There is always something captivating about screen goddess, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. She is not just a successful Nollywood actress, she has also made a huge statement in the Nigerian music industry. Last year she released her second album, Me, Myself And Eyes and featured in an international blockbuster, Ije. Yet, the curvy actresss moved a notch higher this year when she graced the Grammy Awards ceremony and recently acted alongside Kimberly Elise, an A- list Hollywood actress in a movie, Ties That Bind; thus making her the first Nollywood actress to do so. Amina, another international movie in which she featured, will soon be released. In this interview with NEHRU ODEH, the award-winning actress speaks about her experience at the Grammys, her music, marriage and her forthcoming movies
You were at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony. What was your experience there?
It was a nice experience, really. I enjoyed every bit of it. Every experience in life is to nourish us and encourage us and open our eyes. I was there because I am signed on to a label called Universal Studios with Bungalow Universal. And they are promoting the song from my album called Stop The War – a song I did with Mode 9. I was also invited by my new management, BEC. And so with BEC and Bungalow, they arranged everything and made sure that I was at the Grammy Awards. So, most importantly, you need to be able to dream and see how things are really done. So the opportunity presented itself and I was just there to observe and see how the music industry is run, because they wanted me to see how different it was from the movie industry and also to see the similarities. And it was fun. It was a good learning process.
Do you think your being at the Grammys could impact positively on your music?
Yeah, it will, because in the long run it has allowed me to understand a few things about the kind of songs that make the Grammys, and the way they promote the songs that make the Grammys… why you win the Grammys. It has helped me to streamline. So instead of wasting my time and doing so many things that at the end of the day might not avail much, now I am able to start to re-organise. So, basically, it has helped me to understand what is required for what I need to do, so that I don't waste my time and opportunities. I can plan directly for exactly what I want.
You were in Ghana recently where you shot a movie, Ties That Bind with an A- list Hollywood actor, Kimberly Elise, thus becoming the first Nigerian actor to star alongside an actor of that stature. How was the experience acting with her?
Kimberly Elise is a fantastic actress. I had met her before in Los Angeles. She is a very wonderful person. She is one of the best. She is very deep and extremely talented. So when word came that she was going to be the one in the movie, it was a privilege and I was quite excited because I have always liked her study of work. When I knew she was the one to do the movie, I was looking forward to it because I knew that she was going to do justice to the character that she was going to play and it was going to be another nice opportunity of meeting her. And she delivered. Yes, it's a pleasure working with her.
What is your latest movie, Amina, about?
It is about the journey of a particular girl called Amina. She went through a lot of psychological problems when she was young and she overcame them. Life dealt her a blow but she eventually fought for herself and tried to regain her stand in life. And just when she thought everything was balanced and okay, something else happened and she had to deal with it. It's a psychological thriller. It's a very interesting movie and it had A-list British actors like Wil Johnson, and also Vincent Reagan (the Captain in 300), Alison Carroll, Van Vicker, then myself.
Who directed the movie?
It was directed by a man called Christian Ashaku.
When will the movie be released?
I don't know when it is going to be released. But right now they are in post-production. We just finished shooting a week ago. So it is going to take some time. But I don't think it is going to be later than this year, hopefully.
You have been known for living the glamorous life. Your wedding as well as your first and second album launches were spectacular events. Do you set out to make everything about you glamorous?
(Laughs) I don't do things often and I don't go anywhere often. I like to have a good time. When you choose to do something, I think you should just do it well. I am a perfectionist. I try to put my heart into anything I do, really. If it comes out glamorous, it's not like I intentionally tried to make it glamorous. I am just trying to do the best I possibly could, really.
Why did you title your second album, Me. Myself And Eyes?
I just figured that at that point, a lot of people were now at a stage where they were surprised at the fact that I did a first and a second album. All eyes were on me. Everybody was watching to see whether I was really serious with that and everything. As I always told people, I am not doing music because I want to win awards or because I want to make money. I am doing it because it is something I love to do. It's a mode of expression and it's a way I also can express my views about either politics, the kind of work I do with the humanitarian bodies and all that. For me it is a way to relieve myself of all these ideas. I could do that through writing, I could also choose to do that through music. I do write. A lot of people remember that I used to write “Omotola's Diary” in Saturday Sun. I intend to still go back to “Omotola's Diary”. I didn't know that it was that well read. I have been approached by a lot of magazines asking me to bring back Omotola's Diary. And I intend to bring it back as soon as I can. I have always done music since I was young. I was in my church choir. I do love music and I intend to continue to express that love.
Could you speak more about the recording deal you have in the United States concerning Stop The War, one of the tracks in your second album?
