by Anike Jacobs

A few weeks ago, Shaydee dropped a hot video for his new single “High”.

The video which was directed by E.M.E boss, Banky W and music video director, Adasa Cookey was shot in exotic locations in Lagos.

Featuring Banky W as a bartender, the colourful video tells a heart rendering story of love and heartbreak.

The video also features celebrity DJ, DJ Exclusive.

In this interview with YNaija, EME artiste, Shaydee – real name, Shadrach Adeboye, talks about his music, his label, and hitting the limelight and more.

Growing up: Shaydee is the second child in a family of four. He was born in Kano state but moved to ​Lagos at an early age with his family. He is a graduate of Electrical Engineering from the University of Ilorin, Kwara.

See excerpts below:

The making of my music video ‘High’:

The storyline is about me falling in love with a stripper, it is a fun video (HERE). It is an everyday thing, we all fall in love, so I drew the storyline from experiences. It is a general story that everyone can relate to…we just used a stripper to make it more dramatic. Everyone should see it because it is a meaningful song, it is not just song that you just dance along and move on, someone who has been in that type of situation or going through that situation will really understand the video, the lyrics and see that it makes sense. I didn’t just want to do the usual funny club line videos, I wanted something different…so we used an extreme example.

My perception of the outcome of the election results:

I was satisfied with the presidential election, the fact that a new government actually came in means that the vote of Nigerians counted and that is impressive. Although most peeps stayed back and chose to observe, I feel more people will come out to vote in the next four years following the success of this election.

Everyone keeps accusing me of being redundant in the E.M.E but the truth is:

I don’t think I am redundant. First of all, I joined E.M.E at a different time, they already had Wizkid and Skales before I joined… they had been together for almost three years of four before I came in. So I came in with my own pattern, I am not that kind of artiste that drops a hit song today and wait for next five years to get a song to match up to that. It’s a growing success for me, I don’t compare myself to the others. No one can do it like me, and I can’t do it like anyone else so I’m just being me and I am happy.

Do I sometimes feel intimidated by Wizkid’s success:

People need to realize that there will always be only one Wizkid and likewise, just one Shaydee. I don’t put pressure on myself to be like Wizkid, I only put pressure on myself to be a better version of who I was yesterday. I am satisfied with my steady growth. I am not intimidated or threatened at all.

My two cents on the Wizkid and Skales social drama that happened a few months ago:

I really don’t like delving into stuffs that really isn’t my business but the truth is, things happen, you fall out of an agreement that you both made and then quarrel. Even in families, arguments, quarrels are bound to occur, it is an everyday thing. The important thing is that everyone is good now.

Why I dumped my Electrical Engineering degree certificate for music:

First of all, whoever says music is a less lucrative business is wrong. Even if I worked with my certificate, I would still have had to work for a while and get paid till I become my own boss, it’s pretty much growth. In music today, it’s all about growth too. My dad was very insistent on having me get a Degree, and not just going to school to study just any course, he ensured that I studied a professional course. If I hadn’t studied Engineering, I would have studied Architecture. I started singing in secondary school, by the time I got to the university, I worked even harder.

Any similarities between me and the Biblical Shadrach:

In that story, Shadrach was confident, he stood his ground with the others for what they believed in. And I believe I am confident too. I am quite confident in what I do too.  A lot of people often say I am calm and it’s true, I am calm and confident because I am not racing with anybody. I am enjoying my music and moving at my own pace.

Am I getting the appropriate recognition in the music industry:

Well, sometimes you feel you put in more work and get minimal results but it is understandable because the industry  is still growing. Outside Africa, musicians get paid for their songs being played on radio and TV, they get more recognition, but it’s the other way here. Over there, music is more functional and stable but it is still growing here. We are better than where we were five years ago but we are still growing… sometimes I feel under appreciated but it is all part of the story.

What Nigerians don’t know about me:

I am shy and I love to keep to myself, except when I have to do what I have to do. For instance, when I go into a room of 20 people, I will rather not say a word and people might think I’m being proud but it’s because I am shy.

The Babymama trend in the industry:

Shout out to everyone that has a babymama already and to their kids but for me, I believe in doing the right thing. That is, get married proper, settle down before becoming a daddy. It is wonderful to follow due process and do the right thing. I am single now and I am not thinking of marriage yet, I am working on my career now.

I have got a word for the people who compare my growing music to Koredo Bello’s incredible rise and success in the industry:

Like I always say, people are different. The music is different. I didn’t just join the E.M.E to start making commercial music, my direction is different. Korede got lucky because he joined the Mavin Records at time when the label’s doing so well, so sometimes timing is important. I have dropped different songs of different genres, R n B, Ragga, street song, hip-hop, all this is a process where I am showing my versatility. It is not just about having one hit song, when you listen to my songs, you will realize that they are proper songs and not just some club song.

I don’t blame celebrities that live a fake life:

I don’t blame artistes that do that. In all honesty, we are carried away but what we see on Instagram but we have to impress. For me though it’s all about my music

Where I draw my inspiration:

From things I go through, my mood, a beat, experiences, gorgeous women, it varies, it depends.

To my fans:

I am working on my album strongly right now so my fans should expect more songs from me, more visuals and the best.