My EP Containing ‘Your way’ and ‘JO’ Trending on Audiomack – EsteeOH

Nigerian Rapper and song writer, Som Tochukwu Gabriel with the stage name-EsteeOh has hinted on his plan to collaborate with Wande Coal. EsteeOh in an exclusive interview with FactualTimes speaks on his EP, importance of lyrics in music and his passion for music. 

Can you introduce yourself Sir?
My name is Somtochukwu Gabriel, I’m a singer, songwriter, and i go by the stage name “EsteeOh”.  I’m also a banker.

You are also a banker. So, how do you merge your banking job which is very tasking with music?

Music is something I have been doing for a very long time. I have been doing music since secondary school days. It is something that comes in natural to me. It is not something that I have to put in too much effort, even though people help us to produce the song. It something that comes natural to me and i do it immediately. I have been in music production since 2003 but took a break and it’s been a long time. Almost 18years before I went back into the studio again that i want to start singing, producing or rapping.  I am making use of the talent that God has given me. So, I believe in the law of use. The law of use is when you don’t use what is given to you,  it can be taken away from you. So, I did not want such talent to be taken away from me that is why am back to music industry.  I have to go back to what I love doing. While banking is a lot of work, music is something natural to me. I have a friend that sent me a song I recorded 18years ago and when I asked him to send me the full song, he said i will have to pay for it. I was shocked and asked why would you tell me to pay for something that is my work and he told me if i had put the song online 18years ago, I would have make a lot of money from it.

During weekends, I go to studio for recording. This doesn’t stop me from also performing on the job because I am also a top performer in my workplace.

Have you released any album, EP or single?
I have an EP that is currently been worked on.  I have two songs; “Your Way” and “Jo”.  These are two songs that are currently out on audiomack and i’m working to put them on Apple tune and YouTube platforms in the coming weeks.  These songs are already getting a lot of air play right now.

In music industry, you know we cannot rule out collaboration. So, which leading artiste will come to your mind?

Have always wanted to do something with Wande coal. He his someone that we went to school together and if he sees me, he will be so glad that I am finally back to what I love to do. Also, I will like to work with MI Abaga.

Are you into Rap music or Hip-hop?

I’m a rapper, singer, songwriter. I’m into any kind of music in general. I do it as far as it all comes from inspiration. To be honest, when I get into the studio, I select the beat. If it’s reggae beat, I can jump on it with rap beat. So, I am a rapper in terms of singing but  I can deliver any genre.

What inspires you to write or when you’re in the studio?

My inspiration comes from things happening around me and life as a whole inspires me. It is just like my first single, “Jo”, it is all about life being a dance. I was like, life is a dance. Life in generally inspires me and what happens around me and with the fact that this music things is something l love doing.

You referred to something you did in 18years ago but people are expressing worry about the kind of lyrics the artistes are releasing right now. What would be your advice for artiste, like is it about the best, sound, or should they also pay attention to the lyrics too?

When it comes to music everything should be paid attention. The lyric, beat and the reason you are doing that song. What is your motivation?  what is driving you. Everything comes into play, for lyrics, I believe that it should not be explicit. lyrics should portray a meaning, it should be coherent-it won’t just come out because you want to put words together or because you want to play with words or pass message across. “Your Way” is inspired by my wife while the “Jo” is song was inspired by life in general.

Your lyrics have to make meaning, the hook also has to be catchy so that your audience can jump along after listening to the meaningful things you’ve say in the lyrics. The hook like the chorus of the songs has to be catchy to suit contemporary music. 18years ago is a long time coming from down, I can’t be singing the same way i do 18years ago. So, I have been listening to music over time and a lot  has evolved in the music. As music keeps changing, we will keep changing with it and we will bring new styles, new genres of music that will make people pleased.

What should be the expectation of your fans now that you are back in music?

My fans should expect more songs from me. I’m currently working on viral video for the song “Your Way” and I’m also currently working on some more projects which will be released in the coming weeks. At least, till the EP is completed, once the Ep is completed, then we can delve into the album.

In music industry, you cannot just be releasing single, EP and album. It also involves going to shows. Do you think you will be able to meet up with the challenges and time needed to go for show rehearsals if you have show to attend?

That has been a concern, considering the job i do which is a tasking/tedious work. I’m in marketing department in the bank. So, this also needs me to show up at such location. I found myself in places where I am and i’m trying to do a show. I am trying to perform but I’m also doing my marketing there. There is a time I open show for MI Abaga when i was a corps member with zenith bank in 2011. I opened stage performance for MI Abaga and while i was there with him, I asked him to open an account with us. I was just mixing everything l am doing together. We are blessed as a human being and we are able to multi-task by doing do many things at the same time. The both profession are tasking but with God will, we will balance it soon.

How do you come about your stage name STO?
“STO” was a name i got back from school, it is a name that all my friends call me. I have million and one friends that know me as “STO”. My father also called me “STO”. So, i just thought about why not stick to that name and make it as my stage name.