Emmanuel Okose, better known
with the stage name Soul E, has
gone through a music hiatus in
his career. In this interview with
Adunola Oladapo, he disclosed
that he is back and better with
two albums to be released soon,
among other issues. Excerpts:
Can you give us an insight into
your musical background?
I was born into a musical family. I
started performing as a singer at
the age of eight, opening
crusades for my father who is an
evangelist. I later joined a group
called Honey Voices at 13 and
later started a group (Soul
Brothers) along with two friends
(Soul T & Soul D). At 21, I signed a
record deal with a company
known as Colossal Entertainment,
under which my first album
entitled; ‘Naija is blessed’ was
released, with the hit song, Soul E
baba dey here. And in December
2007, I released two albums; His
Excellency 1 and 2.
Tell us about your legal battle
with Colossal Records?
We are out of court with them as
we speak.
Was it an out-of-court
settlement or what actually
happened?
Everybody goes their own way
was the final agreement and I am
under my own record label now
with partners in Germany,
Singapore, South Africa and
Scotland and we are all working
together to ensure that
everything works out for good
this time around.
What are your experiences
during the long break and will
you say you are a better artiste
now?
In the life of everyman, there
must be some ups and downs, it’s
just a normal thing that happens
and I must tell you that I have
learnt from them and all I can ask
from God is that everything falls
in place this time around. Most of
the things I did before, I don’t do
them anymore.
One of the things I learnt in my
trying period is to be focused on
the Lord and no matter how deep
down one goes, God is mighty
and able to lift one back to the
greatest heights. I don’t have to
be sure because I know what I am
saying to be true and it’s part of
my experience as a person, so I
know what I am talking about.
I went through this ordeal so I
know myself better than any
other person. All I am so sure of is
that Soul E is back with a bang, my
return is going to be explosive
and I am going to that next level I
have always desired in my music
career. My new works will be first
of its kind in Nigeria. The greatest
height is where I am going now
with my return to the industry.
What should your fans expect
in your forthcoming album, is
it the usual Soul E stuff?
This Is a different kind of Soul E,
good songs, more vocal strength,
more lyrical power and the first
single coming out Is called ‘Fara
Gbale’ ,while the other one Is
called ‘Baba You Too Much’. It’s all
about the things I went through
in my life and definitely, the
songs will blow people’s minds.
It’s a gospel and inspirational
album, so it’s going to be a two-
in- one album that I will be
dropping. We have been thanking
God for preserving my life all
through the period that my career
was at its lowest ebb.
From a secular musician to a
gospel artiste, where is the link
and how did it happen?
Let’s just say I’m back to my actual
calling. I started in the church and
it’s only natural that I’ve returned
there now. And I’m even closer to
God now and I just want to serve
Him all the way and that’s why I’m
singing for Him. The course of my
professional music career has
been controversial, so the
controversies were an inspiration
to record my message in my
album.
After weathering so many storms,
I just needed to thank God for His
grace in my life. He’s been so kind
to me. And I also want people to
learn from my story and thank
God through me.’ Message’ is an
eight-tracker, made up of Baba
You Too Much, Thank God, By My
Side, Love, Healing in The House,
He’s Alive, Baba Baba, Oba and
Your Love. Thank God has already
been made into a video that is
now receiving air play and the
video of Baba You Too Much will
be released next month.
Can you share some of the
experiences you passed
through during your long
break from music?
There were a lot of speculations
about me that were not true and
top on the list of such news was
that I had become a pastor, which
was not true. Second was also
that I was married to Queen Ure,
which was again not true and
third, that I can’t use my name,
Soul E to do music again in Nigeria
and a whole lot of other things
which made people have a funny
perception about me as a person.
Well, it’s just that the true Soul E
fans know what to believe about
my person and I thank God that
they kept faith with me till the
very end. But away from that, I
was never married and when I do
get married, there would be proof
to show the whole world that I
am indeed married and a location
and venue will be given for all to
attend.
Whatever happened between
myself and Queen Ure was just
what happened to two people
that are in love and I don’t regret
any of my actions because I was in
love with her at that time and I
was just supporting my ex in the
many projects she was doing,
which any man in love will do and
I am not regretting any of my
actions as I have taken full
responsibility for them.
And the rumour saying that I can’t
use my name, Soul E, as an
entertainer is just false and a
mere rumour and I will continue
to use that name as long as I
remain a musician. Now that I am
back, with a bang for that matter
and with the same name, is it not
a shame to my enemies and the
rumour mongers?
Has the money started rolling
in again because there was a
time the media was agog that
you have gone bankrupt?
Who would have thought about a
thing like that and to think that I
am about to shoot a music video
in three countries, so how have I
been doing all what I just told
you? Please disregard that story.
You talked about a double
album and shooting your
music videos in some foreign
countries, so who is footing
these bills?
(Laughs) It’s God and I. I believe
in my talent and I am trusting God
that things will work out well this
time and I am dropping two
albums; one gospel and one
inspirational, all under my record
label, Soul E International
Records. God has been good to
me and I am sponsoring my
albums with the help of God. So,
now you can see that the scandals
in the papers are not true but
simply malicious.
Who are the Nigerian artistes
you had collabos with in the
new albums to be released?
Not with any popular act. I think I
will be contributing my quota to
the growth of the industry by
helping to groom and push the
new up and coming artistes to
spotlight too.
So, you worked with new faces
in the industry?
Basically, we wanted to give room
for up and coming acts, who are
trying to climb the ladder of
success, so we did work with this
kind of artistes and not with
already established names in the
industry all in the hope that we’ll
raise people that are not known
and make them superstars for the
future.
Can you enumerate some of
the international collabos you
have had in the past?
I have done many but I will just
mention a few here. Overcomer –
Soul E and Wonderous (Houston
Texas) 2005; Street Life – Soul E
and Ghost Writers (Houston
Texas) 2005; E be like say - Tu Face
Featuring Soul E (Nigeria) 2006;
Rock this party – Soul E and
Koldproduck (South Africa) 2007;
You got your life – Soul E and
Kokoveli (Ghana) 2008; Mona Lisa
– Rough and Smooth Feat. Soul E
(Ghana) 2008; Ayele – Soul E Feat.
Takara (New York) 2006 and so
many others.

does this guy still sing?

Guy 2 albums at a time