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With passionate vocals and a rich velvet tone that caresses the ear UK Singer-Songwriter CHIDI takes you on a musical journey beginning at the first note. Raised on an eclectic mix of music, she borrows from the rich traditions of classic soul music and blending a fusion of Rock, Reggae, Pop and Jazz Chidi delivers her own brand of UK Soul.
If you listen closely, you can detect the influences of artists such as Angie Stone, Millie Jackson and a little Otis Redding thrown in for good measure.
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Her first foray into music began at her local church, where while attending a funeral, she heard such wonderful music that drew her; she decided to come again and again. After singing with the church youth choir for a number of years she then ventured out into a girl-group named 'Redeemed', and their first appearance was as supporting act for Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir.
She began touring Europe and supporting major Gospel artists such as Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and Winans Phase II as part of a National choir which gave her more confidence to sing both lead vocals and backup, She has shared the stage with some big names; James Brown, Prince, Corinne Bailey-Raec but it wasn't long before she realized that her true passion was to be a solo artist. Her energy and ability to communicate a song with intensity will leave you in no doubt that the stage is her home... |
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| Interview with Chidi |
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- I'd like to ask you a little bit about your background first. When were
you born?
I usually get much pleasure in letting people guess my age Keisuke, I'm
older than I look ?
I was born in London England to a Nigerian family hence the name and yes
that is my real name ? It is a West African name and it means 'God Is..'
And have you always wanted to be a singer?
I think secretly in my heart I've always wanted to be a singer, but I never
thought that I could sing or that people would want to hear me sing, so
I never tried to do anything with my voice. I would only sing to myself.
The first time members of my family heard me sing was at age 20, and they
were very shocked ! I am what you may call a 'late bloomer' but I am making
up for lost time.
- What did you grew up listening to?
I grew up listening to a lot of different styles of music in my home, I come from a big family, and each person liked a different kind of music: Rock, Reggae, Soul, Country and Jazz.
I liked Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, Teddy Pendergrass, Millie Jackson, Gladys Knight for me the list is endless...
- Can you remember the first record you ever bought?
The first record I ever
bought was The Soul Album by Otis Redding, I was 15, and I took that record
home and played it continuously! It was
wonderful, it gave me a feeling of independence and maturity
- What is your musical background like?
I have spent most of my musical history singing in gospel choirs, and session singing. I have sung with the London Community Gospel Choir and done backing vocals for Gloria Gaynor, amongst many other things.
I sang with the great James Brown shortly before he passed away, that was an honour.
I don't play any instruments, although I want to learn to play the guitar
and keyboards and it's about time I started.
- Who has been your biggest inspiration in music?
My biggest musical inspiration I would have to say is a cross between Teddy
Pendergrass, Otis Redding and Millie Jackson. Teddy because he sings with
such passion, you really believe him when he's singing a song and Millie
because she always used a style of storytelling in her music and Otis could
convey such deep emotion in his songs. I like to think that I pull on these
influences & elements in my writing and delivery of a song.... and
of course I used to listen to them all day long !!
- Could you tell us a little bit about your UnRehearsed CD. (the concept behind the idea and your impressions, how long did it take to come frution...and so on...)
I n June 2006 I decided that I would take the daring plunge to leave my
9-5 administration job and become a full-time recording artist, it was
a great financial challenge for me as I had no backing but I felt that
if I was ever going to take this seriously, it had to be now. This is how
I got the title for the album, because you see life is no dress rehearsal,
you only get one chance to really LIVE so you have to give it everything
you've got and live with passion because life is too short and it's Unrehearsed
!
I wrote about 6 songs in the following 3 months and took a couple that I had previously written and polished them up a bit. There was a lot of editing and re-editing as I tried to get the concept clear. It is a story of my journey so far, my ups and downs in life and how God has looked after me through it all.
- How
would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you
before?
