Pretty singer, Ego Omalicha, recently ended her contract with Questionmark Records and also changed her stage name to Safarie. YES International! Magazine’s GBENGA SHABA had a chat with her on Thursday, August 2, 2012 and she disclosed why; how her dad has taken up her career funding, the reason she has no boyfriend and more…
What have you been doing since you left Questionmark Records to be on your own?
My career has been exciting since. The only difference is that myself and my manager have to make all the major decisions. I have discovered that working on my own could be really great because I had learnt a lot over the years and when I was still with Questionmark and I have been moving forward since. I have seen a lot of progress since that time.
When you left, did you have a label in mind to join or you just wanted to be on your own?
Even as at now, I don’t think that I want to sign unto any record label. I just want to do my own thing for a while and that is what I’m doing presently.
You said some time ago that your dad has taken up the responsibility of funding your career. How has it been since then?
It’s a dream come true because he was actually the first person I told and he decided to support me to any level I want to attain. He has been giving me everything that would promote my brand. Money for promotion, which is basically the essence of a record label. He has literally taken up the job of a record label for me.
Why did you change your name from Ego Omalicha to Safarie?
We are two Egos in the music industry and we get to share things most of the time. For example, she gets nominated for an award and people will start congratulating me, so I will start explaining to them one after the other. At times a song that one of us does is usually mistaken for another person and I would start explaining that that is not my own Ego. You know there has to be a difference. I know there is a difference in our styles of music, but I have realized that this issue just keeps dragging me back. I always have the fear that I’m sharing my brand name with somebody else and yes, she has been there before me. So, I just decided that it would be better for me to create my own brand name and style that would be originally me without any controversy.
So, how far has your new name Safarie taken you?
Basically, everyone who knows me is aware that I have changed my name from Ego to Safarie and I have taken my stand to follow up with that name because all you have to be hearing about me now is from Safarie. I’m getting used to the name because I love it a lot and it’s everything that my brand stands for.
Some of the reasons you gave for your decision to leave Questionmark were about the misconception about your image, brand and your style of music. So, tell us how this has affected you?
Like I have always said, I don’t have a particular kind of music that I do. I can’t be termed under a category. I do dancehall, I rap, I sing, I do hip hop, afro pop and all sorts of music. What I mean by my brand and style is basically this image of myself. I see myself as a beautiful young lady and in all my songs I have always been a voice for the ladies. If you have listened to my new single, “If you want me” you would have noticed that I explained myself in it about what it takes to know me and get to me. And that is the difference between the new Safarie and the old Ego.
Don’t you think lack of patience in singing under a record label is responsible for all these incessant contract termination between artistes and their record labels?
I can’t say for other artistes or their record labels because I believe every situation is unique in its own way, like mine is a very unique case. I never regretted signing under Questionmark in the first place because they gave me a platform and I learned a lot from them and they helped them a lot. But in life, there is something called growth and change is the only constant thing, so, as you grow up, you have new ideas and ideology that you want to experiment and if there is anything on your way you have to make do with it because we are all survivors. So, we have to do all it takes. I did not make a mistake by signing with Questionmark, but I just have to move on in life.
Are you still juggling your modeling career with music?
I am a model. As you know, I used to be a model before I went into music professionally. I also used to be in pageantry as well, but now my life is all about music. Although I do some exclusive modeling for some designers all the same. I am still a model.
In our recent interview with Harrysong, on your relationship, he said if God says you are the one for him, he wouldn’t hesitate to marry you. Do you share the same view with him?
(Laughs) See, are you saying if Harry was the last man on earth that would I date him or something?
I mean can you marry him?
(Laughs) Well! Harrysong is a nice guy, I respect him as an artiste with a very good voice. But the fact is that everybody has a taste for the kind of people they would like to date and to me, I don’t think Harry would be that person for me.
Why?
I have said all about it. Let us just forget about that.
Okay, have you thought about giving marriage a shot?
I would give marriage a shot when it is the right time. As you know, there is a time for everything and for now, this is my peak because I’m a very ambitious young lady. All I’m thinking about now is how to be successful in my career. I can’t have a relationship right now because it would take me a lot of time to keep one and I don’t have that time right now because I’m practically building my career. So, when the time is right I believe I would happily get married.
Are you saying no to marriage now?
Well, man proposes God disposes. But for now, I’m not really looking at marriage and if God wants it to happen who am I to say no?
How have you been able to sustain your shape for years now?
If you ask my manager she would tell you that I used to walk a distance after my morning prayers. I know that I love to eat a lot and the consequence for me is to work very hard every morning for like 45 minutes.
When you started music, what goal did you set for yourself?
When I started music, the vision I had for myself is still the same. I aimed to be one of the greatest female artistes that would come out from Africa. Not locally, but internationally. I wished to be among the top five in Africa and I’m striving and working hard. With God on my side, I know that I’m going to get there.
Why do you think most artistes fail to stand the test of time?
I can’t really say why because I have never experienced it. But I think it’s just logical because when you want to get to where you have planned to be, there would be a lot of distractions on your way and it takes a really strong, dedicated and purposeful person to always remain focused. Some fail on how to manage their success because of things they enjoy, not knowing that people are still struggling to catch up with them and within a while they are off the ladder.
In an industry that is saturated with a lot of young artistes, how do you think one can create a niche for himself?
First thing, you have to believe in yourself because if you don’t, nobody is going to believe in you. Don’t let the opinion of other people bring you down or change your mind. Work hard, there is nothing you can’t do if you set your mind on it. Nothing in life is easy, there is competition in every aspect of life which helps keep people on their toes to reason well.
So, what are we expecting from you before the end of the year?
A whole lot. My video should have been out by then and my singles should have been everywhere. I’m going to continue with the branding of my new name, Safarie.
NB: First published September 2012