![Photo: Exclusive Interviews with MOSES:
--- I want my songs to be hits in America & Europe ---
“I have already spent the prize money” –
– Moses Nigerian Idols Season 3 winner
After two years of women winning the Nigerian Idol crown, Moses Obi-Adigwe, the sweet-voiced university graduate from Delta state finally got one for the guys, inheriting the Nigerian Idol champion crown from Mercy Chinwo. His victory is not just about the title though, the cuddly teddy bear is now 7.5 million naira richer, owns a brand new SUV and has a recording contract also worth 7.5 million naira, all thanks to lead sponsor Etisalat.
Enjoy the Interview: (Curled from VANGUARD Newspapers)
What has your journey been like so far through the whole Nigerian Idol process?
[Laughs] The journey so far has been interesting, to say the least. I mean, come on…Father Lord. There are twelve contestants, right? And we get a list of 15 songs, and then you are now the twelfth person to pick a song. That has happened—twice!
Oh wow. So how did you deal?
You don’t complain! You find a way to make lemonade. You find sugar; borrow from your neighbour if you have to, and that is all that I have tried to do. Whenever things like that happened and I was the last to choose … I would go and listen to the song, and ask myself, why don’t I like the song, what can I do to make me like it.
So did any song choice ever scare you?
No, I just tried to make it interesting. If I had gotten all the songs I wanted it would have just felt too easy.
What has been your most difficult moment on the show?
I think it would have to be the Top 12 eviction show. I had just gotten in from [the] wildcard [round]. I had just been evicted and had packed my things to leave the house. And the day before the eviction show, I had heard another contestant—on the radio!—and doing an interview about the fact that she was on the show, and people should vote for them. Other people were doing PR and campaigning. I was just coming off the wildcard show, a one in eight chance, so I hadn’t done anything. I was just happy that I made it through!
Then I was like, wait. Nine of the other contestants have had at least two weeks to campaign. I haven’t had a chance to. I didn’t have a flier, a piece of paper; what was I going to do? But somehow, by the grace of God I made it through. And, that week, I had sung a song that wasn’t popular in Nigeria—Jessie J’s ‘Domino’. It was tense but I made it through, and sadly two didn’t.
How has it been working with songwriters, producers and vocal trainers? What has that done for you as a musician and an artist?
Working with KDL [Kehinde Dacosta-Lawrence, Music Director for the show] has been great…you read his credentials and you are like oh my goodness! He has worked with Whitney, Bobby Brown, Eddie Murphy and lots of other [International] musicians. So, for me, it is such a blessing. One thing that I liked about working with him is that he respects your opinion. I tell him, “KDL, this is how I want to record my song. I want to change this, I want to do that,” and he says, “Okay, let’s hear it.” And if it works, it works.
Who is Moses as an artist, who is Moses as a musician? Who is he going to be in the Nigerian musical landscape?
The prayer and the hope is that I am going to be that Nigerian artist that creates a song here in Nigeria, and that song is a hit in America, Europe. I want to do music that embodies all of Nigeria. I want other people around the world to acknowledge it, accept it and understand it.
It is good to be original, but it is also good to be successful. For me it is all about finding that perfect balance between being commercial, being international but still making … an impact as a Nigerian artist. He [Moses] is going to be passionate and lovable; he is going to think about everything. That is me, because for me, music is all about expression.
In three words or less, how would you describe your Nigerian Idol journey?
Downright, AMAZING!
End of Interview:
ANOTHER Interview with YNAIJA.COM
“I have already spent the prize money” –
--Nigerian Idols winner, Moses Obi-Adigwe
In another interview with YNaija, Moses Obi-Adigwe, the first ever male winner of Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idols, spoke about his new found fame and what he hopes to do with his N7.5million prize money.
Excerpts:
(curled from YNAIJA DOT COM)
Has the win fully sunk in yet?
Not fully. I still wake up and I am like, whose life is this? For a few hours I wake up and it’s like the regular old Moses and then it hits me, dude you just won Nigerian Idol and I cannot believe it but as the days go by, it becomes more real to me
So what has changed?
I get recognized a lot on the streets nowadays. I step out of my house and people just begin to scream, ‘Hey Moses’ and they don’t even call me Moses anymore, they call me the big teddy bear. There is so much love and at times I feel shy but yeah it’s all good.
Are you comfortable with the moniker ”Teddy bear”? Ruben Studdard, the American Idol Teddy bear seems to be forgotten now
I think Reuben is slightly retired from the pop scene but then he is still doing lots of small shows in the U.S. I am not worried about the name, I kind of like it because it is like a personalized brand; Moses the teddy bear and it goes so well with my size. A teddy bear is big, huge, cuddly and you just want to hug him so that helps my image and it sort of goes in line with my character and personality. It works out very well for me.
