PAUSE MEETS: Davido

Who was your cousin?

His name was NPZ.

What were the struggles you faced trying to get your music out there in the beginning?

I would say I was one of the lucky ones, the first time I ever recorded and dropped that got big, that was the first song I ever recorded, started blowing up.

Which song was that one?

It was my first song, it was called “Back When.” When it started getting played and stuff, that’s when I started wanting to take music very seriously.

What did your parents want you to do?

Just work for my dad, but then I started getting bigger and bigger and then I just had to leave school.

Just go your own route. What do your parents think about it now then?

Number one fans.

How does one break into the mainstream market like yourself, your music is streaming worldwide, so how does someone from Nigeria do that?

Lucky for me I started when I was like 16, I’m 25 now so it’s been a while but now it’s like, everybody’s looking at Africa, everybody’s interested in whatever Africa’s doing, so it’s better now for us and easier for us to get stuff out there, they love the music too, it’s good music.

Do you feel like it’s only now everybody’s looking at Africa?

I feel like everybody’s always been looking but now it’s like televised. They’ve always liked it.

How would you describe the new era of Afrobeats in a few words?

It’s mad, it’s going crazy, the world loves it, I’m just happy to be a part of it.

Who would you say is making the most noise?

Me. I mean a lot of people you have Mr Eazi, you have Wizkid, you have Tekno. There’s a lot of people.

Is there anyone up and coming to Nigeria or Ghana we should be looking out for?

There’s a lot of people like my artist Mioku.

Is he from Nigeria or Ghana?

Nigeria.

We here in London love your songs if you had to pick one song you’ve created which one’s your favourite and why?

I can’t pick one.

Is there one country that every time you go to, you’re like ‘wow!’?

To be honest everywhere is just crazy to me.

Every where’s just the same kind of vibe?

It just depends.

But you’ll say it’s different compared to the African and European market right?

It depends, Africa and stuff can do 18,000 people, it’s crazy, but here it’s like 8K, 10K.

How was your performance at Wireless?

Great, they tried to cut me off and sh*t but the crowd was like f*ck that.

[Laughs] Have you got any new songs coming this year?

Yeah I’m dropping my album very soon, in September, and some new singles coming out, which actually might drop this week.

So when’s that new single dropping?

Hopefully next week.

What can we expect from the new song?

Some crazy sh*t.

Any teasers, anything? What’s the name of it?

One of them’s called Nwa Baby, and then we’re going to more festivals, we’re going to Belgium next, and then another festival in Paris, New York. There’s a lot.