Reasons I can't date MI, Ice Prince - Soul singer, Lami Philips

Philips

Soul crooner, Lami Philips is not your regular musician. She combines beauty and brain on/off stage with so much poise. In this interview, she gladly shares some of her best secrets with us. Pretty Philips also spoke on her alleged romance with MI, Ice Prince among other issues.

You are hardly seen on red carpets and other social gatherings; any special reason?

The truth is that I’m a very private person. Apart from that, I might not be everywhere like some of the artistes who are into pop music.  I do Soul music and Soul music is still picking up in Nigeria; I don’t want to compromise my standard in the name of trying to be everywhere. Besides, I’m not one of those people who feel like being at every red carpet.      

How long have you been singing?

My first single and first video were dropped in the year 2010. So I would say I’ve been singing in Nigeria for the past three years. Aside Nigeria, I’ve been singing for the past 10 years. I have one album now entitled Intuition which came out in 2010 and really made people know who Lami Phillips is. I have a couple of singles out there also; there is one which I featured MI and another one featuring Ice Prince (Orimi Wu), among others. I am currently working on another album entitled Pieces of Love which should be out any moment from now.   

Why the choice of Soul music instead of the contemporary music?

I must not really do what everybody is doing. There are lots of artistes, like Asa, Bez, Timi Dakolo, among others who are not doing contemporary music but are really well appreciated. Most times, especially in Nigeria, an artiste has to be in the scene for about five years before he or she will be known and widely accepted. I think I’m doing well in my genre of music; I’m not competing with anyone; I’m just taking one step at a time.

Did you stumble into music?

I’ve been singing since I was seven-years-old. I just didn’t make it a profession in terms of being in Nigeria, making videos and selling CDs, until 2010. But for the past 10 years, I’ve been singing outside Nigeria.

Kindly share your background with us

I come from a beautiful family; my father’s job made him and the entire family move around a lot. Though I’m from Lagos State, I wasn’t born in Nigeria; I was born in the US, where I stayed for a while before returning to Nigeria for my primary and a large portion of my secondary school education. I later went to England, where I completed my secondary school education and I also did my first degree and master’s degree. I also did an MBA in America. While I was doing all these, I was always writing and singing songs. When I went to Atlanta, I also worked professionally on what I had built in England.  From there I realized I needed to come back home; at least my family is here in Nigeria. I missed home a lot so I decided to return.

After acquiring so much education in England; why the choice of music?

Let me correct you, there are lots of artistes with degrees, may be not master’s degrees. Sound Sultan, Asa, Naeto C and so many others are also educated. The issue is that, having a degree or post degree does not make anyone better than others. The issue is that I love what I am doing, and that is the major reason I am doing it. It’s not just all about singing, branding oneself also matters and that is exactly what I am doing. When you look at the way the entertainment industry is going especially in the western world, you will understand what I am saying. For instance, people like Jay Z are owning businesses and doing so many things with their names which have become brands; it’s all about branding, not just singing for singing sake. I want to be a brand to be reckoned with.

You seem so reserved for the Nigerian showbiz scene?

I’m actually not a reserved person; I’m just a private person. When I’m on stage, I’m alive, outside that I don’t think I have to put my whole life on display. I don’t want to thrive on controversies. Look at people like Asa and Timi Dakolo; they are successful and are not everywhere displaying all what they got.

When you did the collaboration with MI, lots of Nigerians thought and still think there is a kind of romance between two of you?

I think that was a shallow thinking.  Maybe there hadn’t been such good collaborations in a while and that was why people just attached another meaning to it. I’m married so I don’t know why I should be romantically involved with someone else. The only thing MI did to me was our music collaboration. We did a song together and it didn’t and couldn’t have gone beyond that.

Some of us thought you should have gone for Ice Prince if at all you wanted to date anyone…   

Ice Prince is like my younger brother, please (laughs). I think that is insulting and apart from that I’m married for God’s sake. In the western world, lots of artistes do songs together and nothing is being attached to it.

But you didn’t refute the allegation then?

I don’t have time for such. I’m happily married and I think it’s totally wrong to be romantically involved with any other person.

But would you have dated him if you were not married?  

Why? Why must I date him? Do you date your female colleagues in the office? So let’s say I may not have wanted such…

Are you saying you couldn’t have dated an artiste if you were not married?

I think the fact that we have to talk about relationships most times in the entertainment industry means that we are not even focused. To me, what people do in their private lives is not important to me. I grew up believing that we should do what we believe in and I believe that being an entertainer does not mean you should date everybody and be in all places.

What do you think of the Nigerian music industry?

The fact that lots of people have begun to take music as a career shows that the industry is growing. It’s still an emerging market and I think the future is bright. Lots of talented artistes are springing up and that is a good thing. At the moment I’m listening to Olamide’s songs and I see lots of talents in him.

Do you intend collaborating with Olamide soon?

I’ve thought about that but I’m yet to act on it. I also like Phyno a lot-I have had a chat with him. But the issue is that, it’s not just all about putting a big name on a song, it’s about the song being good. When I featured Ice Prince, he wasn’t yet as big as he is today. So I didn’t feature him because of his name.

It seems you’ve known Ice Prince for long

Chocolate City was among the record labels I first associated myself with when I returned to Nigeria. So they were the first group of people I got close with.

You just described Ice Prince as your younger brother?

Yes, the relationship we have is like that.

You can’t contemplate having an affair with him?

Whether Ice Prince or Pope John Paul, I can’t contemplate having affair with anybody. My principles and personality as a Christian won’t even allow me do that.

How do you get inspired?

I’m inspired by challenges; I’m inspired by the people around me.

You don’t smoke?

I get high on food not by smoking; I like food a lot. I’m just a very happy person and I don’t need all those things. It’s not because I’m morally superior, but because I have people that I’m accountable to and I must not bring shame to them.   

Where did you meet your husband?

We met in England but got married here in Nigeria. He is a superman; very fantastic man. He is my friend, my life coach, prayer partner, he means everything to me. If you meet my husband, you will find out why I can’t even contemplate of doing any nonsense-he is so nice, good looking and successful. So what else will I be looking for?

As a talented lady from a wealthy home, are there things that also make you cry?

I shed tears if anything happens to any member of my family. I get very emotional when I see people suffering, especially children. I hate seeing children hawking when they were supposed to be in school, and that is why I’m involved in a programme with the United Nations (UN). I also work with different orphanages on that aspect. Another thing that could make me cry is when I’m overwhelmed by the good things people do.                 

 

By JAMES EMMANUEL-ENTERTAINMENT EXPRESS
jemedia7@gmail.com