many difficult times and situations..I began doing music as a hobby and something I just loved and eventually performed on small stages and with friends. It was at this stage I met people like the Chosen Few Records Group and eventually became a member. I also met DJ Farhot with whom I ended up working with and doing three albums.


How long have you been performing? Well I got my record deal in 2003, professionally I have been touring since then, but before that I performed in small places with my group and also with a band called funknastico at that time.


Where are you originally from? I am from Nigeria, born and raised. My father is from Anambra state in the south of Nigeria and my biological mother is a German.

Are you close to your family? How old were you when your parents split?
Well I am in good terms with my father. I never knew my mother until I was 17


How would you describe your sound to people that haven’t heard your music before?
It is authentic, real and simple, sometimes complicated but within the complexity there is sincerity and simplicity.


Do you write your own lyrics? How do you approach the songwriting process?
Yes I write my own lyrics that makes me to who I am as a musician, without expressing myself through my own lyrics I would not have an outlet. Well songwriting happens in different ways, sometimes I start with the words, other times with the melody and eventually I find the words and sometimes I hear a beat and become inspired...or sometimes I just don’t have anything to say.

When did you first know you wanted to be a professional musician? Never did(laughs).


What would you have done if you hadn't become a singer? I have a degree in anthropology and archaeology. I finished my studies, I could do something with my studies or go back and study biology.

Photo Credit: Nnekaworld

Your latest album “Concrete Jungle” was released in February 2010. What has been the public’s response thus far to the album and do you have anything new in the works?
Well it’s been good response I must, say we have toured almost three years with those songs, and we have gained great acknowledgement and publicity in Europe, and Africa...we approached the states with concrete jungle only last year, but we have been touring in the states as well over two years now..It has been a success and really hard work.

You released “I’m waiting” featuring fellow Nigerian Ade Bantu, the soundtrack for the movie ‘Relentless’ in which you made your acting debut. What’s the message behind that song and do you plan to pursue movie roles full-time?
Well the song is about suspense, the continuous and never ending story of change and redemption, we not knowing where we are heading to and what precisely we are doing here...it’s about pain and freedom.


Is there any cause that you’d like to promote? Yes, sure, I have a foundation called the ROPE foundation where we give children and young adults the opportunity to express themselves by tools of music, art. We are a fresh foundation and we raise awareness on issues that concern the community and their leaders...issues of ecology, oil, exploitation or injustice of any kind, even elections...


On a more serious note, you are unapologetically proud of your Nigerian/African roots. What's your take on the current state of African politics and its’ battered image in the western media?
Well, we have so many things to say...I moved back to Nigeria to be part of the system I myself was criticizing...fact is some things change and some things do not..All I can do is be part of positive change, that is why I focus on the youth because they are the future...education, knowledge, love is what they need.

What travel tips or suggestions do you have for people contemplating visiting Nigeria and other parts of Africa?
Be open, not all of Africa is just negative, corrupt and full of AIDS and HIV. It might be part of reality, but there is more than that...culture, tradition, good people and talent.


What kind of music do you listen to? Soul, afro beat, highlife, hip hop etc


What about you is most misunderstood? My intentions.


Last year, you toured with Nas and Damian Marley to help promote their 'Distant Relatives' album. What were your observations of that tour and working experiences with both gentlemen?
Well cool people, I learnt a lot from both, you need stamina and focus for this work. It is not just music it is a movement..exodus... You always have to remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing.

What do you want to be remembered for when it’s all said and done?
Ha ha....I pray I fulfill the expectations of my creator...


Thank you for providing us the opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts and advice you wish to share with us?
Pursue all your great ideas!!


Thanks for your support and love!

Have a listen to Nneka’s music at http://www.nnekaworld.com/ and also follow her on Twitter @Nnekaworld.


The Afrikan Child © Copyright 2011. All Rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be duplicated without the author's permission. Also, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. General inquiries should be directed to our Web feedback box, accessible from this link or from the footer at the bottom of most pages on our site.

