At this moment, you can't make a list of producers and not be tempted to place Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo on the top of your pick. The architect of the unarguably and widely-accepted album (Asa) of the year can't just stop churning out remarkable and award-winning hits. For all that he's achieved, the visually-impaired singer-producer who was born blind will never agree to personal accomplishment, neither will he seize any occasion to drum up nor draw praises to himself.
While many are petrified over and wonder how he's able to do what he does, Cobhams makes no fuss about it. Call him a rare breed and you haven't muddled up a word. On the Wednesday we met at his studio in GRA, Ikeja, the songwriter, singer, arranger and producer didn't betray any emotions over his condition, instead he's appreciative to His maker.
"There is hardly a thing I do. I wake up and I say, God, you know what, this is the deal. I don't know how this thing is going to happen but it is your name out there more than mine. Some people say mine but the big picture is your name. So let's save the situation again. He always does. So quite frankly, I am not sure I have anything spectacular. I just allow myself to be used and I'm happy."
If you weigh his achievements in the industry, then you'll appreciate why his happiness is not in minuscule measure. As I sat in the reception of his studio where his P.A asked that I waited, my eyes roved round the small confinement where a water dispenser, a glass-made desk and three wooden chairs were sparsely but neatly arranged. As I sat, waiting to have my turn as the next guest of the ex-pupil of Pacelli School for The Blind and ex-boy of the prestigious Kings College, my mind kept racing on how I'll conduct myself in the presence of the blind lad idolized in industry.
While I sat thinking, a door opposite me opened and out came a lady and the man I was here to meet.
As both guest and host made for the exit door, I expected this son of a former military officer to be aided but without a stick (he hardly ever uses one) or human support, he matched out eerily after his guest with their banters seizing the quietness of the reception area. I sat there and was still thinking how he could have strolled out without any aide when a voice rang out in soft tones, "Please shut that door, it's unprofessional to allow not yet released songs to get out of the studio." The song I could decipher who sang had been sieving out of speakers holed inside what I suspected was the recording studio from when I got in.
Immediately after his admonition, Cobhams strolled towards a door behind me that I suspected led to the studio. Moments after, he reappeared and headed towards his office, reeling out few instructions to his personal assistant who before then had pleaded with me for patience to which I responded: "No problem."
Born to Anthony Bassey and Gladys Asuquo in 1981, Cobhams nurtured his love for music by immersing himself in various sounds while growing up. In a world where personal achievements can sometimes get so overwhelming, the hitmaker who took the decision to embrace God at the age of 19 and in the confines of his room is not snowed under all that he's achieved.
"I am just grateful. I recognize the fact that I am part of the process. You might do a good beat for a good artist and you might still not sell. The market generally is crazy. I think I have been fortunate; I don't take it for granted. The confidence I have is that the works of my hands have been blessed. And I don't know about feeling on top of the world but I am excited."
Much of his life has been spent in different place- Jos, Abuja, Katsina, Lagos and England where he grew up listening to all genres of music which somewhat helped his neurotic ability to create sounds. "I appreciate each and every brand of music and I took in the different aspects, dynamics, elements, components, characteristics, different dimensions to make sounds. It helps my ability to integrate different genres of music."
Long before Question Mark slammed its doors on Asa, Cobhams and the rest of the other travelers on the label, a few people wrote the songstress (Asa) off as just a one-hit star because all she could brandish for almost four years was a single, ?Eye Adaba'. But in 2007, Asa, through the production wizadry of Cobhams and the backing of Naļ¶„ Records gave Nigerians a classic many never imagined would be embraced by a listening public that had been led away by Pop music. From the moment the album dropped in the last quarter of 2007, all gaze turned to one person; the man who wrote, co-wrote and produced the masterpiece that redefined music in Nigeria and further announced Nigeria's arrival on global music stage. Acceptance was critical at the point of making the album because Hip Hop and Pop music from Nigerian and international artiste had saturated the environment and it had become risky to do music with neo-soul flavour. The gamble paid off.
"In Nigeria, yes I was scared. Abroad, not necessarily because I mean when you go out, you hear all kinds of stuff they play. For us, because we have been tele-colonized by the Americans again (I believe the whole world is being re-colonized by the Americans), we pay so much attention and regard to Hip Hop and popular American style music. Well, I was just generally optimistic. It was a risk that was taken and has paid off."
The debate over whether it is possible for Nigeria to have a music identity like Ghana has done with Hiplife cropped up during our conversation and Cobhams thinks it will take a while for Nigeria to create its own unique sound.
"You will agree with me that the average Ghanaian is still more conservative than the average Nigerian. So they are able to sustain the dynamics of their kind of music for a longer period of time as opposed to Nigeria. The Plantashun Boiz, The Def O Clans, The Styl Plus's and the Tetuila's of this world have defined what we know in the sense, as the new age Nigerian music." "We are yet to carve that final niche but we are on the path to carving it for ourselves. It is a process and I think it is still evolving; although the process has been affected negatively and positively by a lot of factors."
