I CREATED A CHANT IN YORUBA FOR JANET JACKSON'S ENTRANCE ON STAGE... TONY ADE

United States base Nigeria Musician, Tony Ade is currently in Nigeria for this year's  vacation. In this exclusive interview with Akinola, Tony Ade explained his experience, been the second time he will be visiting his mother land. 

WHO IS TONY ADE: 

A rising performing and recording music prodigy !

THAT MEANS YOU ARE A GENIUS:

Yes, I  am genius, after learning how to play Piano, I taught myself how to play bass guitar, talking drum, omele, sakara, bata drum, omele chord, iya-ilu, and many more

WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU PLAY:

My music Is a combination of authentic African sound fused with jazz and R&B/Soul 

TELL US YOUR MUSIC EXPERIENCE IN USA, HOW IT ALL STARTED:

I started my music journey growing up in church. From about age 3, I developed a sincere interest for the drum set. All glory to God, who used the late Mr. Lewis Clark as a teacher and guidance, that cultivated my talent and taught me the fundamentals in playing drums right from age 4 (my late grandmother Frances Adebisi Adewumi also fought on my behalf at church to play the drums as the elders would try and chase me away since I was very much young then). 

Then around about age 11, I developed my second musical interest in the keyboard/piano (which Mr. Clark also cultivated that interest and taught me the fundamentals to playing piano). From there, I self taught my skills on every other instrument that I pay which includes the bass guitar, talking drum, omele, sakara, bata drum, omele chord, iya-ilu, and many more!

 Right from middle school I was always involved in the band, whether it was the orchestral school band or it was the carribbean Steelband (which is another set of instruments that I play as well). Growing up in church and being apart of the choir, not only gave birth to me playing musical instruments but I also began singing as well. In 2010 I officially began singing and leading as a choir director at church. Then in 2019 I began my career as a solo artist. 

YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A MULTI TALENTED ARTIST:

Along my journey as a multi-instrumentalist, music director, producer, singer/song writer, I have been opportune to gain experience in working with great indigenous artists such as Lanre Teriba (Atorise), Esther Igbekele, Dare Melody, Tope Alabi, Mega 99, Moses Harmony, Latunde Silva, K1 De Ultimate, Yinka Ayefele, Solek The Wonderboy, Kofo The Wonder Man, Sunny Melody, Saint Janet, Seyi Akinbinu, and many more. I have also been able to gain experience in the Afrobeats industry as I’ve worked as the first music director in the US for many of the following acts such as with Davido, Olamide, Flavour, Adekunle Gold, Wande Coal, Phyno, Aramide, Emma Nyra, Efya, Tiwa Savage, P’Square, Masterkraft, and others. I was also the first music director in the US to work for one of the largest global Afrobeats festival: One Africa Music Fest.

My most prominent experience so far in my career in the US, was last year 2018 when I became the first artist to introduce talking drum into Western Pop culture as I performed live with the legendary Janet Jackson and the Latino legend Daddy Yankee, together live on the national show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (I also created a chant in Yoruba for Janet Jackson to enter the stage: “asiko ope, Janet ti de”)

ALL the glory goes to my creator, the GOD above, Eledumare!

HOW DO YOU FEEL COMING TO YOUR FATHER LAND FOR THE SECOND TIME:

Well funny enough, Nigeria is actually rather my mother’s land as my father and his family is American born. But, it has been a great experience being here for the second time. I love every second of it. I love the food (nothing compared to the watered down Naija food that we eat in the US), and I love the atmosphere here!

HOW DO YOU SEE NIGERIA MUSIC: 

I deeply cherish and love Nigerian/African music. The African sound is so unique and different that you cannot just easily imitate or mimic the sound like you can easily mimic other genres of music. So even though I was born and raised in the US and even though I’m technically 50% Nigerian, I cannot but include that original African sound into my music, most especially with my talking drum!  

YOUR EXPRIENCE SINCE YOU ARRIVED:

Being my second time here, it continues to be a great learning experience for me and also an eye opener for me as well.  

EYE OPENER? 

Yes, I deeply cherish and love Nigerian/African music. The African sound is so unique and different that you cannot just easily imitate or mimic the sound like you can easily mimic other genres of music. So even though I was born and raised in the US and even though I’m technically 50% Nigerian, I cannot but include that original African sound into my music, most especially with my talking drum!  

SCHOOLS YOU ATTENDED IN USA:

Primary school: Emma Lazarus Elementary school PS 268 (Brooklyn, NY)

Middle school: Meyer Levin IS 285 (Brooklyn, NY)

High school: Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School (Brooklyn, NY)

College: CUNY Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn NY)- temporarily majored in Psychology 

College: Nassau Community College (Long Island, NY)- temporarily majored in business/business admin

Prince George’s Community College (Largo, MD)- majored in Music (Voice), minored in Business 

DO YOU FEEL LIKE SETTLING IN NIGERIA:

I can definitely say that eventually, I will have a base here in Nigeria when the time is right. 

WHEN NEXT WILL YOU VISIT NIGERIA:

very soon as I begin to prepare the ground work for my music here in Nigeria. So I will definitely be back very soon.

HOW DO YOU RELAX:

I relax by either sitting or laying with my eyes closed, and mediating with smooth soul soothing music in the background. Or at times I might get any instrument that I’m in the mood for at the moment, and play freely while as I mediate  

ARE YOUR PARENTS IN SUPPORT WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER:

so I grew up with only my mom and when I started professionally playing music, my mom was not in support of me playing music as a profession. Most especially because I started going out for performances from I was 13 years old.  So I had to lie to her back then when I had performances, that I’m going over to my cousin’s house in order for her to allow me to leave the house! But now she definitely fully supports me and my endeavors! 

ASIDE YOU, IS THERE ANY OTHER PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY THAT IS INTO ENTERTAINMENT:

My younger brother is an aspiring model and actor. I also have a cousin presently in the UK who is also an aspiring music artist.

MASSAGE TO YOUR FANS:

I am grateful for every single fan that I’ve had since the start, for every new fan that I’ve acquired, and even for the new ones that have yet to discover Tony Adè. I love you ALL, because one thing I’ve learned in the little experience I have working in the entertainment industry in the US, is that the fans can either make or break you. One of my past mentors used to always tell me that “you need your fans more than they need you”, and for that reason, I’ve learned to cherish and value every single of one them.