I think I would describe my music as Soulful, melodic and encouraging.In
terms of sound though, It has elements of Rock, because I love guitars,
but it also has some old skool Soul flavours because of my voice, yet a
few of the songs are quite upbeat and Pop but I've also got to have a heavy
bass line...so it's a bit of a mixture really, I don't know, you'd have
to tell me
- What has been the reaction to the album so far ?
I have had a very positive reaction to the album, which has of course made
me so happy, and encouraged me to continue on this path. I'm getting a
lot of airplay and some really positive feedback. I have to commend Di-Lee
and the Soulchoonz team, they are doing an amazing job of promoting my
album Love ya Di
- What is your favorite cut on the album?
My most favourite cut has to be the track 'Wrong Again' because as soon
as I hear that bassline oooh ! and I literally wrote that song whilst in
a fit of tears with a broken heart wondering what I was going to do to
stop the pain. The first version of the song didn't have an outro, it just
ended on a down note, but by the time I came to record it, my broken heart
was mended and I had a fresh perspective 'so I changed my mind and I'm
living to love and loving live'...
- How does the song writting process go
?
I find that I write in one of three ways, either the whole song just comes
to me at once both lyric & melody, or I have lyrics only and as I go
over them I begin to hear a melody or lastly, I may just have one word
which just turns around in my head over and over until it lands on a melody,
but when that happens, I have to work very heard to construct it. I generally
write from my own experiences though because I know and understand the
full emotions involved and try to convey that lyrically and melodically.
- Are there artists or producers you would like to collaborate with?
I would be overwhelmed to work with Quincy Jones, he just blows me away!
And yes you guessed it, I would love to do a duet with Teddy P.
- Please tell us about any artists/writers who inspired you. What are your top
10 favorite songs of all time?
I am fascinated by the dynamic writing team Gamble & Huff, they are just incredible ! I would love to write with them or just sit in the corner of the room and WATCH them write ?
My top ten favourite songs..hmmm ok but these are not in any particular order..
You Can't See for Looking- Betty Wright
I wish I Didn't Miss You Anymore-Angie Stone
If You Could See Me Now- Millie Jackson
Never Gonna Give You Up- Barry White
Lately-Stevie Wonder
Put Angels Around You- Percy Sledge
T.K.O- Teddy Pendergrass
Whole Town's Laughing at Me- Teddy Pendergrass
Can't Let Go- Anthony Hamilton
Pass Me Over-Anthony Hamilton
Sorry, I know you said ten, but Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get it On' has to
make it in ?
- What really drives you or motivates you to continue to play music?
There's a line in the title track 'Unrehearsed' that says 'many things
I've tried to be but none of them satisfied me' the only thing that makes
my soul happy whether I get paid for doing it or not, whether it takes
hours days or years to get perfected is songwriting and performing, so
after trying so many things that I thought were a more stable way of earning
a living but ending up always unhappy and dissatisfied I finally trusted
my heart and that's what motivates me. To be given the privilege of communicating
to people all over the world through my songs is something I will treasure
and not take for granted.
- What is music for you?
Music is a way to speak to nations..it's a conduit through which I can
speak every language known to man simultaneously and communicate with every
soul.
- Would you like to say something to your fans?
To everyone that I am privileged to call my fan I would like to saycplan
as though you will live for the next 80 years, but live as though this
is your last day ! Find that secret passion buried deep under your responsibilities
and daily grind and find a way to express it, the world will be much better
for it and so will you. I love you much. CHIDI.
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| Discography - albums |
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| Chidi - UnRehearsed (UK-CD, Selah Records, 2009) |
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Exective Producer : Elisabeth Melton
Produced By : Noel Robinson
Co-Produced By : CHIDI |
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| 1. |
Laid Back |
| 2. |
So Naturally |
| 3. |
My Ray |
| 4. |
They Tell Me |
| 5. |
Wrong Again |
| 6. |
Back To Me |
| 7. |
UnRehearsed |
| 8. |
Thinking Of You |
| 9. |
A.W.O.L |
| 10. |
Breaking My Heart |
| 11. |
Praise You |
| 12. |
Thinking Of You (Remix) |
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April 30, 2009 |
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