Basically, it's been picked up by Bungalow Universal. And right now that is the first single that they are promoting in the US. We are working on another single as well. It is not from my album, we are going to record and it's going to have, by God's grace, a guest star that I don't want to talk about right now. We are taking things really nice and easy. I am doing the kind of music I want to do. I am putting out the kind of lyrics and the kind of topics I want to put out. So that is my vision concerning my music. I am lucky to have a record label that understands totally my goals, my dreams and my direction. And they are helping me to nurture the vision.Source nigerianfilms.com
You were at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony. What was your experience there?
It was a nice experience, really. I enjoyed every bit of it. Every experience in life is to nourish us and encourage us and open our eyes. I was there because I am signed on to a label called Universal Studios with Bungalow Universal. And they are promoting the song from my album called Stop The War – a song I did with Mode 9. I was also invited by my new management, BEC. And so with BEC and Bungalow, they arranged everything and made sure that I was at the Grammy Awards. So, most importantly, you need to be able to dream and see how things are really done. So the opportunity presented itself and I was just there to observe and see how the music industry is run, because they wanted me to see how different it was from the movie industry and also to see the similarities. And it was fun. It was a good learning process.
Do you think your being at the Grammys could impact positively on your music?
Yeah, it will, because in the long run it has allowed me to understand a few things about the kind of songs that make the Grammys, and the way they promote the songs that make the Grammys… why you win the Grammys. It has helped me to streamline. So instead of wasting my time and doing so many things that at the end of the day might not avail much, now I am able to start to re-organise. So, basically, it has helped me to understand what is required for what I need to do, so that I don't waste my time and opportunities. I can plan directly for exactly what I want.
You were in Ghana recently where you shot a movie, Ties That Bind with an A- list Hollywood actor, Kimberly Elise, thus becoming the first Nigerian actor to star alongside an actor of that stature. How was the experience acting with her?
Kimberly Elise is a fantastic actress. I had met her before in Los Angeles. She is a very wonderful person. She is one of the best. She is very deep and extremely talented. So when word came that she was going to be the one in the movie, it was a privilege and I was quite excited because I have always liked her study of work. When I knew she was the one to do the movie, I was looking forward to it because I knew that she was going to do justice to the character that she was going to play and it was going to be another nice opportunity of meeting her. And she delivered. Yes, it's a pleasure working with her.
What is your latest movie, Amina, about?
It is about the journey of a particular girl called Amina. She went through a lot of psychological problems when she was young and she overcame them. Life dealt her a blow but she eventually fought for herself and tried to regain her stand in life. And just when she thought everything was balanced and okay, something else happened and she had to deal with it. It's a psychological thriller. It's a very interesting movie and it had A-list British actors like Wil Johnson, and also Vincent Reagan (the Captain in 300), Alison Carroll, Van Vicker, then myself.
Who directed the movie?
It was directed by a man called Christian Ashaku.
When will the movie be released?
I don't know when it is going to be released. But right now they are in post-production. We just finished shooting a week ago. So it is going to take some time. But I don't think it is going to be later than this year, hopefully.
You have been known for living the glamorous life. Your wedding as well as your first and second album launches were spectacular events. Do you set out to make everything about you glamorous?
(Laughs) I don't do things often and I don't go anywhere often. I like to have a good time. When you choose to do something, I think you should just do it well. I am a perfectionist. I try to put my heart into anything I do, really. If it comes out glamorous, it's not like I intentionally tried to make it glamorous. I am just trying to do the best I possibly could, really.
Why did you title your second album, Me. Myself And Eyes?
I just figured that at that point, a lot of people were now at a stage where they were surprised at the fact that I did a first and a second album. All eyes were on me. Everybody was watching to see whether I was really serious with that and everything. As I always told people, I am not doing music because I want to win awards or because I want to make money. I am doing it because it is something I love to do. It's a mode of expression and it's a way I also can express my views about either politics, the kind of work I do with the humanitarian bodies and all that. For me it is a way to relieve myself of all these ideas. I could do that through writing, I could also choose to do that through music. I do write. A lot of people remember that I used to write “Omotola's Diary” in Saturday Sun. I intend to still go back to “Omotola's Diary”. I didn't know that it was that well read. I have been approached by a lot of magazines asking me to bring back Omotola's Diary. And I intend to bring it back as soon as I can. I have always done music since I was young. I was in my church choir. I do love music and I intend to continue to express that love.
Could you speak more about the recording deal you have in the United States concerning Stop The War, one of the tracks in your second album?
Basically, it's been picked up by Bungalow Universal. And right now that is the first single that they are promoting in the US. We are working on another single as well. It is not from my album, we are going to record and it's going to have, by God's grace, a guest star that I don't want to talk about right now. We are taking things really nice and easy. I am doing the kind of music I want to do. I am putting out the kind of lyrics and the kind of topics I want to put out. So that is my vision concerning my music. I am lucky to have a record label that understands totally my goals, my dreams and my direction. And they are helping me to nurture the vision.Source nigerianfilms.com
