Sarge Mix is a bundle of talent when it comes to working with sounds. He is known to many as a music producer and to others as a sound engineer which is where he majors.
He spoke to CHINEDU HARDY NWADIKE of www.otowngist.com in this interview where he talked about himself, the ills of Nigeria music industry as well as a hint on when his wedding bells will be sounding.
Excerpts:
Getting to know you
My name is Okechukwu Chimezie Danladi Omire
How come ‘Danladi’?
It a Hausa name for Children born on Sunday and my dad gave me the name.
Why did your dad give you a Hausa name?
I guess he was influenced by his friends. He lived in the North. I was born in Maiduguri and grew up there, so I believe the name came from there.
Your childhood
I missed my childhood shaa, although it ended early. I became independent very early but growing up was fun. I was born in a middle class family with plenty of love. There was always food; though sometimes. Growing up was so cute. I miss my childhood sometimes.
What did you miss as a child?
I wish my father was a rich man. I wish I was born with a silver spoon. I’m struggling all my life to get a silver spoon. If I had been born with one, I’d be struggling to get the second one now.
Your early independence
It was in secondary school. We were living in Maiduguri and I got admission to study at Federal Government College Daura in Katsina State. I was very young then and had never been out on my own.
The school was a hostile environment, bullying and all the rest of it that are associated with secondary school. I learnt how to start thinking for myself and that was it.
Secondary School was not still straightforward for me, I had health issues and my parents were advised to send me to Federal Government College Warri, Delta State and that was where I finished.
After that I went to Petroleum Training Institute for a while before transferring to Federal University of Technology Owerri [FUTO] where I ended up with a degree in Water Resources Engineering instead of Electrical Engineering which I wanted initially.
What brought you into music?
I don’t really know how I got into music but I know that I have always had passion for music and I can remember bugging my mum in my primary school days to get me a headphone receiver with antenna. I was just intrigued by the idea of covering my ears with music and getting lost in it.
My mum is a music composer and has been in the choir all her life and even heard recently that my father’s mum was a musician. Maybe the music thing is in the blood.
I cannot remember anytime that I was not really attracted to music.
Your first move in music
I learnt how to play the trumpet which I still consider my first major musical accomplishment. Other instruments followed after.
Your contribution to the development of music in your area
Music for me is not a do or die affair, it is something that is fun for me. I have fun while I do it. I’m not really bordered about the impact I am making, it’s just something that makes me happy.
I know that along the line, I have mentored some people and some others did the same to me. I’m not really out to do anything for anybody, I just want to enjoy myself.
Who are you in music?
I’m just a music addict. A former studio rat. I do a bit of production; I’m pioneering my own style of production called the act of sampling. I have my own sound when I mix. I’m also a sound engineer, and design acoustic environment [I design studios].
I’m also good with computers and stuffs. I do a lot of things in music and I write songs as well.
Nigeria music industry
We have come a long way, but still have a long way to go. At least people are feeding off the music industry which is a kind of progress. Artistes can now live the kind of live they could only dream of and it is a good thing. It means we are definitely on the right part even if we are not there yet.
What would you change if you have the power?
I will get rid of Alaba and I will bring back the record labels of the old and distribution companies so that everybody who contributes something to the industry will be able to benefit from their contribution. I think Alaba is sucking us dry, I think Alaba is ripping us off. It is not fair that people who sell music will be in a better passion to determine the kind of music that will made for sale.
It is not fair that people who invest zero naira in the lives of artistes should be the ones making most of the money from them. Musicians should be able to make money from the sales of their CDs.
Everyone is now pressured into looking for endorsements and shows. Musicians abroad donate the whole monies from a show to charity and I don’t think anyone in Nigeria will try that because that is your only pay day.
I would just get rid of the monopoly called Alaba; I think Nigeria is too big to have one single location where music will be sold. Nigeria is too big to have a particular kind of music that will be topping the chart.
We are too diverse for that kind of thing, we should have different zones for that.
Do you think we still have creativity in the industry?
There is still talented people in the industry. This is Nigeria, whatever yardstick you bring, there will always be people that can measure up to it.
These days, it is not really the talent that matters, but what you do with it. There is no big deal about talent these days because almost everyone has it. A whole lot of talented people in the country have been frustrated because there is no platform to nurture talents in Nigeria.
Rating Imo State and music
I am not too impressed with the way music in done here. I wish there could be a lot more done. We are not really pulling our weight in this town. I have been in this town for a while and I am yet to see someone who is singing and has become a role model that parents can talk to their children and say be like this person.
What is missing?
The most talented people are not going into music. That is what we are lacking. We don’t have the best talents as artistes, we don’t have the best people in production and we don’t have the best in sound engineering.
The name Sarge
It is a long story. I got the name in my university days, I think it was my second year.
Who is Sarge Mix on a normal day?
I like to think of myself as a straightforward person; hard working; lover of integrity. I’m a lover of nature and music. I am very logical and objective and I try to advice people to be same. I like to see myself as someone with the fear of God.
Are you hooked up?
I hope to get married this year. That being said, it is not mouth that will marry for you. You need to find the girl and be ready to foot the bill. But I believe God, if I don’t get married this year, it will definitely mean that God has a different plan for me.
Your next project
I won’t say anyone is bigger than the other, but I can start with my post graduate studies which I am presently on. There are others I can’t really reveal because of the contracts that binds them. But people should always expect something big from me.
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