The Question Mark era was one period many expected so mush but the ship of the once blossoming label hit the rocks and all the occupants were thrown off board at different times and in varied circumstances before it set sail. Asa and Cobhams had formed a bond and it was not surprising that even after they freed themselves from Kelvin Lucianos claws, they moved on together. Even though he shies from discussing that era, Cobhams who can dial his mobile phones by himself says he picked a lot of lessons from the episode.
"I learnt that there is music and there is music business. And music business is business. I have learnt to follow standard practice. And I learnt that if you give every man what is due him, you will always have more than enough. I learnt to be straight. I learnt to run my own business and to be a better administrator. The producer who is looking forward to starting his own family however offers his relationship with Kelvin is cordial. "My relationship with him is very good. He is a great friend. He gave me a platform to a certain degree and I will not disregard that."
While he won't disregard the finger that once fed him, he derides the state of the industry and wishes people in the business and those coming into it, particularly labels will understand the business and put in place proper structures. "It breaks my heart that a number of people who are setting up record labels do so without an artiste repertoire (A&R). Music business is studied. People pay huge sums of money to go to Brooklyn to study Music Management. You don't just get up and set up a label. It is like banking. You just don't get up and own a bank. There are standard procedures in music that need to be studied. People need to carry out surveys, study and get information about the market."
He produced his first officially-released song at the age of 16 for a gospel artiste, Paul Nasha but the album produced at Charley Boy's New Wave Production Studios in Gbagada never made it to the ears of mainstream audiences. He would however get better acclaim after producing Maintains ?Catch Cold' and ?Live In India' in which the now defunct trio-group of Olu, Tolu and Big Bamo was magnanimous enough to mention his name on the track. From that humble background, he has built a resplendent resume worth peering into.
Cobhams abandoned his law education in 2004 at the University of Lagos because he felt the structure did not encourage people in his peculiar situation to achieve their desires. As much as he so wished to become a legal luminary since a tender age, he realized the system is not wired to give knowledge but wired to make students read and sail through. "I didn't want to cram and pass. Life and self- awareness mean a lot to me than just cramming and passing. So even though my grades weren't bad, I decided to opt for something more realistic which was music."
He believes getting a degree at all cost would be corrupting the existing structure and didn't want to be a part of that. "They say no knowledge is lost but I believe that if you want to gain knowledge; gain specific knowledge in different areas within a short period of time instead of spending much time studying a subject that will not be of value to you."
The claps and cheers that reverberated inside the hall on the day he was crowned producer of the year could have caused some others a shrill excitement but the humble producer who once smoked, frolicked with women and engaged in other earthly vices seized the moment to simply appreciate God, his family and his fans whom he described as ?friends'. Such is the unassuming nature of the man who loves to read, write, talk and sing and whose productions rumble with creativity, depth, funk, soul, wit and evoking twirls. His ability to cook fluid beats, ease off to rock and blend thunderous sparks with somber beats stands his enviable resume out anyday. That is why Rooftop MC's, Nikki, Modenine, Silver Sadih, Dekunle Fuji, Faze, Dare Art-Alade, and an army of singers will do anything to have their songs blessed by his production compliments.
International calls haven't come short too. His deal with Sony Music which attracted so much commentary after it was brokered and made public in 2006 has come under intense focus from the media over the viability and realness. He tells me the deal is real and on: "I am signed on to Sony Publishing as a songwriter. They collect royalties for the songs that I write and they are supposed to help me get some writing opportunities for international artistes."
Apart from Asa who has become an international star, Laura Isabelle, a UK-born singer is another artiste the Sony deal has caused him to work with and he says there are prospects for more international collaborations. Blessed with an awesome voice that will make many wannabes loitering around scamper away, he's playing the prospect of a Cobhams-album down till the time he thinks is right. His mesmerizing delivery on Rooftop MC's song, La Gi Mo and Dekunle Fuji's Mo Like Jesu Gan have nonetheless made the demand more rousing than ever before.
"Sometimes, I am under pressure to do it (album). At other times, I feel that it is not time for me to do it. But I know that eventually, it will be done ?cos I realize that the demand is growing and it is good to make a move when there is demand."
Because he is an incurable optimist and innately ambitious, he never dwells so much on past achievements rather, he's pushed by the need to do more. Cobhams knew at age six that he wanted to be rich and become a lawyer. At ages seven and eight, he started playing music and when he clocked 10, he recognized he was born to become extra-ordinary and he started working on his road plan to the top.
"Everything I have achieved in life is as a result of favour, mercy and grace but also, result of my brains. I had always dreamt that this is what I am going to do with my life. I can say that I am living my dreams. Yes, I have always been ambitious. For me, with every task accomplished, there is a new task ahead."
He is working on a major project he refused to disclose even after pressing persuasion but he reveals among many wishes his desire to settle down soon with his long-time girlfriend, go on few vacations, add value to the society, become more environmentally-friendly, understand and love God more and shockingly, go into politics.
"I aspire to someday be either a commissioner or minister of Arts and Culture in wherever I am led to serve. Nigeria is one. That is why I am here. I am knocking on doors and asking for attention. It will open gradually. The game plan and whole idea is to change the impression." For a man who has done so much in music, it won't be proper to write off his ambition as a tall dream cos' this mans vision is too virile.
No comments:
Post a Comment