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By Lucy Nnaji
Fast rising singer, actor and model, Emmanuel Lawal aka El Manny, who hails from Kogi State, gives an insight into how he fell in love with music, and how he went on to engage in international collaborations with Jamaican musicians. Please enjoy the interview.
Tell us briefly about yourself.
My name is Emmanuel Lawal popularly known as El Manny, and I come from Kogi State. I studied Industrial Mathematics at Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. I discovered my love for music at a very tender age. I started out as a drummer cum singer in my church choir as a kid. This further pushed me into writing my own songs while in the university, and later I took music as a career.
Who are your mentors?
Artistes who inspired me are Chris Brown, PSquare,Tubaba, Wande Coal, Wizkid and Davido amongst others. They helped to kick-start my musical career in the university where I was well known before moving to Lagos, where I finally took it to the mainstream.
When did you release your first single?
My first single, Badder Than You ft. Kylez was released in 2017. The song, produced by Blaisebeatz, made a hit back then in school.
Aside music, what else do you do?
Aside music, I am also an actor and a fashion model. I featured on Tinsel this year. I try to go after anything I can do and I don’t let anything hold me back. I go after my dreams with all of my heart. My music is my number one priority but I do hope that through my music, I can diversify into other things. I like to read and also spend time with family. I am a family-oriented guy and I love my mother a lot.
What are you working on presently?
I released my first single titled, Cheque on It ft. Pev off my sophomore EP on June 17. The six-track EP titled, Sorry For The Wait also came out on July 8. It features Ayanfe DMW and production credits go to Bananaboy, Kdream who brought my sounds to life. This project wouldn’t be complete without enlisting the mastery and professionalism of the legends of the game in the mixing and mastering department like Spyritmix, STG and Saint Bond. I’m thankful to God for how far I’ve come.
How would you describe your style of music?
My musical style cuts across Afrofusion, Afro Piano, Dancehall and Afro Trap. I have been able to mix a bit of all these genres. I also try to be vast and involved in my knowledge of music. I am particular about my craft, and the creation and process of making music has further pushed me to try out new sounds. I try to be versatile and always love the challenge to jump on different genres, as available as they can be, because music is diverse. I have also done a couple of international collaborations with some Jamaican artistes as well as numerous covers in the last few years.
How do you draw your inspiration?
My music is predominantly inspired or influenced by my environment, and where I was born. I love to connect with the simple things of life, which is evident in my lyrics.
Tell us more about your new singles.
Cheque on It ft. Pev is a song that serenades a love interest, and makes me happy. It’s for somebody who I want to give all of my money. It is an upbeat Amapiano song and one for the clubs and the charts. So, I can’t wait to have people dance to it. It’s a big sound, and by the grace of God, it’s going to be the song of the year.
How was your first experience on stage?
I have performed on numerous stages both in and outside Nigeria. In 2019, I wrote a song for MC Shakara that became a theme song for all his comedy shows and events across Nigeria. I was also on tour with him all year. First time singing on stage was crazy; I mean, looking at people watching you and not knowing what’s running through their minds if they like your music or not. So, yes, I was very nervous the first time I performed on stage. If I want to be honest, I would say I am nervous every time I go on stage to perform. But it comes with the job, that’s why I wear glasses all the time.
What do you think government can do to make music more lucrative in Nigeria?
I personally do not think the government needs to do anything. Music from Nigeria is in a good place. Afrobeats in the last three years or more has grown to be the biggest export out of Nigeria. So, if the government wants to get involved, then they can invest money. They can build studios for young artistes who cannot afford studio time. It’s really a challenge for us, so financial support from the government will help.
Have your parents been supportive of your music career?
I am the last child from a family of four kids. My father passed away years ago and all we have is my mother. But I can say that my family has been the most supportive in the world. They only wanted me to finish university. They didn’t want me to abandon my education, and since I did that, they never had an issue with my music. My parents have been very supportive and they’ve also been an inspiration to me in so many ways.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope to become a household name and obtain a large fan base in the African global music market, while also connecting with my fans all over the world. I also hope to consistently develop my sound and general skills while diversifying into other streams of income. I aspire to get better in the entertainment scene by diversifying my other talents into acting, and also becoming a fashion icon.
What’s the most striking or hardest thing you’ve ever done as an artiste?
The hardest or most striking thing I have done is to do music independently. It’s not like I don’t want to get signed but it never happened. So, I decided to do it myself. Whatever little money I made from jobs, I invest everything back into my music. So, the hardest thing I’ve ever done is being an independent artiste.
Are you single or in a relationship?
I am single.
What advice do you have for the up and coming artistes?
All I can say is hold onto God. Never give up on yourself because I didn’t. Also, learn to package yourself; it helps your brand and your music. Like they say, ‘looking good is good business’. So, while you’re striving to make amazing music, also try to look good. Keep working, find your sound and improve on it.
