Music Diva, Yinka Davies is blessed with a great vocal prowess that can be likened to that of a nightingale. She has churned out great melodies from her highly creative musical gift and remains one of the best singers of her generation, despite her petite.
Although she won Voice of the Decade Award at Nigeria Music Award (NMA) in 2007, many people wonder why she has not hit it big with her eclectic voice. She possesses every quality to make money, record sales and top the charts which seemed not to be happening. But Yinka simply insisted that she is just emerging even after her over a decade’s experience in the industry.
How I started
I stumbled on Zubby’s producer, Sam Uquah, who insisted I joined him in touring with Alex O in 1990. I was a back-up musician to Alex O then. By 1992, I had done an album with Lagbaja and colours (a group under the management of Bisade Ologunde). I did another album called the Colour of Rhythm and after these, we recorded Side by Side again with Lagbaja. From then on, things started flowing for me musically. Apart from Alex O, I did a rap for Sir Shina Peters; I also did back-up for Blackky, Esse Agesse, Mike Okri and quite a number of people.
Narrate your artistic journey into the Nigerian music industry so far
One word best describes my journey-Glorious!
What does music mean to you?
Music for me is fun. It is something I love doing because it gives my soul a great lift. Music makes me feel on top of the world. It gratifies my spirit and I enjoy being in a musical frame of mind so much.
Inspiration
I get inspiration from every design and handiwork of God; everything God created inspires me. I get inspired by anything beautiful and everyone who’s beautiful. Refreshing beauty inspires me a lot.
Kind of music
There is no single name for my kind of music. In reality, I fuse all sorts of ideas together to get an original one to satisfy my spiritual gratification. So, I call my music Sound. Although it is more of blues for now, I infuse it with a lot of emotions and feelings, it is a soul-stirring kind of music.
Messages
I deliver many messages through my sound. They are based on morals, self examination, love, self correction and so on.
My Album
I have released one. It was well promoted on the airwaves, but commercially it has not really made waves, because of limited funds.
Five and Six
My band men are always together, drinking garri, gisting on the floor, and always doing things that are unusual. So, my younger sister just looked at them one day and made a comment in Yoruba; Ogbonyin rin papo gbogbo yin. Five and six i.e. (Birds of the same feather, Five/Six) And so, the name struck me like a thunder bolt and today, we have Five and Six; just like that. The band started with me on April 1st, 2000 and we recorded in 2005 and I will soon release my new album, Black Chiffon. It comments on the pains one went through at that time, the uncertainty, and the torment of not knowing what the future holds from then on. It is all about holding out a flash of silver lining behind every cloud of whatever hue.
Lagbaja and I
I was with Bisade Ologunde and the Colours Band at Jazz et all in 1992 on Opebi road, Ikeja. I didn’t leave the band, I went on to further my studies. I didn’t break up with Lagbaja because we were not dating, how do you date a “no face man.” It was the accident that drifted us apart. I didn’t just leave Lagbaja’s music like that. Due to that accident, I was out of the music scene for a year and half. Work had to go on because no one can allow the main source of his income and livelihood to be on hold because of me. A lot of work was on ground and I didn’t get back to work after the accident until four years after. So, he had to move on without me. We are both professionals and we understand the rules of the game quite well.
What are you doing presently?
Getting ready for the fanfare. I am going to take people by surprise through my music.
Where do you perform now?
Everywhere I’m needed for now.
Is your music of this age, does it appeal to all ages?
Music is ageless. You choose what you desire to listen or hear. My melodies are ageless.
Have you had any heartbreaks?
Yes!
Accident that almost crippled my career
I had an automobile accident in 1994 that left me with a fractured leg and this shortchanged my aspiration. It almost brought my budding career to an end. It was fatal but I thank God I am alive today.
Reaction to the accident
I am a positive minded person and I always look at the positive side of things. When people are healthy, and all seem to be going well, they live it up. The same thing is applicable to me, my life was fun, I was partying everyday. My house was always lively with music and people always come and dance and we made merry. It was celebration all the way. So when the accident came, it made me reflect on so many divine gifts that I had taken for granted; that I had treated so casually, with levity. It humbled me,but with my fractured leg, I was still having fun. The experience made me a grown up and I now view life differently from different perspectives of unending games of music, dances, laughter and fun.
Coming back to music
I went to Abuja to relieve myself of all the stress I was going through at that moment. I was there for two years and eight months. It was during that time that I was able to bring up a band in Lagos called Five and Six.
Nigerian music industry
The music industry is growing. And artistes are doing well, except that the new set of singers don’t have serious mentors. And I don’t blame them. Fuji and Juju music are now being relegated to the background for Gospel music, which in most cases, are produced by foreign artistes. So, the only people who can influence them right now, are the foreign artistes, so you cannot blame them for singing music that are western-oriented.
Mentor
God is the only one I can think of. Apart from Him, there is no one that can compete with Him for that singular role in my life.
My children
I have two fantastic sons - Dayo and Niyi, but Dayo is older. I adopted my late sister’s son.They are very dear to me and part of my self-discovery. If the truth be told, they are my life. Whatever the case, I try to be a good mother and to me, that is the most important thing.
