Since he hit the limelight with his widely accepted single, Kabiosi, a few years ago, Samuel Akinyemi otherwise known as Psalm Ebube, has worked hard to become one of the sought-after gospel singers. He speaks with SEYI SOKOYA on his achievements and humanitarian engagement. Excerpts:
Not much was heard about you until recently when you released a new single that is bringing a lot of attention your way. How would you rate your career in the last few years?
I feel very happy about the success of the Psalm Ebube brand over the years. I have heard people say different things about me in the last few months. Some people don’t know what I have been up to, but as a son of destiny, whose total existence is based on God’s direction, I am not moved. When God is preparing you for something big, He will keep you away from certain distractions that could derail your journey. So, when the time comes, you will have the blessing in full. I think that sums up my journey in the last three years. To God be the glory, I am here today and we are focused on the task ahead of us. We have just begun the journey. Wait to see where God is taking us.
You were said to have slowed down because you got married at a point. Did you see it that way?
Marriage has not slowed me down in any way. Getting married to my wife has been a huge blessing for me and my music ministry, because He’s involved in my affairs. It has been through the grace of God. I am happy to say I am married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and it is almost two years of marital bliss. For me, my wife’s love is not only about feelings and words, but also actions. We are grateful to God for blessing our union. Love will do the big things in every part of one’s life. I like the fact that she is very patient. She’ll always find the way to solve whatever problem that comes up with her calmness.
After releasing Kabiosi, your career experienced what some people described as a low moment. Though you dropped a couple of songs after then everything about you has been very quiet. What do you think is responsible for this?
I didn’t do anything special to make Kabiosi popular; it was just the grace of God upon my life, which is still very much on me. I told a couple of friends months back when they started telling me to come up with another song like Kabiosi that there can’t be another song like it, because it came to serve a purpose in the lives of so many people at that time. I believe it is still serving the purpose. What we rather ask from God is a fresh anointing that would empower us to come up with another song of purpose that will reach out to millions of people, who need healing or miracle in different areas of their lives. Having said that, every bit of my songs has substance for any listener. The power to make hits is in God’s hand. So, my work is not based on the commercial aspect alone, but to always pass good messages across the world. At this point in my life, I allow God to lead while I follow. As I said, there is more to me that I am yet to fully discover, but by the grace of God, I will reach the peak of my potential.
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Are you comfortable with the dimension gospel music is going now?
It will surprise you that many people now sing gospel music one way or the other. There are many reasons why people want to be inspired when they listen to your song. Quite a number of secular artistes are now getting to sing gospel songs stylishly. People want to be lifted. They need God’s words to lift their burden, so I am not surprised that at the new dimension. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means God only accepts genuine worship. It can include prayers, reading His words with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others.
Do you think the patronage has gone?
Yes, it is obvious and I am happy about the development. You can see it when you go to public places. What we have seen over the years proved more people are turning to God despite the ills in the society. People are gradually getting tired of listening to secular music. They want the right music to lift their souls when they are down. For instance, recently somebody told me that my song inspires him whenever he’s down. We have heard of testimonies from different places where people were touched by God through song ministrations and performances of gospel artistes.
Could you let us know what has kept you busy lately?
I have been involved in peace and unity initiative after the release of my album entitled: Call to Worship. Shortly after the release of the album, I floated the Psalm Ebube Peace Foundation (PEPFOnd), an initiative aimed at touching lives and empowering people, who are mostly orphans, women and vulnerable children in West Africa. With the increased in hunger and conflicts, in some parts West Africa, it is only human for one to show love, preach peace and unity through whatever platform that people could see and feel. I want to occupy that space and serve as an intermediary between individuals and organisations, providing medical and emotional care for widows. I have come up with programmes that will reach the downtrodden. Programmes have been outlined to tackle hunger among children in West Africa and access to healthcare, distribution of mosquito nets to orphanage.
Could this be what inspired your new song One Love One World?
This new work came from God’s word-‘follow peace with all men’. These words have always inspired me to write songs. I having seen situations change and hopeless people have a reason to live and enjoy life through God’s word. My life is a testimony that one can be anything and achieve anything. Music is a powerful medium that has been used to foster patriotism, promote religion and inspire love. So, I thought of using the universal language of music to permeate our culture with aspirations for humanity, unity, peace, love, tolerance and brotherhood. I want people to realise the fact that music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind and restore lives. My heart bleeds with the things I see whenever I visit the northern part of Nigeria. This is one of the things that influenced me to speak the voice of the children affected by the insurgency, especially by the Boko Haram sect. The conflict and violence young Nigerians and women are facing in that axis is indeed heartbreaking. A lot of things are happening and people are angry, but we can’t continue to pay up service to their condition. That is what we hope to achieve with the song. ‘One love one world’ recognises the necessity of bringing the world together to renew our commitment to humanity and to work better and smarter in meeting humanitarian needs. It is beyond a song of financial pledges, rather, a song of actions to change the way the international community. Today, one in four children lives in a country grappling with humanitarian crisis. I wrote this song to help millions of children living in the war ravaged zones.
Don’t you think you have delved into something else as a gospel singer?
I feel passionate about songs for peace and humanity. It took me eight months to compose and finish recording the song and I am committed to using it to save souls. I am delighted joining fellow musicians and other peace-loving international artistes in this mission. We can even make the remix of the song in order to collectively make a difference and create a peaceful world. I have featured Asikey already and we hope to have every other artiste on the remix soon. Also, it is targeted at celebrating the World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
What informed your decision to feature Asikey?
Initially, my plan was to make the song an all-star song. But when it was at production phase, my producer Mikkyme, who was also working with Asikey’s new single entitled. We, decided that I should work with her. The original plan was to feature 2Face, but he was yet to be contacted . So, I decided to work with Asikey. It was nice working with her; she is a Nigerian alternative artiste and guitarist signed to Pendulum Records and she brought a new soul and depth to the song. I expect the song to help foster global consciousness about the fragility and beauty in the wholeness of the human creation and hence the need to cherish the beauty in diversity and deliberately strive to sustain that which binds us as one. We hope to get innovative partnership and support UNICEF.
What piece of advice do you have for up-and-coming artistes?
They need a lot of patience. They have to go through the process of planting and endurance to do music overtime before reaping the fruits. They must have true passion and acquire experience on how to build their fan base. They must also be faithful in building relationships with people and the media, and above all, put God first.