By Rita Okoye
Kingsley Ifeanyi Adaoji, professionally known as Spenta, is a burgeoning Nigerian Afrobeat artiste making significant strides within the contemporary music landscape.
For Spenta, 2022 marked a turning point when he inked a recording deal with AkwaAmaka Music, a label that is fast gaining recognition for its dedication to nurturing burgeoning Nigerian talent.
He shares with Sunday Sun his music journey, challenges, love for Igbo culture and more.
Tell us more about your music life.
I got into music as a choir boy in the church. I started playing the drums when I was very little, then I proceeded to the keyboard and evolved to playing the lead guitar and the bass guitar, and then I became a producer and now a singer.
How did playing instruments impact your music and songs?
Well, I believe that my level of musical understanding is far different from those that just sing. Because I am into music production and singing. It impacted me positively. I am so creative because I play all the musical instruments. When it is time to play the keyboard, I play it; when it is time to play the lead guitar, I am ready. I don’t have to draw it with the system, I do it live.
You said you’ve been signed to Akwaamaka Music Label since 2022. Can you tell us more about the journey so far?
The journey has been smooth and nice for me. When you have your father as your boss, he will push you in every way, all round, not just musically, but in every area of life.
My father, Ezeudo High Chief Stanley Chukwudi Obodoagwu is a philanthropist. He is also a visionary. He pushes me to go the extra mile. I have done about nine songs over the years. I have ‘Asun’, ‘Oga Aba’, ‘Hakuna Matata’, ‘Baby Mo’, and of course, I featured Ice Prince in ‘Your Body’. Then I have ‘ABChD, which is the latest track.
Who are those that have influenced your sound before now?
Growing up, I listened to older songs like ‘Morocco, Osadebe, and Gentleman Mike Ejeagha – mostly older songs.
How would you describe your songs?
Generally, it is Afrobeat, but then I have a fusion of other genres. I am versatile. I do Amapiano and Afrobeat.
Your new track, ABChD is centred on Igbo culture, and it’s also central to your sound. It is part of what you project. Why did you decide to project the Igbo culture with your song? Is it something intentional?
Yes, ABChD is a very intentional song. Looking at my people, my culture and my heritage, you will see that some of the things are going down and diminishing in a way, but then my sound is out to let them know our roots and where we are coming from.
I would tell you this for free: if you ask 1 in 2 million Igbo to recite the Igbo version of ABCD, believe me, most of them cannot. But the song is a reminder for them to go back to our roots, to remember where we are coming from. It is a wake-up call for everybody to know where we are coming from.
Why the infusion of French into the song?
I needed an abstract for the song to connect other people to it. I know the beat is Amapiano, and it is generally accepted in Nigeria and everywhere, but then infusing French is a way of bringing them to the sound, making them feel a bit of the Igbo origin of the song. The song tells both the old, young, and upcoming ones that we need to go back to our roots to learn more.
You recently had an encounter with Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, a veteran Nigerian folklorist, songwriter, and musician. What would you say you learnt from that remarkable encounter with him?
First off, Pa Mike Ejeagha is somebody that I have been listening to while growing up, and I have even played the lead guitar for him over the years. In shows, he would call me. As a little boy, I was playing with so many of these people. I played in his band for years. My encounter with him helped shape my music career.
We met him recently because I wanted to sample his sound. He is a man I respect, he is a father I respect. So we met him and talked about it. He gave me his consent and his blessing. I did a cover for his track, it trended online. Most people posted and reposted the video. It went viral on TikTok. There are thousands of videos under the sound. We worked together on the song, and the song was a blast.
He tells stories through his songs. And his songs are mild, calm and cool. I learnt one or two, not just even from the song, but from playing with his style of sound; he is a gentle and cool artist.
You make beats, record and sing. What are the challenges of weaving all together?
This thing is a part of me. For me it is easy. It is not hard for me, because this is what I have been doing right from when I was young. I grew up making music, playing music. So for me, it is not a challenge. I enjoy doing it.
What was it like growing up, as a young musician going to play songs for different artistes?
Well, it was exciting because you get to meet people that are older and more experienced than you. You meet them, share experiences, and you learn more from them. I have met so many of them. Even gospel artistes. I have played for Gozie Okeke, Chinedu Nwadike, and Papa Michael Ejeagha. I started playing the drums when I was seven years old, and before 10, I was playing the keyboard and the bass guitar, and before I got to 15, I was playing the lead guitar professionally. I even won the Best Guitarist of the Year in 2015 or thereabout.
What was the reaction from your parents seeing you as a young boy playing music?
Well, they loved it because my mother was an evangelist, so it helped her ministry, having a son who was a keyboardist. So, she didn’t have to go to look for other players.
My parents loved it, they gave me their full consent and their blessings.
Do you have any plans of featuring any artiste or remixing any of your songs soon?
Yes, I have a plan to remix some of my songs. For features, yes, we have that going on but I don’t want to disclose it just yet. I want it to be a surprise for my fans. I had featured Ice Prince. He is someone that I have always liked. He is one of the best rap artistes in Nigeria. So working with him was quite nice. I enjoyed working with him.
What are your ambitions?
My dream is so big that it scares people around me, but not my father and mentor, Akwaamaka CEO, because he is a visionary and he is somebody who believes in me so much. The Grammy is sure. I am bringing it home.
What is next after ABChD?
For now, the video is coming up. You can anticipate the video. Afterwards, I still have a lot of songs in the works. I work tirelessly to keep feeding my fans and the world good music.
How would you describe the Afrobeat music scene in Nigeria?
Well, there are so many talents out there. But then, individuals have their uniqueness. For me, I am an artiste, and I am also a business producer, and an instrumentalist. I play all the major instruments professionally. I believe that it is giving me an edge. Generally, the Afrobeat world is filled with challenges but I know I have my place in the Afrobeat scene.