As featured in National Daily “Sun News Online”
For up and coming musician, Adaobi Enemuoh, there is no place like
home. For her, Nigeria is home, sweet home! Having just relocated to
Nigeria from the United States, Enemuoh has no plan of ever returning to
Jim Crow’s country.
Popularly called A.D.A by her fans and signed to Lafamilia
Entertainment, the graduate of Neuroscience from University of
California in this chat talks about her love for music and why she will
never go back to America.
Background
I am first of seven children. I am a native of Ekwulobia and Agulu in
Anambra State. I attended Hill View Nursery School, Enugu and later
proceeded to University Primary School, Enugu, finishing at Creative
Minds Foundation, Onitsha. For my secondary school education, I attended
Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State and then moved to El
Camino College, Torrance, California for a degree in Biology. I also
have a degree in Neuroscience from University of California, Riverside.
Childhood
From childhood, I’ve loved listening to music and performing with a TV
remote control as my microphone. My initial inspiration was from
listening to my parents’ old school collections of super stars like Don
Williams, my dad’s favourite, Dolly Parton, my mom’s favourite, Tina
Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie,
and Bob Marley. Today, I listen to top acts like Sade Adu, Adele,
Beyonce, Emeli Sande, Shakira, and Tiwa Savage.
Coming into music
My genre of music is a combination of highlife and Afro pop. I attribute
my vocal prowess to singing in front of the mirror and being a member
of my Los Angeles church choir, where I later became the choir director.
I auditioned for X-Factor America and made it through the early stages.
To perfect my singing and performing ability, I enrolled for a piano
and vocal performance class at Santa Monica College of Performing Arts
Centre, under the tutelage of Denis Parnell, an award winning composer,
vocal coach, and voice technician whose previous students include
American idol finalist, Chikezie.
My vocals impressed Parnell and my classmates, and I was made the
closing act for the end of session show hosted by the college for the
voice and opera students. I closed the show and got a standing ovation
after my rendition of Celine Dion’s ‘I Drove All Night’, backed by a
pianist and bass guitarist.
Relocating to Nigeria
I came back to Nigeria because of my family and music career. Being the
first child of my parents, I believe it is better I stay close to my
people in order for me to learn our culture and heritage.
Armed with a degree, a powerful voice, enhanced performance skills, and
big hopes for the future, I relocated to Nigeria to answer the call of
my destiny. After months of blending local content into contemporary
style, I am set to pleasure the audience with my tunes. Life, friends
and current affairs inspire my lyrics.
My single, Headmaster
Apart from my love for music, I also love to talk about social issues
that hinder the growth of our society. Sexual abuse especially in
primary and secondary schools is one of them. My first single,
Headmaster, produced by Chimdy, mixed and mastered by Jay Stunt, centres
on a young girl challenging the inappropriate sexual advances of her
pedophilic school principal. I’ve always wanted an avenue to address
such issues. However, Headmaster came effortlessly in the studio. It
confirms the biblical saying, ‘out of the abundance of the heart, the
mouth speaketh’. I am working very hard to release my album soon.
Target audience
My music is targeted at the old and young at heart. They are the victims.
It also targets the adults in our society. My song sheds light on what
is happening in our schools today. We are called to educate children
about sexual abuse so they do not fall victim.
Message
Today’s happenings and yesterday’s mistakes inform the message in my
song. I have heard and read numerous stories about child abuse. In some
cases, the kids were not properly educated on what to do or they were
too scared to speak up when they became victims. When I was a kid, I
experienced some adults making inappropriate advances at me. Today, I
have friends who have been abused by adults.
Operating in male-dominated profession
More men are into the administrative and creative sides of the
entertainment industry, and they have access to more funding. As a
result, they seem to have more opportunities than women. But, with the
new wave of females like me joining the industry, over time, we hope the
gap will be bridged and equality becomes equity.