By Lawani Mikairu

Larry Azukaego popularly known as Larry Zuka on stage, has revealed that his kind of Afro music is for all ages because he tells stories with his music.
According to him , ” My kind of music is Afro Folk Rock because I am an African. I tell stories with my songs. I try to reflect what happens around me. I also try to tell the story each and every one of you have in your heart. I represent you and bring it out for people to hear and enjoy.”
The United States of America based Nigerian artist said his music is however classified as Afrobeat and he does not mind.
The international artiste with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts from the prestigious University of Lagos, who also proceeded further to study Film Making in National Film Institute, Jos, Plateau State capital, where he also obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts, majoring in script writing, movie production and directing, has many awards in his kitty including: Best Film Director and Overall Best Film in the Movie Vengeance of Bullet in Leap International Film Festival in 2011.
When asked how it has been playing music out there in the United States of America, he said : “
Playing music is fun to me out here because I am not doing it because I have to earn a living from it. I am doing it because it gives me joy doing it. I play music anywhere I find myself. When I am invited; even when I am not invited, if I see an occasion where I can play music, I play it and I am loving it. “
” I am not one of those that believe that the music industry is not profitable. As a matter of fact, this is the best the Nigerian music industry has ever had. It has never been this good. If you are a good musician and you know your onions, and you know what you are doing, all you need to do is to practice and rehearse regularly, then go out there. There are lots of clubs and occasions where one can fix himself in. You get to have a good manager and you make a living from it”
On why the choice of US ply his trade, Azuka said, “
My choice of being in the US playing music is because US is a better environment compared to what we have in Nigeria. Here, I am doing other things and the environment encourages it. You have better facilities and the quality of life here is better than that of Nigeria. It gives you a better ambience to create. You look at things around you and you don’t have to create music out of misery or suffering. You don’t have to create music out of frustration. It is like that here because you see the beautiful gift of nature God has given to man. It also reflects in the kind of things you put out. You don’t just have to do it because you need to do it to be able to eat. If you create music from that standpoint of seeing things from within you and getting it out for people to see, it gets better. I left Nigeria when music was not given attention, a kind of not being profitable but it is not the same here. However, I always come around to Nigeria. “
On what message he is passing especially to the youth , he said : ” My type of Afro is for all ages. It is beautiful music. Besides, beautiful music transcends all demographies. You don’t say you want to do it for kids or elders. Good music is good music. It is just like wine. As it gets older, my music gets better. My message for the youths is that they should do music because they are very passionate about it. Music is a very jealous profession. If you are not very sure that you want to do music, please don’t do music. If you have to do music, give it all you have. They need to practice regularly.”
He also revealed that he has not collaborated with Johnny Drill and Chike. ” What I said was that I will like to collaborate with them. But I am not the type of person that will say this one is my idol. But sometimes, I get inspiration from people, both kids and everything around me. I get inspiration from a lot of artiistes. I love Chike’s kind of music because it resonates with me. It is the kind of music I love to write. I like Johnny Drill as well. I mean before, I left the country, I never knew Johnny Drill and Chike. I have never met them. But these are the people I will love to collaborate with because I love the kind of music and melody that come out from their hearts. “
” Creativity is just like when you have the ability to create. It is just like a script writer. And a script writer is like a mad man that has been given a gun with his hand at the trigger. He can shoot and kill. So if you are creative, you can do whatever you want to do. You are just like God unto yourself. You have to define what you want to do with the creativity that you have inside of you. And I like to teach. Aside from entertaining people, I like to inspire people. I deliberately do songs that would really inspire people. It will touch your heart and soul.
On any plans to own his label, he said , “
Yes. I already have my own label. I work with my own label and that is Sweet Apple Records.
Sometimes, you don’t make plans for shows. They come to you. As for the one I am planning ; I am already making arrangements for that. I have a yearly show that I just started last year in Asaba, Delta State capital. Every December, I come to Asaba and I do show that we call the Christmas Sereny. I will be there this year again”.
On awards, he said : ” I have never had any award in music but I have had in movies because I am also a movie maker and I have won couple of awards in that direction. I have won Best African Film Director and Overall Best Film in the movie Vengeance of Bullet in Leap International Film Festival in 2011.
” I have performed in Lekki Sunsplash, Amnesty International Show in Lekki Beach, AIT/Ray Power Grand Slams,and many clubs and events in Nigeria before I left the country. I have also performed in some big events here in the US, like in San Diego, Moss Art Center in Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg Virginia State. Some big clubs and events in Los Angeles amongst other places.
” My message for upcoming musicians is for them to hold up to their dreams. They should not allow anybody put them down or tell them that their music are not good because any creativity is good. They should just keep doing what they are doing. There is no teaching like doing it, ” Larry Azuka added.