Naomi Mac, first runner-up in the maiden edition of Nigerian Idol has said that such reality shows add value to the music industry.
“These reality TV shows have birthed the likes of Omawumi, Praiz, Iyanya, Chidinma and myself, to mention but a few, and we know they have been doing great,” Naomi Mac, who is about to release her debut album four years after she emerged from Nigerian Idol, told TheNiche.
Explaining why it took her a long time to release another single after her first, she said that after the last single, she simply had to retreat.
“(I) came up with a better structure and also got signed on to a record label, House One Music, which obviously made a lot of things different from when I was a one-man army,” she said.
Things are truly different considering that she has since followed with a third single, and talk is rife about the release of her debut album. She will not talk about the release date though, rather preferring to say that it would be very soon.
But does that mean she has found a perfect home for her music at House One Records?
“I would say I found people who believe in me enough to support me and invest in my career. And I feel so great about this and I really appreciate it. Shout out to Mr. Femi Amida, CEO, House One Music,” is her response.
Naomi Mac describes her music simply as message content-driven. “A blend of soul and pop in its best Afro style. Also referred to as Afro centric music. Showcasing the essence of being an African woman singing about everything from experiences to nature to love and so on,” she said.
The singer, who said her life was quite normal before Nigerian Idol, explained that nothing has really changed except that she is more comfortable now and has less time and more work to do. In fact, she considers her life before and after Nigerian Idol to be exciting in equal measure.
“Because I used to do things back then that I don’t personally do again; one of which is farming. Now meeting people and writing has taken a larger part of my life. But I will definitely (resume) farming soon,” she said.
For those who still insist that she should have been the one who won the maiden edition of Nigerian Idol, she said it shows how much she is loved.
“First, I say a big thank you to all of the people who supported me through that time. It’s been years now and I know people are still attached to Naomi Mac’s Idol story. It shows how much they love me. And I’m loving them back by giving them music that will attend to their different desires. Let’s all move on past that,” she stated.
The artiste, who said it was quite easy for her to decide that singing was what she wanted to pitch her tent with, attribute the decision to walking with God, who just shows one the way. “After all, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He just simply showed me the way and I walked therein,” she said.
On what she likes best about singing, she said: “Performance, the actual singing on stage. The total look, wearing the costume and being in the spotlight. The privilege to stand in front or among great people to perform.”
The singer with an earthshaking voice said those who have guessed that because she is young, single and in the limelight she must be getting a lot of attention from the guys are right.
“First, I am a lady, a single one at that; so yes it’s correct.” But she would also not go further than that.
What she is willing to talk about is the challenges in her career and what they have meant to her, which is “Don’t give up, and that has helped me through, and is still helping me”.
The singer, who said she does a bit of everything including styling (designing and sewing), acting, dancing and a lot more, explained that she does not feel that if she were a man she would have done better in Nigerian music.
“I probably won’t be singing if I were a man. I believe I’m fulfilling my purpose as a woman now.”
She recently released the singles ‘Fix Me’ and ‘Yeikele’ which are currently enjoying airplay.