The Nigerian music industry at the moment is becoming more and more competitive. Even the hit makers of yore find it difficult to stay afloat because of the struggle for relevance.Despite releasing several hit songs and headlining huge shows, dancehall singer, Timaya still sees himself as an upcoming artiste.
According to him, He still has the hunger and drive of upcoming artistes
Hear him:”I still feel I’m upcoming, I wake up every day and I see a lot of artistes come out and are very strong,” he said in an interview.
“I realize that once they come out, they have the attention of the people so I need to up my game to still be among.”
Deploying the analogy of black and white/colour television, he said that the listening public will always opt for new and creative sounds.
“Even the poorest houses today, they don’t have black and white television,” he said, adding that: “You need to up your game. That’s how I stay relevant.”
Timaya said that collaborations are vital for an artiste’s success and relevance
“Everyone needs everybody. Everyone needs somebody. No one is an island. I listen to every artiste because I wanna be relevant. I want to know what is going on out there,” he said.
“Till today, Coca Cola still does promo, if I need to feature this artiste and I will get more popularity, I will do it.”
His solo career began in 2005 with the release of “Dem Mama”, which also appeared on his debut album, True Story released the following year. His second album Gift and Grace was released in 2008.
Timaya gained further visibility and international prominence through his third studio album De Rebirth—released in partnership with Black Body Entertainment. The lead single of the album Plantain Boy became an instant hit.