What is the typical day like for you since the win?
Generally I have interviews, studio sessions, meetings all day long. Sometimes I am out from 9:00am to 10pm but sometimes it is from 12noon to 4pm. I am usually very busy because even if I am not out, I am at home working on my songs and trying to think up new plans and ways to get my career on the fast track. Winning Nigerian Idol was just the beginning, launching my career is the next phase. In this industry it takes a whole lot of work.
Do you fear the curse of the Idol winner and other such talent shows?
I don’t think about that because to be honest I am different from every other single person who has ever won anything so I know my case is going to be different and it is going to be awesome. I mean I got kicked off the competition and was brought back and I won! I don’t think that has ever happened so I am definitely not bothered about that but I am also learning from the mistakes of other winners and I am trying to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes they did.
Who is on your playlist now?
My playlist is weird, just a couple of songs I really like. I love Beyonce’s ‘End of time’, Ebisan’s ‘Jowo’. Omawumi’s ‘When the boss is coming to kill the actor’ is so mad, it is on repeat right now. My family is tired of it but I don’t care, I love the album. Ne-yo’s ‘Let me love you’, The Glee cast version of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aint no way’, Rob Thomas’ ‘This is how a heart breaks.’
Has the prize money been paid?
The money is on it’s way. I am just waiting for a bank alert. I am just waiting for my phone to ring, men enough flexing.
But you have gotten the car right?
Oh yes I have and I have been flexing it. And you know what, the car draws more attention because people see it, they look for me and then the screaming begins. I could move around in a plain car and no one would know it is me but in the Idol car, there is little chance of that. All eyes are on me but it has been an awesome experience so far.
You sound like you are already tired of being recognized.
No! I love every second of it because it is like every single person that recognizes me is an extra validation of my dreams and what I want to achieve in life because you have to be known in other to influence people’s lives and that is what I want to do with my music. So I am happy to be recognized.
Do you have a plan for protecting yourself and your winnings from people that might want to take advantage?
I already have a plan or plans for my money so anybody that comes up to me to say, do this, do that is kind of wasting their time because the money has already been spent. The trick is not spending everything and making sure you are spending on the right things and I am not really a big spender so it works out well for me.
You live in Abuja?
Yes, I do. But I am relocating to Lagos because that is where to be and where it all starts out so I have no choice really.
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Moses Nigerian Idols Season 3 winner
After two years of women winning the Nigerian Idol crown, Moses Obi-Adigwe, the sweet-voiced university graduate from Delta state finally got one for the guys, inheriting the Nigerian Idol champion crown from Mercy Chinwo. His victory is not just about the title though, the cuddly teddy bear is now 7.5 million naira richer, owns a brand new SUV and has a recording contract also worth 7.5 million naira, all thanks to lead sponsor Etisalat.
Enjoy the Interview: (Curled from VANGUARD Newspapers)
What has your journey been like so far through the whole Nigerian Idol process?
[Laughs] The journey so far has been interesting, to say the least. I mean, come on…Father Lord. There are twelve contestants, right? And we get a list of 15 songs, and then you are now the twelfth person to pick a song. That has happened—twice!
Oh wow. So how did you deal?
You don’t complain! You find a way to make lemonade. You find sugar; borrow from your neighbour if you have to, and that is all that I have tried to do. Whenever things like that happened and I was the last to choose … I would go and listen to the song, and ask myself, why don’t I like the song, what can I do to make me like it.
So did any song choice ever scare you?
No, I just tried to make it interesting. If I had gotten all the songs I wanted it would have just felt too easy.
What has been your most difficult moment on the show?
I think it would have to be the Top 12 eviction show. I had just gotten in from [the] wildcard [round]. I had just been evicted and had packed my things to leave the house. And the day before the eviction show, I had heard another contestant—on the radio!—and doing an interview about the fact that she was on the show, and people should vote for them. Other people were doing PR and campaigning. I was just coming off the wildcard show, a one in eight chance, so I hadn’t done anything. I was just happy that I made it through!
Then I was like, wait. Nine of the other contestants have had at least two weeks to campaign. I haven’t had a chance to. I didn’t have a flier, a piece of paper; what was I going to do? But somehow, by the grace of God I made it through. And, that week, I had sung a song that wasn’t popular in Nigeria—Jessie J’s ‘Domino’. It was tense but I made it through, and sadly two didn’t.
How has it been working with songwriters, producers and vocal trainers? What has that done for you as a musician and an artist?
Working with KDL [Kehinde Dacosta-Lawrence, Music Director for the show] has been great…you read his credentials and you are like oh my goodness! He has worked with Whitney, Bobby Brown, Eddie Murphy and lots of other [International] musicians. So, for me, it is such a blessing. One thing that I liked about working with him is that he respects your opinion. I tell him, “KDL, this is how I want to record my song. I want to change this, I want to do that,” and he says, “Okay, let’s hear it.” And if it works, it works.
