Paul Play Dairo is a man that needs no introduction, because his name and works speak volumes. He has come to be known for his unique music style of R&B, occasional highlife and gospel. With some of his tunes still finding its way into our music library, fans are wondering where the man behind the music have been. In this chat with TJ, he opens up on his whereabouts, up coming music and charity projects, set-backs, ultimate vision and lots more.
- Sir, please tell us, what's been happening with you musically?
I did a single last year, Fools in Love. Even before that I've released so many songs, like Renegade,
amongst others, which I think a lot of people actually got a whiff of
and everybody was impressed with the work. There are really a lot of
them online. I even did the video of Fools in Love as well, which
actually enjoyed a lot of airplay for a while and so far the response
has been great. They say Paul Play is back.
- So what are you working on right now?
I
have a lot of people to please, that's why I'm taking my time. I want
to please my older fans and I also don't want to loose my younger fans
because they are the future. Well I'm working on a double album and so
many people have heard about it and are expecting it to come out. I
expect it to come out towards the end of the year. I've recorded
highlife songs which I think will be very attractive to my older fans.
I'm also doing pop music, with which I hope to target my younger fans.
- What are the challenges you're facing as a celebrated artiste?
Errmm...
I wouldn't say challenges because if you've never really made it in the
industry you would say that you still have challenges. Everyday life is
full of challenges, even waking up is a challenge. I really don't see
it as a challenge, because I love what I do and I'm very passionate
about it. However, what I see as a little hitch is that people tend to
think , or people in the industry tend to believe that if you're not
playing a fast-paced song, or a club song, then you're not doing it. I'm
not going to be jumping on the stage when I'm singing. But people still
believe you have to do a banging single. I can't do that. Not that it's
wrong but PaulPlay is known for serious music, love songs, highlife and
also gospel. So I wouldn't want to be like these young generation,
because we inspired them and they took from us, so why would I want to
be like them? I'm inspired by them and I like what they do, but
musically, I'm in my own element. I think what I'll call my challenge is
trying to beat Mo So Ri Re and Angel of My Life. But I
have a track right now that I feel, everybody would be interested in and
would want to have a piece of the track. I think it will beat Angel of My Life.
- Do you still perform?
Of course,
I still do my weddings, parties, events, shows and the rest. Just
because PaulPlay is not out there in the mainstream doesn't mean that
I'm not doing those stuffs that other people do, you know. The music
itself is actually paying the bills, because if you sit down as a
creative producer and record a classic song, you will never have issues.
Angel of My Life is a classic and it still puts food on my table.
- Are there any unfulfilled dreams or passions?
I
was to be a pilot at first. But when my dad took me to Benin by flight,
I found out I had phobia for flying so I gave up that dream. Even till
now I don't like flying. Well, that's how I gave up that dream and I
wanted to do medicine. I had a cousin who was studying Bio-Chem and was
always talking about cadaver, dead bodies and some horror stories, which
actually discouraged me. There is always this issue in the Yoruba land,
especially if you're the first born, they want you to study a
professional course. Since I couldn't bring myself to doing what I
really wanted, I decided to do Engineering and I did well, because I was
a brilliant kid, even though it wasn't what I wanted.
- Do you still work as an Engineer?
Yes
in my house. I fix the generator, I fix bad appliances (laughs). That's
the only thing I do with Engineering. I worked with Shell for a couple
of years and another company and I was really young then, but that was
it for Engineering. The passion for music just kept on and so I delved
in neck-deep. But right now, I do other businesses.
- Do you see any of your kids going into music?
No.
Not at the moment. I don't see any of them going in that line. My
14-year-old daughter is very good at editing videos and stuffs, and
music production but that's it.
- What do you want to achieve ultimately?
Musically,
I want to see myself in the world stage. I want to be able to
experience the world. I'm actually on the journey. It could be as a
songwriter, a producer, a musician and what have you. I want to be an
icon to recon with when it comes to helping young people to develop
their talent, their creativity, setting up something in the country that
would impact lives.
- How have you given back to the society?
Well,
I'm working on a kidney foundation and I'm at the last stage, with the
legal work. Before that, I've been involved in a lot of philanthropic
gestures. The Bible says when you give you shouldn't go announcing it.
I've helped people musically, I've helped people with their fees when
they call for help and so on. I just help people when I can.
- Going back to the beginning of your career, what were your challenges, putting asides the fact that your dad is a known figure?
A
lot of people get it wrong. They believe that because I'm I.K Dairo's
son then I got it easy, no! My father never really knew I was into
music. Nobody really knew. I just stopped work and said I wanted to go
into music. I worked so hard, because I was always in the studio. After
school I'm in the studio, and I could be in the studio for three days
back to back. I submitted my CD to quite a number of places and it was
rejected. They said my music was too foreign and that it wouldn't sell. I
stayed three years with the CD until Kenny Ogunbe gave me a chance. He
did the most surprising thing I've ever seen. He went live with my CD
without testing it and the rest is history as they say. The hustle back
then for me was about showing myself in what I can do and not
necessarily about the money. When I recorded Mo So Ri Re, I gave
it to a couple of my dad's friends and they knocked it, saying it would
never sell. All through out my struggle to get know in the industry, I
took God seriously. I will tell you categorically that I fasted for
three days before producing my songs. This is what most young people
don't do. What ever it is that you worship and believe in, you should hold on to it before producing your songs.
- What would be your advice to upcoming artistes, especially Abuja artistes?
They
need to know one another and work together. When we were coming up,
2Face, Tony Tetuila, Remedy, Ruggedman, the late OJB Jezerel (pauses for
a minute), everybody knew everybody. Abuja artistes are crying that
they are not recognized, but they are not working together to form a
strong team, in order to break through. Create a forum and name it Abuja
musicians association and all that. People want to see a promising
artiste before investing in them. They should organize shows, festivals.
There is money in Abuja. I know I've come across people who want to
invest billions in this town musically, and I can tell you that for a
fact. Again, be you, reflect your own brand and create original type of
music. Everybody wants to do Afro-pop, but it shouldn't be. Come with
your own element and be unique. Imagine Shania Twain doing Chris Brown
songs, or Sia doing Drake's, it just doesn't work that way. Sometimes I
listen to the radio and hear good music and wonder if these talents are
from here, because they are really good.
- Who are those artistes you appreciate, both from your time and now?
I
like Lagbaja's music a lot. I like Majek Fashek a whole lot. I love
Styl Plus, 2Baba. For the more contemporary artistes, I like Wizkid.
This is because his music is in his comfort zone. I've never seen him do
what is not in his comfort zone. His style is unique and whenever you
hear his music, you'll know it's him. Another person I like is Davido
because he can actually sense good music. He has good music ears. Other
very unique and creative artistes I admire are Brymo, Adekunle Gold,
Burna Boy, Patoranking, etc.
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