Sunny Melody: Juju Music Is Doing Well In Uk

WELL-TRAVELED JUJU MAESTRO, SEGUN ADEOLA OGUNYEMI A.K.A. SUNNY MELODY WAS UBIQUITOUS IN 2012. HE HAD MUSICAL ENGAGEMENTS ACROSS MANY CONTINENTS AND HAS SOME LAURELS TO SHOW FOR THE IMPRESSIVE STRIDES. IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH LANRE ODUKOYA, HE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY TO FAME AND THE FUTURE OF HIS ART

You’ve been out and about for the better part of 2012. What has been taking you across continents?

Yes, I really thank God for 2012 and it was my busiest one. It was a very busy year for me in terms of my career. During the course of 2012, I traveled severally to Canada, USA, Dubai, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, South Africa, Ghana and of course my base in UK and Nigeria for many shows. To God be the glory, I recorded huge success in all.

But many are of the opinion that Juju music pays only the veterans like KSA, Ebenezer Obey and co

No, I don’t agree to that. The way I operate is unique and distinctively different from any one. So, it must pay me definitely. I’m always on the move, by so doing, I gather fans across the globe and that also pays a lot. I don’t just sit down and look for “food” to come and meet me where I’m seated. So, its fallacy to say Juju only pays the veteran like Obey and Sunny.

In all sincerity, can artistes survive mainly on Juju music in the UK as you’ve been doing?

Yes of course. Many artistes do other works to support themselves but I can categorically tell you that I survive on music only.

What about your laurels in 2012?

To God be the glory, I’ve got a couple of awards in my kitty. City People Award for the Best Musician in Diaspora (2011); Yoruba Heritage Award (Best Juju Artist, UK); Podium International Award; Ogun State Freelance Journalists Award as an Ogun State Ambassador; Charisma Magazine, UK Achievement Award; DSRA UK Special Recognition Award and so on and I really appreciate all of them equally.

With busy schedule on international shows, do you really get time to be with your family?

I don’t think there is any other artiste that spends as much time as I do with my family. When I’m in the UK, I’m always home with my family from Monday to Friday. I do the school runs and we go out to cinemas and the rest almost every week. Sometimes, I choose to bring them here with me to Nigeria.

Aside music, do you have your finger in any other business?

I do a bit of haulage business and a bit of clothing business but I have people handling them.

Some Juju musicians who once ruled in the UK are back in other businesses in Nigeria today.

Do you have any future in what you’re doing?

I don’t know the Juju musician(s) you are talking about, but with me, the future is so bright and shining. Let me tell you this, some of the guys we started together are nowhere to be found anymore. So, it’s my 12 years of doing music in the UK and I’m still standing relevant everywhere. I see nothing but a good future.

What were you doing before you started singing?

Basically, I was studying before I started singing. I studied Business Administration at Ogun State University; I don’t know what they call the school now. I was singing from the church and I joined Ogun State University Melody Band (OSU MELODY) when I was in OSU. I served at the Equatorial Trust Bank and was still singing and when I left for Europe.

What in life do you think you should have done differently?

Nothing my brother, I don’t regret doing things, I only learn from my mistakes.