FOR J'ODIE: AN 'AFRICAN WOMAN' RE-DEFINED. by Charles Novia
I first met J'odie at Klink Studios in Surulere, Lagos early in 2010. She was this very shy young lady who was quite respectful and would greet me with much respect and warmth. I didn't really take much notice of her because I didn't really know who she was. Later, I was told she was a contestant in the popular West Africa Idols show on DSTV in 2007 where she emerged among the top ten finalists. My meeting her a few times at Klink Studios that year was in the course of her working on her debut album, for which she was having lots of recording sessions with her Producer and musical guide then, a very talented young man known as Phat-E. Klink Studios is owned by my colleague and Big Brother, Kingsley Ogoro and most of my post-production work for some of my television series and documentaries were being done in the editing studios at that period when J'odie was having her recording sessions done in the audio studios. One day, whilst in the editing studio, I heard a very 'sweet' song coming from the recording studios. The melody and the lyrics were very captivating. I left the editing studio and rushed to the recording studio to find out who was singing. There was no singer in the vocal booth but Phat-E, the producer was on the console mixing the song. ' Play that song for me from the top' I told him as he turned when I opened the door. Being respectful of my musical antecedents, Phat-E obeyed. There, I heard the first mix of what would later be one of Africa's biggest classics in no time. I was transfixed by the song 'Kuchi Kuchi'.
Who's the singer?' I asked Phat-E
'Its J'odie, sir', he replied. ' That little lady you see in the studio here at times'
'That girl?' I asked, surprised. ' She can sing like this?'
I was mesmerized. I knew that I had heard a hit song and since my label, November Records, was undergoing a rebranding and re-engineering process then, I felt in my heart that J'odie would be the best artist to re-ignite that process.
A couple of days later, I met with J'odie and made my offer to have her on my label. She was surprised that I had so much faith in her track. I told her that 'Kuchi Kuchi' was going to be a big hit and I already had a printed outline of how I felt my label would promote her album and the song. We seemed to be on the right track towards achieving that and having her on my label until my lawyer advised me on a little legal flash point .
Apparently, someone had 'sponsored' the whole album and though the kind hearted person did it in good faith, my legal team felt we needed to get a legal document of release from the person before we could sign J'odie on the label. I even offered to pay for all expenses incurred so far in the production of the songs apart from my sign-on fees. Somehow, negotiations fell through and J'odie apologized and followed a different direction from mine.
However, J'odie and I remained good acquaintances and I would always advise her or give her one or two tips in the following months after that. I wasn't surprised when the song 'Kuchi Kuchi' became a monster hit just as I predicted. I am always happy for her success when I hear the song. Indeed, when in 2011, J'odie won the 'Best Nigerian Video' (or something close to that) Nigerian Music Video Awards in Lagos, as she came off the stage after receiving her awards, she saw me half-way in the row of seats looked at me, overcome by her happiness and emotions as I grinned and told her, 'I told you this song will take you places!'
'Yes, you did, Sir! You did!' She replied, out of breath.
The song 'Kuchi Kuchi' is mostly erroneously regarded as a love song by many people. It's a love song but not really sung for a lover but for a baby. It is a mother's anthem for a child she gave breast. An enduring tribute to a bond between mother and child. In singing the song, J'odie sings for every mother and would be mother. The emotional impact of that song resonates through out the whole of Africa till now.
Late 2012, J'odie released her debut single, 'African Woman'. The album's title is a perfect expression of who J'odie is; a strong African lady with a voice out of this world. The ten track album is a powerful package of neo-African Soul and pop. J'odie flirts with a hybrid of musical genres but never loses her identity nor does she falter in her vocal delivery. Think Angelique Kidjo meets Christiana Aguilera in vocal expression and you would understand what I'm talking about. The album is pure pleasure. Soothing and mellow as well as pungent and poignant in track after track.
The CD opens with 'I LOST MY MIND' , a personal trip into the maze of J'odie's existence. Mid-tempo and sublime, this track is perfect for the opening of the album. In 'losing her mind' , 'J'odie helps us find ours.
Tracks 2 and 3, ' My own story' and 'Right now' are J'odie's staple mantra about her personality clashes. Lyrically, she asserts a feminine superiority seldom exhibited by even our most revered Nigerian female acts.
Track 4, 'Biko' makes us see J'odie from a vulnerable standpoint. She sings about a love in awry stages and makes a passionate plea for some redemption, if any would come, from her lover. One has to read between the lines in this song to understand that perhaps, J'odie might be singing from a depth beyond our reach in this track.
The next track, 'Akpona Igbunu' is my goose-flesh song. Rendered in Isoko Language, this lilting melody gives you an esoteric trip into the myriad mysteries of life as seen from J'odie's view. She tells the widely acknowledged truth; 'this world is a mystery'. This song would make a sinner grovel at God's feet for forgiveness.
'Oh Mama' pays tribute to motherhood. In particular, J'odie's mother. A fitting tribute to a woman who birthed such a creative being.
'African woman' the title track is with its techno-pop beats aspires to be a dance floor hit. Unfortunately, I don't think it will realize such ambitions in the continent. I see the song getting more airplay in Europe and America and even used in foreign movie soundtracks.
Track 8, 'Under the Mango tree' is a beautiful lullaby composed perhaps with the African kids in mind. It brings pictures of a communal African setting to mind with a mango tree used as a musical motif for a storytelling experience.
'Sugar Coconut' is beautiful song. In the mould of 'Kuchi Kuchi' in melody but more matured and very African. In my opinion, this track is the next big hit for J'odie, if it is well promoted. A wonderful song with catchy lyrics and an endearing chorus. She sings of a lover coming for her, after a long wait and you can actually feel her happiness at the prospects.
The last track is her classic, 'Kuchi Kuchi'; a befitting close to a lovely album.
Nine of the ten tracks are produced by the talented Wole Oni with Phat-E as the credited Producer of 'Kuchi Kuchi'.
For those who love Asa, Bez and other neo-soul Nigerian Artistes, you would love 'African Woman' by J'odie. However, I make bold to say that J'odie is in a class by herself. A rare creative breed. Sadly, our airwaves are filled with hormonal charged beats. We should be listening to songs like J'odie's with our hearts, not with our legs, which will soon wobble from the cacophony of fake beats we all are at present assailed with. J'odie's debut effort is a triumph of creativity. I ask you to get her CD. You will thank me for it.
