Music Found SAMAD When He Wasn’t Looking; Read How He Embraced It in Today’s “Doing Life With…”

Doing Life With… is a BellaNaija Aspects sequence that showcases how of us reside, work, shuttle, be pleased his or her families and… the entire lot in between. We’re documenting the lives of all of us and guaranteeing everybody appears to be like to be effectively-represented at BN.

Did you leave out our closing conversation with Damilare Kuku? You would possibly perhaps well presumably stand up here.

This week, we’re doing life with SAMAD, a younger Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper and performer. Samad acknowledged he’s heading within the proper route to manufacture an enduring impact on the Afrobeats fashion and the track substitute as a full.

Revel within the conversations!

Hiya Samad. How stop you feel correct now?

Alhamdulillah, I’m feeling undoubtedly impartial correct. Grateful to God for all times and the entire lot.

The important thing time I encountered your brilliance became as soon as that response reel on IG to someone who acknowledged you obtained’t pick up a Grammy. I love the procedure you became that negativity around. How did you get yourself as an artist? When did the inspiration to initiating singing advance?

Oh, the response reel—thanks! I chanced on my skills about 3 years ago. Amusing ample, I started as an Instagram comic. I’ve always been a unfamiliar and adventurous particular person, so I’ve consistently explored inventive outlets. Along the street, I realised I’ll perhaps well well also rap, and that’s when the entire lot changed. I definite to blend humour with rap and commenced dropping freestyles consistently. To the glory of God, I launched my first professional single closing three hundred and sixty five days, and here we’re in actual fact. The flow’s impartial correct initiating.

Please poke me through your background–rising up, training and any memory out of your childhood that continues to form what you are as of late?

I became as soon as born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. I had my predominant training there, then I moved to boarding college at Federal Authorities Faculty, Ogbomoso, a well-known chapter in my life that fashioned me, no longer impartial correct academically, however additionally street-realizing smarts and resilience.

Relieve then, I became as soon as a straight-A pupil, the normal impartial correct boy, effectively-behaved, nonetheless and centered. I sooner or later went on to ogle Agricultural Engineering at Abiola Ajimobi Technical College in Ibadan, the build I impartial correct impartial as of late graduated. It became as soon as all over my university years that I stumbled upon track. I articulate “stumbled” because I didn’t search for it coming. I had no musical background rising up. I became as soon as that nonetheless, reserved kid, so when of us from my predominant or secondary college search for what I’m doing now, they’re in actual fact unnerved. Even my fogeys and finish family are composed bowled over that I became an artist. Nonetheless that’s the amazing thing about boom. I didn’t thought any of this; it chanced on me, and I embraced it.

So satisfied to listen to that. I in actual fact search for that you’re ripe for whatever this substitute has to present. You would possibly perhaps well presumably presumably have a clear skills that pulls of us. What would you articulate is the final goal for you with track? If track doesn’t work, what else would you’ve got done?

I know many composed search for me as an upcoming artist, and that’s comely, because I’m composed early in my flow. Nonetheless deep down, I imagine I’m ripe and willing to head. My final goal with track is past popularity or charts. I try to leave a legacy through storytelling, severely coming from someone love me who didn’t have a musical background. I desire my flow to inspire others who undoubtedly feel love they don’t fit the mildew, and point out that motive can get it is top to you least request it.

If track didn’t work out, I’d composed be within the inventive dwelling. I in actual fact have a solid ardour for photography and videography, and I’m a talented video editor as effectively. I studied Agricultural Engineering, so there’s always that. Nonetheless correct now, I’m entirely dedicated to this. I imagine within the gift I’ve been given.

Lameda is a fictional personality, however with your storytelling skills, it’s composed believable. Which of your songs has an value of your life? I imply, a reflection of yourself

Yes, LAMEDA is fictional, however through a song that in actual fact reflects me, it must be “The next day (GRAMMY).”

That song became as soon as born from a steady-life moment. Any individual trolled me and acknowledged I’d never pick up a Grammy, and in resolution to arguing or clapping encourage on-line, I went to the studio. “The next day (GRAMMY)” is my acknowledge to that doubt. It’s me declaring my flow, speaking greatness into existence even when it’s no longer visible yet.

It’s no longer impartial correct a response to that one particular person; it’s a message to myself. A reminder that I’m able to prevent it. That I will stop it. So after I hear to that song now, I don’t impartial correct hear track, I hear gasoline. I hear faith. I hear motive. That’s one song that carries the cost of who I’m and what I imagine. Now after which, I descend pieces of my actuality in my track, typically coded, typically recount. It’s all phase of the higher story I’m telling.

Most events, when an artist is breaking out and they’re asked what they prefer to snort into Afrobeats or track, they assuredly have something to narrate. What would you articulate you’re bringing into Afrobeats?

