JG: One thing that struck me when reading about you, and listening to your music, was that you really seem to be a unicorn, of sorts – and by that I only mean that you completely stand out. It’s a breath of fresh air in this often overly-saturated artistic space. I couldn’t think of someone to compare you with! It got me wondering, how do you think that what you put out into the world offers an alternative perspective that contemporary music seems to be lacking, or not showing?
LD: Honestly, I think for me I’m just blessed to have been able to have a lot of different experiences. I’ve moved around a lot, I’m from numerous places. I’ve listened to so much music from those different places and they’ve helped to shape my identity in a way that feels completely unique to me. So when I create and release music it’s just a reflection of the pockets of experiences and so by default it sounds “new”. It’s funny because I think the music I create sounds new and old at the same time, it’s why people find it hard to put me in any specific place or time. So, when I put out music and it sounds different or fresh, it’s because of how vast the music is. It’s relatable to a large sect of people for some reason that they can’t understand.
JG: Corner is a track that feels nostalgic, yet particularly modern at the same time. How do the past and present respectively influence what you create?
LD: Haha I just said this ! I’m a 23 year old whose music library looks like a blast from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. I love oldies, they make me happy and remind me of simple times. They also give me an idea of where I should be heading to because I understand what came before me. I take in a lot of the new stuff as well because I exist in it, I live in the new and that in its way has its own influence. I’ve just been present in the change, allowing me to embrace it and break it down. It’s why no matter how nostalgic a record of mine may seem, it also gives you that new kick.
JG: Your musical style seems to contain a lovely array of variety. What has navigating between the varying cultural spaces of Abuja, London, and Lagos done for your personal evolution?
LD: It’s done a lot for me ! Abuja is my home city and it matches my personality – Easy & Laid Back. Lagos has given me the energy that I needed to conquer the world, because it is so fast paced. You have to learn to navigate and adapt quickly or you’ll get swallowed. It reminds me of the music industry in general. London made me understand the importance of the brand, it made me understand how the artist is also a product. I started going to concerts for the first time when I came to London, mostly because I was really sheltered in Abuja. So being in London showed me the validity of my dreams.