Asa: Twice, I nearly gave up on music

Bukola Elemide, the Nigerian singer better known as Asa, says she almost gave up on music on two occasions.

The 39-year-old diva was speaking about her down moments in an interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, TV host.

Asa said one of her down moments was before she put out ‘Lucid’, her last album, which was released in 2019.

The singer said she got frustrated at how music executives relegate the artistic significance and make it all about business.

“Twice, I almost gave it up. Maybe before my last album. I didn’t like what the people involved with music did with the business part of it. People don’t know how you wrote the song and came about it,” the songstress said.

“But they come and turn everything upside down. I don’t like that. It takes me away from my path, that thing I had that never made me waiver. With these guys, it’s foggy, and I hate that. Music that I loved became a job.

“But I’m past that now. When people come to me to say thank you, I was down and depressed. I have people who told me that’s not a place to go. You have to keep doing it, to keep going.  People want you to continue.

“And I thought it’s quite selfish of me to think that way. I thought maybe I should listen more to people, celebrate more, and let people say all these good things they say about me rather than tell myself I’m not there yet.”

Asa, who revealed her next album ‘Five’ will drop in 2022, said she doesn’t like the term “veteran” as being described by many.

“I don’t know if I’ve arrived yet and I’m not being modest. Calling me a veteran is an annoying thing (laughs). It’s like you just open a coffin. Maybe I should celebrate more. Maybe I’ve gotten there but await something,” she said.

“I’ve had a successful career, toured, but I don’t stop to look. I just keep going. Sometimes when I hear alternative artistes say I inspired them to do music, it really makes me emotional because I had nothing like they did.

“To see their confidence and attitude inspires me. In my capacity, I support them as much as I can.”