The Nigeria music industry is growing at such a fast pace that makes it difficult for one to predict what to expect in the future. every lover and follower of Nigerian music, can attest to the fact that in the last ten years, the industry has witnessed an unprecedented kind of evolution that has produced artists with raw and incredible talents whose music have taken over the African continent and are being appreciated around the world. the successes of these young, growing, and upcoming legends are evident in their numerous achievements, ranging from awards, endorsement deals, charge per show and their fan base. Although some of them have earned themselves the reputation of craziness, recklessness and waywardness that every properly trained individual will not want to emulate, there are other aspects of their lives that has become a source of motivation to many young Nigerians who are aspiring to be like them. From the fleet of exotic cars in their garages, to the kinds of clothes they wear and the places the hang out, it is very obvious that when passion is combined with hard work, the reward will always be the ability to afford the good things of live. This is the kind of lifestyle many upcoming artist would always wish for. However, the comfort enjoyed by these stars did not come on a platter of gold. Some years back, many of them were diamonds in dirt. Many of them were considered nobodies and were looked down upon. They experienced many disappointments, rejections and resentments.Many people never believed in them, but they believed in themselves. Many people tried to discourage them, but they refuse to give up. The journey wasn't pleasant , but kept pushing forward. They held unto their dreams and today, they are living those dreams. The rejections, the pains, the hunger, the struggles and the unpleasant experiences all combined to make them what they are today. There is enough room for everybody in the ladder of success in the industry, but each rung of the ladder carries with it different forms of challenges that if overcome, will open the door to limitless possibilities and opportunities. When aspiring to become a super star in Nigeria, it therefore means that one will experience the following challenges that is common with every upcoming music star:
- Decision making:This is a very important step that must be carefully considered before embarking on the journey into a music career. Virtually everybody loves music. Good music I mean. But it is not everybody that has what it takes to be a successful music artist. No matter how much love and passion you have for music, that alone will not be enough to guarantee you a spot in the limelight. You have to be sure and convinced that this is what you want for yourself, for it is this assurance and conviction that will give you the strength to hold on when the storms of disappointments and rejections start blowing. The decision making is so vital such that if you miss it, the all works you have to do will look like hideous task. This can sap you energy and vitality thereby leading to discouragement. Therefore, before launching that music career, take some time and think again. Ask yourself these questions; is this what I really want to do?. Do I have what it takes to succeed in the industry?,Am I ready to learn in order to acquire the knowledge necessary for growth? Do I have the patience and courage to weather the storm, face the challenges and overcome every obstacle? What kind of music do I want to make? What will my style be? Who are my role models? How can I be unique and different from them? these are few of the question must be considered. There are many others but When you are able to answer these questions, then you are ready to make the next step.
- Choosing a Mentor: Although some people are naturally gifted-those who were born with the talent -there are those who became super stars by training and consistent personal development. You may not have all the skills, but with persistent practice and mentoring, you can groom and develop yourself to the extent that when you sing, it will be very difficult to detect your weaknesses. Many upcoming artist depend only on what they know and sometime are not aware of what they don't know, hence their inability to grow beyond their current. No matter how much you may have done, there is something extra you can add to your skills in order to make a difference. This extra something can only be gotten from other people or sources. We learn everyday. Even when you eventually find yourself in the limelight, never stop learning.The human brain is built in such a way that it is possible for any man to acquire any form of knowledge he sets his mind on and this can only be achieved by submitting yourself under the tutelage of a professional or someone who is knowledgeable in that area. Its all about commitment, focus and dedication. Your chances of success is dependent on the quality of mentor you choose. He can only teach you what he knows. However, in as much as it is important to depend on your mentor, it is even important that you take some time and upgrade yourself by studying and researching. It will help boost your morale and confidence.
- Getting Started: When you have finally made up your mind on the choice of mentor, the next step is to plan on how to put your songs together. By now you must have had an idea of the kind of music you intend to make. Your choice of words will depend on the kind of message you want to pass across to your audience. Your message will define your style and this will help enhance your uniqueness. When you focus on striving for excellence in a unique way, you will give your audience the originality that will make your kind of music easy to identify. Although many people started without paying much attention to details, it will be a great advantage to be organized. This is one issue that is common with many upcoming artists. Before hitting the studio make sure you have a complete lyrics of the song you intend to work on in that particular session and also ensure that you have a clear idea of what the instrumentation will sound like, taking the tempo and rhythm into consideration. This will help reduce the work load on your producer and he will definitely find you an interesting artist to work with. You can also find more tips from other sources, but the summary of it all is that, be organized and prepared and this will help boost your seriousness and commitment.
- Self Evaluation:No matter how good you know you are, you will at some point tend to depend on other people's confirmation to assert this believe. Remember, you are not going to be singing to yourself but other people. Their response to your music will depend on how well they appreciate your style. Although those who love you might be sentimentally compeld to love your songs, it will be better to focus your attention on the opinion of others who will constructively criticize and give you sincere comments. However, the most important and profitable kind of assessment is done by yourself based on the comparison of your work with the best.Although it is very important you exercise caution when comparing yourself with others, it will also enable you to know if you are close to the generally accepted standard. When you are able to tell yourself the truth, it will be clear if you are making progress or not.
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