INTERVIEW: Nobody – not even I – can ever fill my father’s shoes, says Darey Art Alade

It’s a cliché, but it remains true and true; form is temporary, class is permanent. As for Art Alade, father and son, the same can be said – class is permanent.

Darey, born to the legendary Art Alade, the pioneer of Nigerian Jazz music, says he never tried to fill his father’s shoes, and therein lies the reason why he was able to come out of his father’s shadows.

In an interview with TheCable Lifestyle, the multi-award winning personality, unveiled some of his business side, his inspiration, and of course, his favourites in the industry.

How do you keep your music fresh every time – how do you maintain form?

I just try and stay on top of my game, you know; constant rehearsals, keep my voice in shape and just always be able to feel the tempo of the audience.

The senior Art Alade is one of the greatest musicians this country has ever seen, how did you step out of his shadows?

I don’t think I ever tried to fill his shoes; therein lies the answer. I never tried to do what he did, I never tried to be better than him. Nobody, till now can do it better, in my opinion, so I just carve my own niche, instead of trying to. His shoes are too big to fill.

What inspired ‘Pray for me’?

Actually the story of Psquare, but also, it was a need to tell that story for everybody. You know everybody comes across one challenge or the other; it might not be literally leaving home, leaving your parents. It might be circumstances. It might be issues; it might be life that you’re trying to weave your way around.

What pushed you to tell their own story?

The producer, who produced ‘Pray for me’, also produce for Psquare, he’s close to them. He produced Collabo, Psquare featuring Don Jazzy and a few other things for them.

We were just talking in the studio, vibing, and he told me about the story that PSquare had told him. How they were trying to leave home and their parents weren’t really in support. They went anyway.

What is Darey working on at this time?

Right now, developing our agency, Livespot, producing events for clients, Bespoke events, talk of the town wow effect, and we’ve done several of those for many of our clients and they are very satisfied. We are expanding, we are building up, I’m working on another album, you know.

How soon do we expect this album, and can we have examples of some events that you’ve handled?

Quite a few; we handled the unveiling of Star Euro, the partnership between Star and the football clubs, Arsenal, Man City, Juventus, Real Madrid, PSG.

We also handled the unveil for the partnership between Star and NPFL. We handled several events; Access Bank, Oando, Federal government, different events and love like a movie, that’s our flagship.

Darey’s best male and female artiste in the industry for now?

Best male; there are a lot of great performers and great artistes right now – same for the female. There is not one particular person that I have.

Could you mention some names?

There are several; Adekunle Gold, Simi, Tiwa, Waje, Olamide, just so many.

Your partnership with Asa, do we expect more of that anytime soon?

Why not? We’d see to that, and time will tell.