By Anozie Egole

With his new video international, which has been enjoying massive airplay since its release, the new kid on the block, Adewale Adejuwon, a.k.a, Whales Clarke, has proven that he has come to stay. In this interview, the talented singer cum producer talks about his musical career and his personal lifestyle.

Tell us about your educational background?

I am a Mass Communication graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. I graduated in 2010.While I was in school, I was fully into entertainment.

What is the idea behind your new single titled, International?

I wanted to do something different from the regular songs that we are familiar with. A song that has a different sound. So, the idea was to do a world class song. I have this ideology that anything you want to do a song, you must ensure that it has quality. When I say “International”, it is not as if I wanted to travel out of the country to do a music.

Rather, I wanted to do a song that would be accepted everywhere. I am definitely going to get to my destination. That’s my own conception about being International.

As a producer, why didn’t you produce the song?

I wanted someone who has worked with talented artistes to produce the song for me. I have not really worked with such people in the past. I am still growing in the industry, so I decided to work with an experienced producer.

What inspires your kind of music?

Basically, I am inspired by everything that happens around me such as sadness, joy among others.

How many albums have you released so far?

I have lost count of my works. I produce mostly for emerging artistes. I have also worked with a few popular artistes. I once worked with Modele of Project Fame. She contested for Project Fame 2009/2010 edition. I am currently working with a UK-based singer, Nales.

What is your experience working with Modele?

It was a different thing all together. Apart from having a very fantastic vocals, Modele took me to another level as far as music production is concerned. I have not worked with many talented artistes as Modele is.

Did you set out to become a musician?

I have always loved music as a child. One of my friends installed a particular software that makes sounds on his laptop. He started making music with the software. That was how I developed interest in music production. But I started singing as far back as when I was in secondary school with my friends.   It was just something we were doing for the fun of it. But when the production thing came up, I took it seriously.

How would you describe the Nigerian music industry?

I would say that the industry is growing in leaps and bounds. Some years ago, Nigerian artistes hardly made money from music. They depended on shows to make ends meet. But today, the story has changed. Now, marketers come begging to distribute your music.

Any album so far?

I have more singles but I have not released any album. I will be dropping another music video very soon.

What genre of music do you do?

I do anything that comes to my mind. I do rap music, but I make sure that whatever I do must convey a strong message to the audience.

What is so unique about your music?

I try to do music that will always convey a message to the audience. All the songs I have done so far, were loaded with strong messages.

Do you have any regret being the industry?

No regret. I love what I am doing and I’d hope that it is getting better.

In the next few years, where do you want to see yourself?

I see myself where Wizkid is right now. He is not my role model, but I see myself where he is right now in the next 4-5 years. He do not just do music for Nigerian market alone, he does international music. He travels round the world and do better songs. Definitely, that is where I would be in the nearest future if not better than that.

What are your strategies to fight piracy?

My record label See Money Entertainment, have plans to release our music digitally. People can buy and subscribe online. I know it can expose the material to the risk of being pirated, but there are also sites that you will go that will require you to pay before you download and that is the site that is helping us to sell our music right now. It is a Nigerian site.

Given a second chance, what do you think you would like to work more on?

The only thing I would like to correct is that I would like to go back to the church. Before now, I used to be a very serious church person. I play instruments in the church so if I have a second chance, I would like to go closer to church again.

Why did you leave the church in the first place?

I did not plan to do that, it just happened. I was playing in the church before I got into school. So, when I gained admission into the university because of school environment, I deviated from the church and when I tried going back to church, I was not connecting well with the church any longer.

What is it that people do not know about you?

People do not know that I am a very shy person. And outside music, I would have been an artiste manager or media relation.

What is the craziest thing a female fan has done to you?

The crazies thing a female fan has ever done to me was when a fan sang my song in my presence. I never believed she knows my song.