Sunday 28 July 2013

Introducing Amaikah the song goddess


As a shy little girl, she took the stage time after time, to perform before white missionaries in her local church in Lagos to a rousing reception. Unknown to her family, she had cut her musical teeth before she even shed her milk teeth! Amaikah (Ubiebifayen Otu Wisdom ) is a fusion of the sweetest songs of all genres you will ever hear anywhere. The sound is familiar, yet fresh and automatically classic. Her vocal reach sears into your soul with a mellow precision, in a style she refers to as Rhythm & Soul. Her music is so sweet, you can taste it!

Born into a musical family (her father was a guitarist and drummer, her mother a singer and percussionist and her siblings are musicians as well), she started listening to music from birth. At the formative age of 3, she began to observe and enjoy music. By the time she turned 6, she had become a superstar, albeit in her local Methodist Church: her father always thrust her before visiting missionaries. She sang from her soul and captured their admiration. A star was born, but she probably didn’t know that then: for she always wanted to be a lawyer.
The South African pair of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba influenced her musically. Other strong influences were Bob Marley, Fela and Christy Essien Igbokwe. She admires the works of India Arie, Tuface, Alicia Keys and Asa.
When she turned 14, she realized that the pull from music was too strong for anything else in her life. So music began to take more than a centre stage. The following years saw her do backup vocals for top notable Nigerian artistes. But it was when she met Godbless, leader of founder of the popular Eboni Band that the final stage of her grooming process was achieved. Singing with the band exposed her to a repertoire of songs from every musical contrivance. She became a very influential member of the band, an opportunity that brought her in contact with many more music icons across Nigeria. When the time was right, she braced herself and set out to launch a solo career.

Amaikah writes her own songs – from personal experiences and events in her immediate environment.
‘Moonlight Tales´ is a fine attempt to recapture the happy, peaceful and unforgettable days, when children gathered around an elder storyteller under a tree, with the moonlight as a calming blanket around them. This song leaves you with a bitter-sweet feeling of nostalgia.
She also tapped into her experience as a wife, to pen the lyrics of the soul-searching ‘Body Magic’. ‘Oro Ife’, rendered in Yoruba, is an Afro-Rock song that is now club and wedding favourite.
However, the swinging, sultry ‘Rainy Night In Lagos’ has all the trappings of a great song. It is a fusion of calypso, merengue, Afro-jazz, soul and rock. Having worked with different producers – Georgee, Master Kraft and Tkey among others – one can appreciate her diverse collection of timeless beats.
On stage, She is a beautiful,vibrant goddess.
Her energy is matched only by her vocal prowess, and left many audiences gasping for breath and asking for an encore. She loves to dance and play the drum!
At different times, she has shared the stage with Tuface Idibia, P-Square, D’Banj and Banky W. She has also sang alonside Waje, Tiwa Savage, Timaya, Lami and the Ghanaian reggae star, Samini. She looks forward to collaborating internationally with India Arie, Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige. Her soul sisters. Regrettably, she would have loved to work with the late Miriam Makeba.
In 2009, she got a whopping five nominations at the Nigerian Music Video Awards. Though she did not win, it is a matter of time before music lovers come in contact with this amazing musical talent, whose songs have the ability to touch every life of every age and strata.
She has concluded plans to stage a concert, where various artistes will come together and do a peace song. This effort stems from the unabated violence and unrest in various parts of Nigeria and Africa.
Amaikah’s music is set to reach far and wide, to all corners of the earth. It is just a matter of time. The talent is enormous; the energy has not even been scratched open. This beautiful lady with a rich velvety voice likened to Desree is ready to fill your homes and minds.
 
The self acclaimed song goddess has released a couple of singles namely Oro Ife, Rainy Night in Lagos feat Juke Box, Moonlight Tales, Body Magic ft Sound Sultan and recently the club banger African Woman. ff@amaikahA or www.n-tyzeent.com/Amaikah-profile to listen to her songs and also watch her videos.

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