Monday, November 03, 2008
by Ayokunle Joel-Taiwo
From a journey as a Biochemist to a model, starring in various TV commercials for companies such as Starcom Gala TV and Globacom, Toba Gold's journey has lead him to what he loves to do and does best - A Jazz / Neo Soul artist. Using his talent as a Neo Soul artist, he communicates love and life to the matured audience in Nigeria, my interview with him gave me the impression that he is humble and optimistic about the future of Nigerian music, With the release of his first album, I'm quite certain that we will be seeing more of him.
Interview with Toba Gold:
Ayokunle: I was reading your Bio on your website, graduating college with a degree in Biochemistry and moving into modeling, then music is usually not a path that most artists take, was this unique career path a choice or did you land into music because of various circumstances?
Toba: I started music since I was thirteen, as a vocalist in the church choir. While I was in University, Biochemistry as a choice of course of study demands absolute concentration, so I had suspended my active music career until I graduated. But I was building potentials by writing my songs, learning the piano, active catwalk and photography modeling. Music for me then was my unique career but my 1st degree was my number one priority.
Ayokunle: Why did you choose Jazz and Neo Soul as a Genre?
Toba: I chose Jazz and Neo Soul as a genre because I worshiped saxophone like my idol, I was readily attracted to sax with a fusion of rhythmic soul. I had collections of Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Groovier Washington, Nat king Cole, Anita Baker, Otis Redding; I also love Baba Fela Anikulapo Kuti to mention but few. For every song I write, I feel jazz in the composition and soul in its content. I approach life with scrutiny, I am deep, sensual and I always want to perfect my creative ability, I also love uniqueness, something different from the usual. I build my lyric around love and life (reality)
Ayokunle: Giving your talent and the reason you chose Jazz as a genre, what would have been your second Genre of choice?
Toba: I wouldn't make a second choice of genre of music.
Ayokunle: Do you have any artist that inspires you?
Toba: Otis Redding inspires me so greatly with his soulful composition in "Have been loving you too long"
Ayokunle: Have you performed outside of Nigeria? Is it part of your future plans?
Toba: I have not performed any were outside Nigeria but it's in my future plan
Ayokunle: Jazz in Nigeria, not necessarily a very popular Genre compared to Afro Beats, Hip Hop just to name a few, are you able to attract new audience with your music or do find that most of your audiences are people that already have an interest for Jazz and Neo Soul?
Toba: Some time ago, we were fed in Nigeria with very few options in our choice of music, until you make booty shaking songs with up tempo beats, you might likely not get a marketing endorsements. Investors do not want to do long term music business; throw a single into the club, shoot a Cromer video, wax album within one week, get a marketer and split the profit. Thereby, giving less room for creativity and fulfillment of the Artist.
Ayokunle: With the sudden burst in Nigerian music, many artists are starting to become more creative, taking music to heights that have never been attempted since the creation of highlife music back in the early 60's, as a Soul artist (the same can be said about your music) where do you see the Genre (Soul) going in the future? Do you think more and more artist will join in and take it to new heights?
Toba: More and more Artists are joining the soul train, now we have numerous kinds of music in Nigeria. The corporate bodies are beginning to support entertainments, and to attract them you must have good content, good lyrics and mutual target audience.
I run Icon Media with my Associate Chuka Okonkwo, A multidisciplinary consortium of franchise and integrated communications and event packaging limited company. We have been able to put up a bi-monthly live Jazz and soul concert,' Blunt Fusion' launched 29TH August 2008. Aimed at showcasing rear talents in Soul, R&B and Jazz Music and entertaining the matured audience. So we are building a huge database of clienteles.
Ayokunle: What language are most of your music in?
Toba: My music are in English and Yoruba language but soon in French, am still learning the language
Ayokunle: Do you do any live shows? Where?
Toba: I do a bi- monthly live show every last Friday of the month at the Cultural Art Centre, Terrakulture, Nigeria.
Ayokunle: Do you have any upcoming events?
Toba: The second edition of Blunt Fusion Coming up 7th November 2008.
7pm at Trerrakulture, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos
Also my album launch is coming up at the Eko Hotel and Suites, 26TH December 2008
Ayokunle: Where can the album be purchased at this time?
Toba: It can be purchased at the Nu metro Store and distributed and marketed worldwide. For more enquiries just log on to www.tobagold.com or contact Manager: Ayodele Lawal at
Ayokunle: Thanks for your time, please keep me informed of any updates in the future.
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