.jpg)
Once in a while, stories come along that rip my heart out. Very rarely do they lift me. When I stumbled upon the happiness heard in the music of Elem-C, I found out there is a lot to be happy about.
Kelly: What did you grow up listening to before you were a musician? I hear a lot of influences in the music, some I know, most I probably don’t. I’m anxious to learn more about the genre and would love to know who might be influencers in it.
Elem C: Originally I grew up listening to hip-hop and rap. Though I listen to all kinds of music from Gospel to blues, hip-hop, reggae, rap, r&b. I was die hard fan of 50 cent and the Gunit crew. I listened to all American singers from the 90s, 2000s and sometimes I go back to the old schools. Back home, I listen to a lot of indigenous high-life singers, Juju and afrobeats singers of the past. Basically, I was a real fan of all genre of music. I try to analyze music, whatever kind of music it is, once it appeals to me I go with it. And, then, we sang a lot in church those days so growing up in the children's choir as a chorister helped me a lot.
Kelly: Did you feel like you had something to say or sing about before you were sick too? Or has it become a mission since being ill?
Elem C: I was already doing music professionally before I became ill. I was doing the usual trending kind of music you hear everywhere but I was mixing rap with afrobeats. After I recovered I discovered a new meaning to life and what exactly I should talk about in my music. It was a lot easier after I got better. Thank God
Kelly: How long total were you in the hospital? All added up?
Elem C: I can't really say but in total I spent most of my 2020 and first quarter of 2021 in the hospital. I can only say this, in 2020, I was in the hospital the following months, June, July, August, September, October and then from December to January of 2021. Then from March 2021 till May when I was finally released. Intermittently I was discharged but returned again in few days on a number of occasions.
Kelly: When you were in the hospital, did you get to listen to music?
Elem C: No I was in so much pain, music was the last thing on my mind.
Kelly: Listening to your music, I sense a lot of gratitude.
Elem C: Yes I am grateful for so many things. One of the funniest reasons for my gratitude is whenever I stepped into the toilet I look up to the ceiling and say thank you Jesus. A lot of people are battling with their lives just because they can't excrete waste. I am grateful for the little things of life. For the fact that can eat, I can talk, I can see, walk, do things on my own independently, I am grateful. I am grateful I get to see my wife and kids after thinking I would lose them. I am grateful I got a chance to express myself musically to the world. Most importantly, I am grateful to be alive. A lot of my ward mates died so I have every reason to be grateful.
Kelly: Do you play live performances?
Elem C: Yes for a live audience, their is an app where I perform live for my audience.
Kelly: Has music helped you during your recovery?
Elem C: Yes, during my post-op, I started thinking a lot about my music and was feeling lot better because the thought of coming out quick and heading to the studio was all I could think of at the time
Kelly: How would you define the music you make?
Elem C: Gospel and inspirational, happy and gratitude
Kelly: What is the creative process for you like? Do you have collaborators you’d like to mention?
Elem C: Yeah, most people actually think I have a huge number of persons working with me but it is just my producer, his name is Emex. To the glory of God we complement each other a lot and I am so blessed to have him. And, most time if I bring myself to work on a project, God just helps me to make it happen.
Kelly: Is there anything else you’d like to mention like new releases coming up? Maybe you’d like to tell a story about a song we can already hear on streams.
Elem C: Yes, since the beginning of this year I have not released any song but I have a plan of releasing a marathon singles every two weeks starting from the 7th of July to December 13th 2023. The first single that will be dropping on the 7th of July is My Lover. My Lover is a beautiful song which depicts the love of God for his children and all that he's willing to do to bring us back to him.
I wrote one of my song titled winner the night I was to be discharged finally from the hospital and testify just to thank God for all that I went through and survived. The story of my illness is in the song. I also wrote one of my songs “Alright” to help those battling depression find meaning and know that yes, depression is real but we can always survive it like I did. I suffered depression after I got robbed few weeks after I was discharged from the hospital. I was still on drip at home and robbers broke into my house and took away everything I had. That was the second time I had a robbery experience with my wife and kids. The trauma was terrible. Most times when this depression tries to creep in I just stream me alright to remind myself that everything would be alright
Kelly: Where is your music available?
Elem C: My music is available in all streaming stores globally. I guess I will just share my linktree here at least it will help anyone who's interested know the exact place to find my music but my music is pretty easy to find, just search Elem C on spotify, iTunes, Apple music, Museiq, boomplay, audio mack, just to name a few.
Here is my link https://linktr.ee/iamelemc
Kelly: What are your plans for the future?
I intend for my music to travel the world and spread joy, positivity and happiness while we can appreciate and praise God with my music. Also I intend to change the narratives. A lot of artists of today talk about vices that make the young ones feel like crime is ok, at least I grew up listening to them and I know the kind of effect these songs had on me. These are some of the narratives I want to change with my music starting from my home because I have succeeded in controlling the kind of music that my kids consume.