Rave of the moment artiste, Folarin Falana aka Falz, tells Ademola Olonilua and Eric Dumo about his career and style
Have you abandoned your career in Law for music?
What I would say is that I have not abandoned my law practice; I just have less time to practise. I don’t go to court every day, neither do I sit in the chambers from 9am to 5pm. But I still find ways to keep the legal part of me alive because I still have big plans in that area. I am looking at entertainment law and finding ways that I can develop the Nigerian legal system in that area.
You have various comedy skits online, how did you discover that part of you?
I am an entertainer and at the end of the day, all that I am trying to do is to entertain my fans. I am trying to find ways of keeping my fans glued to my arts. Releasing those skit is just a way of keeping my fans and followers entertained. I also do it to keep my fans abreast of happenings in my life. I see it as my online diary, a way I express myself.
Have you thought about doing comedy by the side?
Definitely, not stand-up comedy because I think that would be too much on my plate. I have already started acting and I featured in Jenifa’s Diary by Funke Akindele. I have also been involved in a yet-to-be released full length movie. I am working on a few projects, including a movie of my own. The movie industry is definitely an area I am looking at.
How do you come up with concepts for your skits?
Using the popular Yoruba ‘h-factor’ has always been an element in my music but people did not just notice it. It is harder to push music than to push comedy. I just decided to bring out that character, especially via social media. At first, I was just messing around but I noticed that it caught on rapidly and I decided to focus on that to gain more popularity and draw more attention to my music and art generally.
So does that character have a name?
Yes, he does. I call him Brother Taju.
Some believe that you are copying the popular comedienne Princess…
I don’t think what I am doing is similar to what Princess does. The thing with people is that when they hear something new, they always try to tie it to something that is closest to it. I don’t think we do the same thing. This is the first time I am hearing of it.
Coming from a family of lawyers, what were your major musical influences as a kid?
My father has always been a huge fan of Fela Kuti, so I could not escape being familiar with his music. I heard it every day and everywhere. Fela’s songs were major influence on me. If you listen to my next album, you would hear a lot of afro-beat in it. I always find ways to blend afro-beat to my song because it was a major influence in my life. In terms of other influences, I listened to a lot of Trybesmen, Plantashun Boiz, these were guys that always put humour in their rap and that was how I formed my own style.
You became more popular this year with some endorsement deals to your name. What did you do differently?
I would say that I expanded my brand. I structured my character in a way that my brand has a lot of sides to it. The brands that are associating with my brand now see that I am a viable brand and I have what other artistes do not have. The fact that I am now gaining popularity from my skits shows that people now see that I have constant interaction with my fan base. They see I have more to offer other than the music and it is still within the entertainment sector. They see that I am expanding my brand beyond music.
Why do you wear eye frames without lenses in them?
It is my signature look and it is something that is crazy and absurd. That is the reason I am doing it because no one else does it.
Were you inspired by Baba Sala?
His glasses were huge and ridiculous. I did not necessarily get inspired by him. It is more of an old school look. It used to reign in the 70s and people used to do it a lot with the geeky glasses. Fashion is something that always comes back, it is always recycled. But because no one does it anymore, they see me as the crazy guy but I like the effect.
How many of your frames have you had to take out the lenses?
I have removed a lot. They would be up to 50. I don’t have all of them with me anymore because people collect them from me. Over time, I have taken out up to 50.
Would you describe yourself as a trend setter or you follow trends?
I think I am more of a trend setter. I don’t like to believe that fashion is about following what people are doing. I believe fashion is what you make of it. You can wear whatever you want to wear but what matters is how you wear it. Recently, a photo of Kanye West surfaced online with him wearing rags but it is allowed because it is Kanye West. How he rocked it made it ‘rockable.’ If it were someone else, people would question his sanity.
What can’t you be caught wearing?
I don’t know; maybe female clothes. I am very unlikely to be seen wearing ripped jeans. A lot of people like it, it is quite stylish but it is just not my thing.
What is that fashion item you cannot leave home without?
I might not have any I cannot leave home without but there are some that I have to have with me when I am on stage or in character and that would be my jewellery – my necklaces, wristwatch and all of those.
How come you hardly sag your trousers like most hip-hop artistes?
Fashion is what you perceive it to be. I believe average sagging is okay but when you take it to your knee level, then it becomes something else. It becomes hideous. My fashion style is about looking different and looking smart.
What is your fashion fetish?
I love shoes a lot and have quite a lot of them. I have over 50 pairs of snickers alone. Then I have other kinds of shoes.
What kinds of clothes do you feel very comfortable wearing?
I feel most comfortable when I am in casual wears. I love jeans and T-shirts.
Why did you decide to groom your beard?
It has always been there but I always shaved it off. I began to groom it when I realised that it was quite stylish.
Your logo is a guy wearing a hat, glasses and a bow tie. What is its significance?
The hat represents that thinking cap. My music is very cerebral. Then the glasses is my signature look. It represents a goofy guy while the bow tie represents the smart guy. I like to look smart and sharp.
But you hardly wear a bow tie…
It does not necessarily mean I have to always wear one. If you notice, I always look smart in most of my dresses. I button up to the top; I usually go for smart looks.
What is the biggest fashion error you have ever made?
Like I said, fashion is what you make of it. I may commit a fashion error but I would wear it in such a way that it would not look like a mistake.
Why don’t you have tattoos?
They are nice but I think they look better on light-skinned people and that is why I am unlikely to have a tattoo. I regard myself as a dark-skinned person.
Given an opportunity to enhance your body, what would it be?
Nothing really. Maybe I would just want to have more muscles because ladies like them.
Through your music you have popularised the word ‘bae,’ how do you feel about that?
It makes me feel good. It makes me feel like someone with an influence because I popularised a catch-phrase. It makes me want to do more.
How have you been coping with your female fans?
I love the attention I get from them. It is a good thing but I just try and stay focused. It is something that makes me feel good because you have to have the ladies attention to break into the market. Once you get the ladies, then you would get the guys because the ladies help in getting the guys.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1WSjjrn
via IFTTT
0 comments:
Post a Comment