Smash of the music duo Bracket visited 360nobs headquarters for an interview.
Smash visited without his friend Vast who is the other half of the popular group, discussed their new album (Alive), how Vast’s cancer sickness affected them and his thoughts on Chimamanda Ngozi – Adichie writing about the song Yori Yori in her popular award winning book, Americanah.
On his thoughts on the new album, Alive
It is the best so far. (with Alive) we had to come back home (put in more African sound) because we did a Francophone album before (and that was simply) because we’re more recognized there than we are here.
On why he believes they’re more recognized abroad than in Nigeria
It is the sound. Nigerians are not really into the sound we make but Alive is very much something they would like.
On the challenges they faced while making Alive
My friend (Vast) had cancer and so we had to wait two years to finish this particular album. It was tough.
On their initial reaction when they found out Chimamanda wrote about the song “Yori Yori” in her popular book Americanah
Yori Yori being mentioned in Americanah was cool, really cool and it was a good feeling but it wasn’t the first exposure we were given to the outside world. Before Americanah (which was a success worldwide) we had performed in countries we hadn’t even heard of before then and the reception was great. We performed in Suriname in the Caribbean and Dominica (which shouldn’t be confused with Dominican republic).
On their best moments performing abroad
We’ve had interesting moments and one of them was in Dominica where we performed alongside big reggae Artiste like Busy Signal
On Rihanna being a fan of Timaya’s music
I thought it was something big when I saw the picture. That was really cool.
Their Influences
We love old school music and so we were inspired majorly by Oriental Brothers, Osadebe and Oliver de Coque. At some point we tried rap and we loved Tupac and of course, we are fans of Tuface who we have worked with twice.
On his favorite song on the album
That would be track one, Iyeri and track 7, Baby Mu. Video for Iyeri comes out this week and it features Frank Odega who plays the Pastor.
