By Yemisi Suleiman

After more than a decade off the scene, popular female, urban contemporary gospel artiste, Lorine Okotie, is back in the studio. Lorine is now making a return that the gospel audience has long awaited. The pioneer of contemporary gospel music began her music career years back under the supervision of her older brother and producer, Chris Okotie.

She recorded an album which included radio play-list favourite: Love Medicine. As she prepares to release a ten-track album later in the year, Lorine speaks of her long stay off the scene, her fashion, style and more.

You have been away from the scene for a long time. What has been happening to you? I really don’t want to talk about personal things. I have been working on my music and I want to focus on it. I believe you cannot be gone for too long and want to just crowd people’s mind with too much information. I think information should be received bit by bit.

We are in the studio; we are working on my music. I really want to concentrate on talking about the music and letting people know what we are doing and then, as times goes on, other things will begin to unfold. If I say now that I have been here, I have been doing this, it will be too much for people to deal with because I have gone through a whole lot.

Why did you decide to come back to music after a long time?

I won’t really say I left because this is the fifth time of my coming into the studio. At subsequent times, things just happened and then I didn’t get to complete the job. It is not like we have not been trying but it not happen as we planned for it to happen. But I believe that this time, we will go all the way and conclude the job.

So, I did not really leave. It is just circumstances that cannot be explained. When I sit down and think about it, I just say to myself that there is a right time to do everything; maybe those times weren’t the right time. I believe that this time is right, because you are here now; you are talking to me and we normally don’t get to this stage at all.

We are hoping and praying and trusting God that the album will be released this time and put into the market.

What should your fans expect from you?

We are still doing gospel. I am a Christian and the Bible says go into the world and preach the gospel and I believe that music is a very good means to do that.

So, when do we expect the album launch?

Soon, I will say. We are trying our best to make sure that it comes out as soon as possible.

With the current music trend in Nigeria, do you think you will fit into the scene now? Music is big and we have all kind of music. I remember someone asked this when we did “Love Medicine”. The person was like gospel music is not very strong in Nigeria. “Do you think you will do well?” And I said that I think any good music will do well. And we proved that with “Love Medicine”.

It shows that if you bring anything that is good, (if the production is good), the song will be commercial. My focus is to put the gospel together; it is not about what ever it is that is happening in the music industry. There is always space for everybody to grow. That is what I believe.

What is fashion like for you?

I don’t know if I am one for fashion but I wear what I like. I am not a fan of names or designers. I am not into labels. If I walk into a shop and I see what I like, even if it is not a known label, I will still buy it.

Do you engage in some kind of exercise?

Yes. I have put on quite a bit of weight from the time of “Love Medicine”. Food is very wicked; food is sweet but does things to you. You know, I have added a lot of weight, so these days, I jog and watch what I eat because I have to look good for the video.

Which is your favourite fashion item?

I am very eclectic in every area of my life. I love bags, shoes, dresses, depends on how it is made. So, I don’t have a particular item that I like and I believe that everything works together.

Do you have a signature fragrance? Same thing, I do not have. If it smells good, I will buy it.

What about jewellery?I am not a white gold person. I like the yellow gold and costume jewellery because they tend to be very elaborate. You can hardly see gold in such designs.

What can’t you be caught wearing?

I am not one for ‘minis’. As far as I am concerned, it doesn’t do anything for me. You will not catch me wearing mini dresses; even when I was much younger, you won’t find me wearing a mini dress. Even when I die, you wear me a mini (dress), I will wake up and take it off.

What beauty product can’t you go without?

Powder; definitely my powder. I might not put any of these things into my bag or purse but I will make sure I put on my powder. Anything else can come later on.

Best holiday spot? I don’t have. The only place that I don’t like going to is London because the people are too conservative for me and I don’t (really) like their weather. Besides London, any place would make a good holiday spot for me. Any other place that is not as hot as Nigeria will do.

Do you have a favourite drink? I used to drink a lot of (Cola drink) but that thing makes you so fat. So, I don’t any longer. These days, I look for sugar-free drinks.

What is that one thing that I will always find in your bag at any point in time?

My powder. I don’t leave the house without my powder. Even if you don’t find anything, no matter how small the bag is, I will find a way and make sure my powder is inside it.

What should your fans expect from you?

I think that every artiste that goes into the studio prays to bring out the best. So, I am praying to bring out the best and then make sure I do not disappoint them. That is my prayer. We are working hard and we are trusting God that we will do something really good.