Who is Moses as an artist, who is Moses as a musician? Who is he going to be in the Nigerian musical landscape?
The prayer and the hope is that I am going to be that Nigerian artist that creates a song here in Nigeria, and that song is a hit in America, Europe. I want to do music that embodies all of Nigeria. I want other people around the world to acknowledge it, accept it and understand it.
It is good to be original, but it is also good to be successful. For me it is all about finding that perfect balance between being commercial, being international but still making … an impact as a Nigerian artist. He [Moses] is going to be passionate and lovable; he is going to think about everything. That is me, because for me, music is all about expression.
In three words or less, how would you describe your Nigerian Idol journey?
Downright, AMAZING!
End of Interview:
ANOTHER Interview with YNAIJA.COM
“I have already spent the prize money” –
--Nigerian Idols winner, Moses Obi-Adigwe
In another interview with YNaija, Moses Obi-Adigwe, the first ever male winner of Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idols, spoke about his new found fame and what he hopes to do with his N7.5million prize money.
Excerpts:
(curled from YNAIJA DOT COM)
Has the win fully sunk in yet?
Not fully. I still wake up and I am like, whose life is this? For a few hours I wake up and it’s like the regular old Moses and then it hits me, dude you just won Nigerian Idol and I cannot believe it but as the days go by, it becomes more real to me
So what has changed?
I get recognized a lot on the streets nowadays. I step out of my house and people just begin to scream, ‘Hey Moses’ and they don’t even call me Moses anymore, they call me the big teddy bear. There is so much love and at times I feel shy but yeah it’s all good.
Are you comfortable with the moniker ”Teddy bear”? Ruben Studdard, the American Idol Teddy bear seems to be forgotten now
I think Reuben is slightly retired from the pop scene but then he is still doing lots of small shows in the U.S. I am not worried about the name, I kind of like it because it is like a personalized brand; Moses the teddy bear and it goes so well with my size. A teddy bear is big, huge, cuddly and you just want to hug him so that helps my image and it sort of goes in line with my character and personality. It works out very well for me.
What is the typical day like for you since the win?
Generally I have interviews, studio sessions, meetings all day long. Sometimes I am out from 9:00am to 10pm but sometimes it is from 12noon to 4pm. I am usually very busy because even if I am not out, I am at home working on my songs and trying to think up new plans and ways to get my career on the fast track. Winning Nigerian Idol was just the beginning, launching my career is the next phase. In this industry it takes a whole lot of work.
Do you fear the curse of the Idol winner and other such talent shows?
I don’t think about that because to be honest I am different from every other single person who has ever won anything so I know my case is going to be different and it is going to be awesome. I mean I got kicked off the competition and was brought back and I won! I don’t think that has ever happened so I am definitely not bothered about that but I am also learning from the mistakes of other winners and I am trying to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes they did.
Who is on your playlist now?
My playlist is weird, just a couple of songs I really like. I love Beyonce’s ‘End of time’, Ebisan’s ‘Jowo’. Omawumi’s ‘When the boss is coming to kill the actor’ is so mad, it is on repeat right now. My family is tired of it but I don’t care, I love the album. Ne-yo’s ‘Let me love you’, The Glee cast version of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aint no way’, Rob Thomas’ ‘This is how a heart breaks.’
Has the prize money been paid?
The money is on it’s way. I am just waiting for a bank alert. I am just waiting for my phone to ring, men enough flexing.
But you have gotten the car right?
Oh yes I have and I have been flexing it. And you know what, the car draws more attention because people see it, they look for me and then the screaming begins. I could move around in a plain car and no one would know it is me but in the Idol car, there is little chance of that. All eyes are on me but it has been an awesome experience so far.
You sound like you are already tired of being recognized.
No! I love every second of it because it is like every single person that recognizes me is an extra validation of my dreams and what I want to achieve in life because you have to be known in other to influence people’s lives and that is what I want to do with my music. So I am happy to be recognized.
Do you have a plan for protecting yourself and your winnings from people that might want to take advantage?
I already have a plan or plans for my money so anybody that comes up to me to say, do this, do that is kind of wasting their time because the money has already been spent. The trick is not spending everything and making sure you are spending on the right things and I am not really a big spender so it works out well for me.
You live in Abuja?
Yes, I do. But I am relocating to Lagos because that is where to be and where it all starts out so I have no choice really.
- Charles Nene likes this.
- Charles Nene @Moses don't worry i'll catch u up ova there. I mean @ da entertainment industry. Still finding ma way 2 da top........