Interview Part 1-"Eva’D’Diva: A Hidden Vocal Gem in World Music”

  Rarely does an artist come along that embodies both a fresh new approach musically while offering lyrical ideas that are powerful and compelling. In an age of fleeting success and impermanent notions, Eva D’Diva is an artist of substance, armed with an eye for detail and an emotional intelligence that can switch from withering to compelling. This Nigerian singer/songwriter has astonishing distinct vocal abilities and stage craftsmanship which have garnered her nominations for a number of prestigious awards such as the Best Female vocal performance at the 2010 Hip-hop World Awards.

          Eva is grateful for having accomplished more than she could have ever dreamed of as a young girl. As a woman matured by all of life's experiences, she has gone back to her roots with her upcoming (yet-to-be named) project and reconnected with her core group of musical and spiritual friends. Once more she will employ her sultry powerful voice, her tremendous vocal and stylistic range, and take us on an ultimate journey of the soul. On the track “Echoes”, one can feel Eva’s rage as she asks the listeners to feel with her this uncontrollable outburst of emotion. And we do. Rich in tone and pungent with emotion, Eva uses her voice as a true instrument to convey her raw, unvarnished and heart-retching feelings about the ongoing religious conflict that have plagued the Niger Delta, JOS and parts of Southeast Nigeria, her country of birth. With the track “Happy Days”, she contributes sultry duet and backing vocals which are occasionally interspersed by Ruddy Tee’s Yoruba rap. It is worth noting that this is the first official song on which EVA is a featured artiste.

          In anticipation of the release of the singles, ECHOES (I hear the Cries) and HAPPY DAYS (Ruddy Tee ft. Eva’D’Diva), Eva sat down with me for a rare and unusually candid conversation. As she noted in our interview, “there’s no point in writing music without honesty. Failure to do so makes the music sound hollow and staged….I certainly want people to emotionally connect to my music”. We are bringing you the first installment of this interview, with the remaining portion to follow in the next few weeks.


Q: Ms. Eva D’Diva, thank you very much for granting me this interview. I’m sure our readers would be interested in learning about you. Let’s start at the beginning: Eva, tell us a little about yourself?

Eva: Well, My real name is Evaezihohifue Ogoro. A light interpretation of that name is A PURE HEART IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR EVIL. I am the 4th out of 5 kids from my parents Engr. and Mrs. C.E Ogoro. I have 3 brothers and a sister. I hail from Delta State... I am Isoko. I was born on the 13th of July. I studied English in the University of Lagos and got my B.A in 2005. My favorite foods are pasta (OMG!!!! I could eat pasta for weeks non-stop and still not get tired. My friends say dem don use am swear for me lol) and Plantain. I have a terrible sweet tooth (shaking  her head) reeeeeaaaally terrible. I guess that's why I don’t drink... because if it isn’t sweet... I won’t have it lol. I love kids. If I wasn’t into entertainment, I'd be teaching in a secondary school somewhere. I am a hopeless romantic. I looooove watching movies. That's my favorite pass time activity. I also loooooove video games. I suffered from a major inferiority complex all through my childhood to my teen years. Girls in secondary school told me I was hideously ugly and that I looked like a man because my breasts didn’t develop when theirs did. So, I had more male friends than females in secondary school. I am pretty simple. I go through life not wanting the extra emotional baggage of trying so hard to please people. I love to write.... that's how I can truly and properly express myself without fists flying in the air. LOL!


Q: When and how did you start making music? How did your family shape your singing career?

