UK based Nigerian reggae and dancehall sensation, Jennifer-Rose Ejiogu popularly known as Kartela is a talented singer, songwriter and entertainer who originated from Imo state, Nigeria.
The rapidly rising singer is gradually becoming a force in the Nigerian music industry. Kartela has released a number of songs and visuals over the years, songs like Totally, Almond Tree, Lick, and more from her previous EP ‘Independent’.
She recently had a chat with our associate editor on her steady rise, career achievements in the past months and plans going forward.
What is your real name? What’s the story behind your stage name KARTELA?
My real name is Jennifer-Rose Ejiogu. My stage name is Kartela aka Sexcellency which I made up myself. The name was inspired by my love for the king of dancehall Vybz Kartel and his music.
My friends and family call me Jennifer or Rose but most people know me by my stage name of Kartela.
You are from Nigeria, Imo state to be precise How does it feel to be one of the few Nigerian women leading the charge in reggae and dancehall?
It feels great, I always want to be unique in everything I do and I love the uniqueness dancehall music and culture gives me.
Have you collaborated with any African or Nigerian artist before? How did that collaboration happen? Can you give us a little background on that?
The only collaboration I have had is the song Bombastic, which I did with Shank. I started talking to Shank via Instagram and I told him how I am a big fan and have always been a big fan of his song Julie. He actually made the beat to the song, and we collaborated on it
Have you ever written for any other artist? What’s your creative process when you are in the studio?
I haven’t written any song for anyone yet, but it’s not something that I would shy away from. My creative process depends on the kind of vibe I get from the kind of beats/sound I listen to or from the people that might be around me at that time.
Who are some of the artists that you look up to and you are hoping to collaborate with in the future?
I have a long list of artists that I would love to collaborate with, as for Nigerian artists, I would love to collaborate with artists like Ruger, Fave, Burna boy and Wizkid.
Internationally, I would like to collaborate with artists like Spice, Popcaan, Stonebwoy, Protoje, Vybz Kartel and so many more
You are based in the UK. What brought you to the UK, furthering your education or dual citizenship?
I have British citizenship as well as a Nigerian one as well. I was born in London, although I’ve lived in Nigeria for some part of my life, I currently reside in the UK
What’s your take on the global recognition of Afrobeats and Nigerian music? Was that part of your motivation to collaborate with Shank?
Afrobeats have really taken over the world and I must say as a Nigerian and an African, I am really proud of this fact. What inspired my collaboration with Shank was the fact that he’s one Nigerian artist, I really looked up to so it was a big deal back in the late 2000s and for me to get a collaboration with him was one of the high points of my career, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity
There aren’t many Nigerian dancehall acts, not to mention females. How do people react when they meet you and realize you are a dancehall artiste? Which international dancehall artiste would you love to collaborate with?
The funny thing is when people listen to some of my music they often don’t realize I am Nigerian. Most of them think I am from the Caribbean or Jamaican because of how authentic my patois and Dancehall music sounds, and then when they come to know that I am actually Nigerian or African They’re really impressed and amazed that I am able to do Dancehall music very well.
As a female artiste, what are some of the challenges you face regarding your music career? Why did you choose reggae dancehall?
As a female artist I’ll say, my greatest challenge is that the first thing, and sometimes the only thing people are interested in is my looks, and I feel like that doesn’t give my music or my talent enough room to shine. I Chose Dancehall music, because I have always been in love with the sound and the culture from a very young age, listening to artists like Sean Paul, Beenie Man , Mavado, shaggy and also growing up to my dad and my uncles playing reggae music from artists like Bob Marley, Gregory Isaac, lucky Dube, and many more. I was surrounded by that sound and I fell in love with it.
Your single “Totally” recently popped up on radio in Nigeria. How do you feel about that and what do you think is the reason for that?
I feel excited that my music is gaining traction and getting airplay in Nigeria. It makes me feel that I am doing something right, that I am actually doing something that people love. I think the reason is that people are beginning to recognise me and my music and recognise Kartela the artist.
Asides from music you also have a 9 to 5 job. How do you combine the two? How do you make sure that your day job doesn’t clash with your musical career?
It really isn’t easy doing music and also having a 9-to-5 job, but at the end of the day bills need to be paid. I’m not signed to any label yet and I don’t have funding from anywhere else than myself. So this 9-to-5 job actually helps me to fund my music career, which is my greatest passion. I would rather be in the studio every day than be in front of the laptop working a 9-to-5 job, but unfortunately for now I have to find a way to juggle the two so that my music career can survive and flourish.
With your growing fame and popularity, I am sure you have a lot of people in your DMs and in your face trying to get with you, especially the guys. How do you cope with the attention from both your fans and stalkers?
Oh well at the end of the day, I am a fine girl, a baddie lol and men will always try to get my attention, this is something I am used to and I just see it as normal. I don’t put too much thought into it and I am very selective, and very mindful of who I let get close to me.
What’s the most annoying thing a fan has ever said or done to you?
I wouldn’t call it annoying, I would say weird, the weirdest thing fans do that I really don’t understand is when they try to randomly call me on Instagram?
Who are your musical influences?
Spice, Vybz Kartel and Wizkid are my biggest musical influences.
Where do you see your musical career in the next 3 years? If you have the chance, what advice will you give your younger self or other rising acts like yourself?
In the next three years, I hope for my music to have a wider reach, to be topping the charts, and to be able to collaborate with A-list artists. To my younger self and to all the rising acts I would say never be ashamed to show your potential. Don’t allow other people’s opinion to bring you down or determine what you do.
What are you currently working on? Any plans for an album in the near future?
I’m currently working on improving my stagecraft and hiking my live performance skills. I am also working on evolving my style of music, so I can bring out something unique and exciting by the time my next EP drops.
What is that one song you listen to over and over again and wish you wrote it?
To be honest I have more than one song which I listen to over and over again, and I wish I wrote so I can’t really mention just one
Which do you prefer, to create the beat with the producer or have it sent to you so you can take your time and write to it?
I prefer the beats to be sent over to me because my ideas wouldn’t be muddled up and I can write to it properly. I believe freestyling limits the possibilities of a song and/or its lyrical content and dexterity. Also sometimes free styling doesn’t allow an artist to truly show off his/her versatility as a songwriter.
Do you prefer to wing it and freestyle or freestyle then take your time later to rewrite and fine tune it?
Whichever that comes it depends on the vibe I am feeling at the moment, but my response to the previous question already explained my opinion better.
Thank you for your time, we wish you well in all your future endeavors and look forward to hearing more work from you.