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Over the years, the R&B movement has taken a focal point in Nigeria’s mainstream music scene with artistes like Tems and Tiwa Savage, among others playing a pivotal role of not only pushing boundaries on the global stage but also weaving the essence of this movement into their music. Their chart-topping tracks have undeniably elevated Nigerian music onto the international radar. Although the rise of the genre over the years has more to do with what the Nigerian audience needs, artistes like Jola Bello are joining the movement to take it to the next level with their vocal strengths, addictive melodies, and introspective lyrics that evoke emotions.
Since breaking into the music scene in 2019, her aim has always been for her music to serve as a getaway for her listeners. “I want to be an elixir because we humans go through a lot, and I want to be the artiste that touches those parts that people don’t talk about. I just want people to be at peace when they listen to me,” she told me during an exclusive interview with Netng over Zoom.
With musical influences from JLo, Celine Dion, Houston, Destiny’s Child, and Enya, Jola has always loved the RnB sound and for years has mastered her art to the point where she feels she is capable of telling stories that are enough to release dopamine into the mind of her listeners while oscillating between sounds and infusing elements of the pop genre in her music.
In 2018, when she decided to venture into music, it was over a game of rhymes with her friends at a games night while she was studying Geography at the University of Ibadan. “I had a group of friends like a clique, and then we used to have game nights. I brought up the idea of playing a rhyme game. Then I started singing and freestyling, and then my friends were like, oh my God, you can actually sing Jola, and they were like you need to meet a professional producer.”
That moment marked the beginning of her musical journey, and soon she released her debut single with then-upcoming act, Mockingbird, as she featured on his 2018 track, ‘Strings.’ The single, which ushered in the R&B act. The feature became a confidence booster for her eventual debut solo single, ‘For You.’ “I just really loved good music, and then I used to sing in the choir, but it was like a hobby. I never thought of doing it as a profession,” she said.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mojolaoluwa Bello’s interest in music started at the Oritamefa Baptist Model Schools (OBMS) in Ibadan, when she became akin to hymns as a member of the school choir.
“At OBMS, they used to make sure that we learn hymns and all of that, so I was really interested in all of that,” she said. During that time, her MFM family also indulged her musical tendencies as she used to write and host mini concerts for her family members at home.
“I’ll just tell my family to sit down and tell them that I want to entertain them, and I think I just gained confidence from doing that at home, and then when I got to secondary school, and there was like a proper choir, I got into it.” An act that has translated into her love for songwriting. “If your lyrics are not meaningful to people that are listening, what are you doing? So it’s very important for me as an artiste.”
With singles like ‘Rain’, ‘789’, ‘Spin Me,’ and more, the budding star is slowly becoming a household name with her distinct tone and sound. However, she is looking to switch things up, but with elements of herself fans would always love to see with the release of her forthcoming single ‘Alive.’
“Alive is an Afropop single. I’m super excited, but there are going to be elements of RnB. I’m so excited because it would be like a new thing for me, and I’m going to get a wider audience because it’s a new sound. I usually do Afro Soul, something you can just vibe and nod your head to, but this one, you get to dance. The song is giving a summer vibe.”
But like it is for every independent artiste looking forward to their big break in the industry, and particularly as a woman, Jola’s artistry is thriving but with almost little or no support. “It’s kind of hard. Like BNXN said, ‘If you no get money e dey kill idea’. So you need to stand on your ten toes and fight for your dreams.”
In an interview with Business Day, Joey Akan, Music Journalist known for his Afrobeats Intelligence podcast revealed that the “average going rate for established artists and record labels to work a single is N16.1 million ($35,000).” The budget supposedly covers marketing across boards, including new and old media. A big budget the average independent artiste finding their big break may not have access to.
Through it all, Jola Bello says she is ‘hungry.’ “I’m not just doing music because I want to win awards or something. I want to do music because in a week or in a month, if I don’t write music, if I don’t record, if I don’t sing, I’m going to feel guilty about it. Music for me is like eating, it’s necessary, it’s a part of my life, it’s something I have to do because that’s what makes me feel alive,” she added.
Jola Bello has expressed her artistic talents via various mediums, including featuring in productions like the Africa Magic Yoruba Series, ‘Awon Aladun De.’ Yet, one goal sits atop her aspirations: embarking on a global tour following the launch of what she playfully terms a ‘ ‘long ass album of 23 songs.’ This ambitious musical endeavor aims to traverse diverse genres, while also serving as an embodiment of her culture, people, and personal ethos. Whether this journey takes months or years to come to fruition, one undeniable fact remains: Jola is an artist with a unique voice, poised to accomplish this feat.
The post Jola Bello: How R&B Artiste Infuses African Sounds To Create Distinct Records appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