Background
My name is Elfeda Oluwabukola Olayinka Davies. I hail from Lagos State, Ebute-Meta to be precise. I am a performing artiste.
Do you have any future plans?
We all have future plans and I have mine. I am sure you have one too. I am yet to unveil my creativity, I am still working at that. I intend to blow the minds of a lot of people including my ardent fans. I hope to reveal my personality completely.
I get inspiration from every design and handiwork of God; everything God created inspires me. I get inspired by anything beautiful and everyone who’s beautiful. Refreshing beauty inspires me a lot.
Kind of music
There is no single name for my kind of music. In reality, I fuse all sorts of ideas together to get an original one to satisfy my spiritual gratification. So, I call my music Sound. Although it is more of blues for now, I infuse it with a lot of emotions and feelings, it is a soul-stirring kind of music.
Messages
I deliver many messages through my sound. They are based on morals, self examination, love, self correction and so on.
My Album
I have released one. It was well promoted on the airwaves, but commercially it has not really made waves, because of limited funds.
Five and Six
My band men are always together, drinking garri, gisting on the floor, and always doing things that are unusual. So, my younger sister just looked at them one day and made a comment in Yoruba; Ogbonyin rin papo gbogbo yin. Five and six i.e. (Birds of the same feather, Five/Six) And so, the name struck me like a thunder bolt and today, we have Five and Six; just like that. The band started with me on April 1st, 2000 and we recorded in 2005 and I will soon release my new album, Black Chiffon. It comments on the pains one went through at that time, the uncertainty, and the torment of not knowing what the future holds from then on. It is all about holding out a flash of silver lining behind every cloud of whatever hue.
Lagbaja and I
I was with Bisade Ologunde and the Colours Band at Jazz et all in 1992 on Opebi road, Ikeja. I didn’t leave the band, I went on to further my studies. I didn’t break up with Lagbaja because we were not dating, how do you date a “no face man.” It was the accident that drifted us apart. I didn’t just leave Lagbaja’s music like that. Due to that accident, I was out of the music scene for a year and half. Work had to go on because no one can allow the main source of his income and livelihood to be on hold because of me. A lot of work was on ground and I didn’t get back to work after the accident until four years after. So, he had to move on without me. We are both professionals and we understand the rules of the game quite well.
What are you doing presently?
Getting ready for the fanfare. I am going to take people by surprise through my music.
Where do you perform now?
Everywhere I’m needed for now.
Is your music of this age, does it appeal to all ages?
Music is ageless. You choose what you desire to listen or hear. My melodies are ageless.
Have you had any heartbreaks?
Yes!
Accident that almost crippled my career
I had an automobile accident in 1994 that left me with a fractured leg and this shortchanged my aspiration. It almost brought my budding career to an end. It was fatal but I thank God I am alive today.
Reaction to the accident
I am a positive minded person and I always look at the positive side of things. When people are healthy, and all seem to be going well, they live it up. The same thing is applicable to me, my life was fun, I was partying everyday. My house was always lively with music and people always come and dance and we made merry. It was celebration all the way. So when the accident came, it made me reflect on so many divine gifts that I had taken for granted; that I had treated so casually, with levity. It humbled me,but with my fractured leg, I was still having fun. The experience made me a grown up and I now view life differently from different perspectives of unending games of music, dances, laughter and fun.
Coming back to music
I went to Abuja to relieve myself of all the stress I was going through at that moment. I was there for two years and eight months. It was during that time that I was able to bring up a band in Lagos called Five and Six.
Nigerian music industry
The music industry is growing. And artistes are doing well, except that the new set of singers don’t have serious mentors. And I don’t blame them. Fuji and Juju music are now being relegated to the background for Gospel music, which in most cases, are produced by foreign artistes. So, the only people who can influence them right now, are the foreign artistes, so you cannot blame them for singing music that are western-oriented.
Mentor
God is the only one I can think of. Apart from Him, there is no one that can compete with Him for that singular role in my life.
My children
I have two fantastic sons - Dayo and Niyi, but Dayo is older. I adopted my late sister’s son.They are very dear to me and part of my self-discovery. If the truth be told, they are my life. Whatever the case, I try to be a good mother and to me, that is the most important thing.
Background
My name is Elfeda Oluwabukola Olayinka Davies. I hail from Lagos State, Ebute-Meta to be precise. I am a performing artiste.
Do you have any future plans?
We all have future plans and I have mine. I am sure you have one too. I am yet to unveil my creativity, I am still working at that. I intend to blow the minds of a lot of people including my ardent fans. I hope to reveal my personality completely.
Sexy part of my body
Oh, that’s personal but I’ll answer all the same because it has to do with God’s special grace as bestowed on women.
It’s every part of me; from my head right down to my toes and nails are sexy.
Oh, that’s personal but I’ll answer all the same because it has to do with God’s special grace as bestowed on women.
It’s every part of me; from my head right down to my toes and nails are sexy.
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