Eva: Well, music became an obsession ever since I was little and I have Whitney Houston to thank for that. I watched one of her live performances one day on TV and I was so captivated by it.... so where the audience. And so... something just got triggered on the inside of me. It was rather profound...thinking back on it now. For like a split second, I saw myself on that stage, in that same position... having that same effect on people... you know. I really can’t describe it. LOL I guess it might have been how Moses felt when He saw the burning bush. You see it but you can’t believe it. It was just like a higher calling. So... after that... I paid more attention to music.... to songs by Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Escape, SWV, Celine Dion, Anita Baker and the likes. I would sing their songs around the house. I would try to sound exactly like them and that's how I learnt how to sing. I never went to Music school or anything. It was a conscious effort on my part to sound like one of the greats. My elder sister and younger brother also caught the music bug and we subconsciously formed like an informal 3 man group. Men!!!! I enjoyed those times. We would sit on the stairs and sing till mum came back from work in the night. Our harmony was always on point and my sister was always telling us when we went off key because she was always in one choir or the other and so she knew the technical side to music but i felt the passion... and we would sing and laugh about it.

                 When I was in secondary school, my uncle - Kingsley Ogoro brought home Esse Agesse. He was introducing her to my dad...who is the eldest in the family and while they were upstairs talking about wedding plans and all that. I was downstairs... reveling in the presence of Esse Agesse. I would sing her songs back to her to try and impress her. I am talking about her hits such as  Fine Peppersoup, Bendel girl in Lagos, Back to the Basics and so on. LMAO!!!! She must have seen me as a major pest. I soon graduated from secondary school and started chasing my uncle around the place to help me out with my music career. I had to quietly look for him because my dad didn’t want to hear such lofty ideas about music. As far as he was concerned, it wasn't a real job and serious minded people did not think of such... which was kinda funny because he had roped us all into a family band called the Emonena Gospellers...OMG!!!! I can still remember how high our shoulder pads were LWKM!!!! I was the alto singer, my sister was the Treble, My younger brother shuttled between drums and the Agogo. My dad was the lead guitarist. He wrote all his songs, majorly in Isoko and we would sing (shaking her head) However, in 1997, I had an accident and had to be removed from the group because the injuries I incurred were - a crushed Voice box, a narrowed Trachea, a fractured Spinal Cord. So I was both dumb and paralyzed for a while. I remember my biggest fear after the fear of death was the fear of not being able to sing again. That was a nightmare. My sister will flutter around the house singing and I would be in my room... with a huge caste from head to waist... crying. So... what I did was that I forced myself to sing. I could not wait for the voice box to heal. I needed to start singing then and there....The impatience is what now constitutes as my vocal signature. There is a wheezy, airy nature to my voice. It wasn’t always so... at least..not before the car accident. Even after I recovered, I went looking for my uncle again to further my dreams of being a musician which he silently refused. I mean, he kept dodging me and giving me excuses. So... erm.... in University of Lagos, I did some singing for campus fellowships until I graduated. And just when I was about throwing in the towel.... this God-send... a dear friend of mine called Bolaji Onisiwo who was working as a sound engineer at a recording studio called me and opted to use his salary to pay for a studio session for me. He got producers together and even called a couple of Radio DJs to help promote the song on air. Men!!!! the boy try. It was one of the tracks we did that my uncle later heard and was like... 'Meeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!!! im get goldmine for im backyard all this while wen im dey suffer imself to chase coins'. So... for about a year plus... we worked together and he helped me jump start career with my first hit single ' NO CRY'. We eventually had a fall out in 2007 and I have been on my own since with great support from Gray Tiger Entertainment :) The rest they say… is history.


Q: Who are your biggest influences?

Eva: My biggest influences should be my mum…She is a fighter and yet has the heart of a child. The babe doesn’t take challenges lying down LOL. She is a praying and a giving woman. A mother, in every sense of the word at heart. Other influences should be Mary J. Blige, you can feel the truth and magic of music in her voice and songs... she gets me every time. Whitney Houston definitely... there is something just rich and deep about her vocals and delivery. My pastor recently joined this list, Pastor Poju Oyemade of Covenant Christian Center. You don’t get as real and as deep as Pastor Poju... R.Kelly brings out the spiritualism, the Professionalism and the Commercialism of music in every song very nicely. That dude is a legend! Michael Jackson.... I still haven’t seen a musician who is as dedicated and who works at this profession with every ounce of his or her being like the late Michael Jackson. Dude was..... CWAAAAZY GREAT!!!