What I’m bringing into Afrobeats is storytelling with soul. I’m no longer impartial correct here to manufacture vibes, I try to manufacture of us undoubtedly feel. I’m bringing that intentionality, that emotional depth, that skill to paint images with words, even though it’s in Yoruba, pidgin, or English. Rather a lot of Afrobeats is built around rhythm, vitality and enjoyment (which I undoubtedly love), however I try to merge that with that formulation, so that you’re dancing, however you’re additionally reflecting.

I imagine there’s dwelling for additional vulnerability, extra yarn and extra truth in our sound. So whether or no longer I’m rapping, singing, or telling a fictional story love LAMEDA, it’s always linked to something steady. That’s what I’m bringing, my truth, my language, my story, in a fashion that moves the crowd.

I know you be taught and grew up being attentive to experiences. Nonetheless what inspires you to manufacture track? Is there a routine that will get you into your inventive juice? What’s your route of love?

Yes, I grew up studying and being attentive to an excellent deal of experiences, severely Yoruba folklore, Quran and Bible experiences, and even street gist. They fashioned my creativeness and the procedure I search for the enviornment. Nonetheless through track, what inspires me most is life itself.

Most frequently it’s a random conversation, a notify level to, something someone acknowledged on-line, or even impartial correct how I undoubtedly feel after I wake up. I’m very observant, and I love turning unique moments into something deeper. I don’t have a strict routine, however what helps me secure into my inventive dwelling is isolation and honesty. I love being alone with my tips, typically playing beats over and over till something clicks. And I freestyle loads, that’s in actual fact how most of my songs initiating. I impartial correct go with the vibe and let the story advance out naturally.

My route of isn’t always the same, however the goal is: manufacture it steady, manufacture it hit, and manufacture it closing.

You impartial as of late met with Pheelz, Zlatan Ibile and others. What became as soon as the largest ingredient that meeting these top guys published to you? 

Assembly of us love Pheelz, Zlatan Ibile, and others who’re already at the stop of the sport became as soon as a gargantuan moment for me. It wasn’t impartial correct thrilling, it became as soon as admire-opening.

The largest ingredient it published to me is that these of us are human too. They’ve felt disaster, faced rejection, dealt with doubt, impartial correct love the relaxation of us. Nonetheless what devices them apart is consistency, belief, and the willingness to withhold showing up even when it’s onerous.

It reminded me that skills is handiest phase of the flow. The remainder is self-discipline, patience, and intellectual your why. Being within the same room with them made me realise that I’m no longer as a ways as I thought. I impartial correct want to remain centered and withhold constructing. Within the event that they will manufacture it, I’m able to too. And no longer impartial correct manufacture it, I’m able to leave a imprint.

What’s a conventional day on your life love?

All throughout the day, I assuredly address my tasks, staying grounded and doing what I want to prevent. Nonetheless the moment I’m free, my tips switches straight into artist mode. Evenings and nights are for track, writing, recording, improving videos, brainstorming instruct material, or impartial correct zoning out to beats. Most frequently I no longer sleep undoubtedly behind setting up, because that’s when my tips undoubtedly drift. Initiate air of all that, I’m impartial correct a calming man. I don’t love stress, I love my dwelling, and I’m able to exhaust hours searching at YouTube shows; it’s no doubt a number of the ways I unwind and even get inspiration typically. Balancing the entire lot isn’t always straightforward, however the starvation to prevail keeps me going. I know what I’m constructing, and I imprint it’ll all be value it.

You impartial correct dropped one other single, The next day (GRAMMY). Should composed we request a tubby physique of work soon?

Effectively, let’s impartial correct articulate I’ve been cooking, and no longer impartial correct singles this time. One thing higher is unquestionably within the works. Whether it’s an EP or something extra, impartial correct know you’ll be listening to a fuller physique of work from me soon.

There are additionally some attention-grabbing conversations within the encourage of the scenes,  collaborations, and all that impartial correct stuff. Nonetheless I imagine in timing, so I’m taking my time to prevent it correct. For now, impartial correct live locked in. Extra track, extra visuals, extra boom. All the pieces is aligning, slowly, however completely.

Write a pair of words to Samad in 10 years

I hope you’re composed transferring with motive and setting up from a enviornment of truth. I hope you haven’t forgotten the starvation, the nights you stayed up dreaming, and the these that believed in you earlier than the enviornment caught on.

I know for clear that you will manufacture it substantial, so live grounded. Be conscious: you’ve advance a prolonged procedure from the nonetheless boy in Ibadan who stumbled upon his gift. Bear telling experiences. Bear making your of us proud. And above all, never stop being you.

With love and belief,
Samad (2025).

Thanks for being on Doing Life With…, Samad

Thanks for having me.

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Many thanks to SAMAD for having this conversation with us and answering all our questions – and fast too, we must add.

Originate you want this instruct material, have any solutions for us or try to be a BellaNaija Aspects contributor? We’d love to be taught from you. Shoot us an electronic mail: [email protected]. Be part of us on Saturday for the next episode