Hadiza Blell, popularly known as Di’ja, is a
singer, song-writer and performer. Signed to the Don Jazzy led record
label, Mavin Records, in 2013, the Sierra Leonean- Nigerian continues to
raise the bar the music industry with the release of every new song.
In
this interview, the Mavin’s baby girl tells Newton-Ray Ukwuoma all
about her latest song, Awww, her motivations, background and the journey
to the Mavin Supreme Dynasty.
What is it with the title of your new song “Awww”?
Awww! You know like when you see something you love, or a cute little
baby, you are like “awww!” The song is more about the feeling you get
from it as opposed to it being said. Awww is the feeling the song
gives you, it is not just a title. In any case, it was also mentioned in
the background. (Don) Jazzy was doing some work on the background.
With all the reviews this song has received, what would you say inspired it?
I think the story is not necessarily about me all the time. To be
honest, it is more about being inspired by the beat. Don Jazzy and I
worked together on it. The song itself was a combination of great
energy. However, I am sure everyone has somebody they have liked. We
have heard a lot from the guy’s perspective; so, this is something from a
girl’s perspective. This is just a girl expressing herself. I think the
inspiration lies on the fact that I wanted to do something different. I
wanted to tell a story many girls wouldn’t tell.
You started with Yaro, then Dorobucci and Adaobi, but something
seemed different about Awww. Can you tell us what you hoped to achieve
with the song?
We all have sides of ourselves which are either hidden or recessive.
That you are a strong person does not necessarily mean that you do not
have a soft spot. I think the beautiful side of me came out in the Awww
video.
A lot of people would like to see more of this beautiful side in the future. What do you have to say?
I have been working. We never have stopped working. We are very
grateful that people are loving the song, people from different age
groups. So, I can’t wait to share the rest of the stuff we have been
doing. To answer your question directly, I will definitely keep the
tempo going. Recording for me involves a lot of patience and creativity.
I am learning different things and I am going to be putting them into
my music. You said you saw something different in “Awww”; I would say it
is a product of constant learning. I am learning every day.
It has been two years since you joined the Mavin records. How did this journey begin?
My manager was the one that gave me the opportunity to meet Don
Jazzy. It was the best day of my life because I didn’t expect it. He
told me we were going to a studio to meet with a producer. I didn’t know
it was Don Jazzy. When we got to the studio, I was sharing my songs
with some of the guys around when Don Jazzy walked in. It was amazing.
It was both exciting and scary. However, he listened to two of my songs.
I saw the beam in his face and could tell he liked the songs. And like
they say, the rest is history.
Working with Don Jazzy has been an amazing adventure. It’s been crazy
because I am learning new things, I am learning to do things with my
voice that I never really did. Working with everybody else in Mavin has
been really great. We brush up one another’s ideas. It is a creative
assembly.
Some of your fans would like to know the Di’Ja story?
It will take more than this interview to tell my story.
Then you should make it brief.
Di’Ja’s story is a story of a hard worker, who has preserved in spite
of rejections and slammed doors. Di’ja’s story is pretty much like
everybody’s story. Di’ja is a woman who is looking for the light at the
end of the tunnel, is working hard to enjoy what she is doing and making
her job a career. Making music is my story. And it just began. I still
have a long way to go before I can tell a great story. So I will have
to stop here for now.
How long have you been in the music industry?
I have been doing music for quite awhile before something else opened
up. I have a story there too. But I think everybody has that period
where they observe a break. That is why I said that my story is about
perseverance. It is about not taking No just because someone does not
like the ideas I bring.
You have a Nigerian and Sierra Leonean parentage. Has that influenced your career?
I believe that it is a great privilege to have mixed parentage. It
allows you to be more tolerable of other people. For me, this
opportunity to have many cultures within my family and other people has
opened my mind to a lot of things. It has given me more boldness to
express different thoughts. I use Hausa and pidgin in my lyrics. It is a
necessary blend because I feel different people from different places
would be able to relate with me.
Let’s talk fashion….
(Cuts in) I do not really know fashion. I get confused with it. I
might enjoy music and many other different things, but I don’t know if I
know fashion like that. I see things that I love and I try to make them
look nice on me. Honestly, I don’t know if I have a style. I dress for
the occasion.
I see green everywhere. Do you have a thing for green?
Yes, I like green because green is the colour of existence. There is
hardly any useful thing in life that is not associated with green. It is
the colour of tranquility. If I see a green plant somewhere, I know
there is water somewhere feeding the plant. I relate green to good
things.
How long have you been in Nigeria?
I went to school here. I just did about few years abroad. Nigeria is home.
Are you in a relationship?
Are you?
But imagine the inspiration in Awww, one would think someone somewhere is supplying the energy.
That is what I keep telling you. Awww was not inspired by one
particular person…. You want me to say something that is not there.
Does it mean you are not in a relationship?
I didn’t say I am or I am not in a relationship.
So, what are you saying?
Let’s move on to another question.
What quality takes your breath away in a man?
A good man. I just want a good person. I think we try to categorise
too many things. I like to believe that I am a medium from which life
emanates. And I wouldn’t like to breathe life into something good.
Whatever energy I attract will make a great relationship for me. Good
energy, good people, good vibe equals good relationship.
What is your favourite meal?
I like everything, I don’t eat pork though. But I have tried most
things once. Garri and beans is my staple food. People say Gaari Ijebu
is the best. For me, once cold water mixes with my garri, it is good
to go. I like groundnut, but groundnut doesn’t like me. It makes me
break out. I try to run away from it. I take plantain (boli) without
groundnut.