Q: Any new songs on the upcoming album that you are particularly proud of? (or any of your albums for that matter) and why? Any plans for coming to North America?

Eva: I am proud of all my songs. They all came to me at different points in my life. So listening to them, takes me back each time and reminds me of the resolve that has made me out to be a better person. 'Shades of Gray' as the first album was called was like a rough sketch. We were approached by some interested individuals who wish to take the album to the next level. So I am currently working on a revised version of that album...adding a little bit more flavor and a little bit more Eva :) it should be out before the end of the first quarter in 2011. There are no immediate plans to come to North America but if the opportunity does present itself... I will definitely be on the first flight out. I would love to come see and enjoy the sights and sounds of North America. :)


Q.I have heard and read a number of comments by individuals who have stated that your sound is a hybrid between old school-like Lagbaja with the beats. Some music reviewers have gone as far as comparing your soaring vocals and music videos to next door neighbor Angelique Kidjo. You bear an uncanny resemblance to Eve, the hip-hop star. What do you make of this comparison and all the attention?

Eva: LOL... yea... the comparisons. Eve is the one that I have had to listen to for sooooooooooooooo long. I honestly don’t think I look like her but hey... sight is relative. A hybrid huh??? well... Change is good I believe and I believe that it is very necessary for one to constantly re-invent themselves. But I have a huge love for old school jams. There is something 'selfless' about the music they did in those days. It was bigger than just selling records. People entered music for the love of the art. Music changed lives in those days. It’s not like now that music is a last resort and thanks to digital vocal enhancers, everybody believes they can sing. Artistes have started getting lazy... you know. So... I guess a part of me choose to remain with the spirit of the old... and so when I sit with my producers... I nid to get that magic... that 'substance' that we seem to have lost in today's music. I guess the Angelique Kidjo comparism is also due to the hair and the Africanism in my brand LOL.... what can I say??? I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE AFRICA!!!! I rep her till I die.


Q: Do you write your own songs?

Eva: Yes... I write all my songs.... I do all the vocal work. I am very much involved in the whole process. From inception to finish. I am there when they mix and master. This is because I used to dabble in sound engineering while working with my uncle... so... I guess I am sort of a Jack of all trades.

Q: Where can your fans and music lovers check out your music?

Eva: For now... my fans and music lovers can check out my stuff at WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/EVADDIVA that's where they can get my work... fresh from me.

Q: Are there any musicians you would love to collaborate with?

Eva: You know... it’s all about who compliments your style and energy. So I will definitely love to do a collabo with Mary J. Blige, R.Kelly, Erykah Badu, Usher, T.Pain... that’s all for now!

Q: How did you arrive at the name Eva D’Diva and what image do you think your music conveys?

Eva: My friends added DIVA to my name because they believe a DIVA is a woman who is on top of her hustle.... not necessarily a 'pretty in pink' sorta gal.. But someone who has been through the fire and who is now coming out as pure gold. I think the message behind my music is one of survival and self-preservation. You will notice that most of the song has a strong 'god dependency' and that is because my family and I at some point were 'hit hard by life and left for dead'. No one was interested in helping out... so survival and self preservation wasn’t an option for us. We just had to prove them all wrong. We are stronger and the better for it now :) so when people see me.... they see a passionate fighter, someone who will not easily give up and someone who still believes in the beauty and Justice of the Universe and the existence of God... You will also see someone who is proud of her roots and tries to promote it anywhere and in any way she can.

Check back soon for the second part to our interview with Eva’D’Diva. She also is a must-follow on Twitter @EVANAIJA .



The Afrikan Child © Copyright 2010. All Rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be duplicated without the author's permission. Also, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. General inquiries should be directed to our Web feedback box, accessible from this link or from the footer at the bottom of most pages on our site.