A Nigerian-American singer, Eniola Ayodele Joseph, popularly known as Anola, has assured her fans in Nigeria to expect more from her, promising continue to do and release more soul-lifting songs to keep them rocking.
Anola, who is currently based in the United States, spoke well of her fans both home and abroad, saying, their support thus far has kept her going.
She also spoke of the need to explore new grounds, while calling on music lovers generally in Nigeria to discover her musical genre, as much as the situation is outside the country.
To this end, the music sensation assured her fans, especially Nigerian revelers among others across the world of a rocking year promising them of more high-spirited songs lined up for release.
Anola, also a songwriter, whose Extended Play (EP) album “The Outset” released in 2019 became a launch pad that pushed her to stardom, as it was widely circulated, was of the view that non-discovery of her music type still contributed to her being underrated within the entertainment sector in Nigeria, with less mentions of her songs, unlike abroad, especially in the US where she has been applauded for her soul-lifting releases.
According to her, “I’ve put a lot of efforts into producing all these songs with huge investments, adding flavours in my songs to suit different cultures and categories of music lovers, but the truth is, people need to pay more attention to my music, which is not the case now, though the situation is different abroad.
“I know Nigerians to be lovers of good music, and they embrace it wherever they can access them, but the issue in most cases is, some of these good songs are not well circulated by those saddled with such responsibilities, hope the situation will change this year,” Anola said.
The music entrepreneur based in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, said apart from her precious singing experience, she did “The Outset” in 2019 to make a statement on how one can move ahead from the level of a dreamer to have an ambition actualised.
The EP which comprised of hit tracks such as “Watch My Body;” “Slow Ride;” “Love Don’t Cost” and “Tonight,” written by Anola, and worked on by top music producers featuring Sojay, she said “are songs lovers of good music can’t afford not to keep listening to over and over again.
Anola, who described her style of music as Afro R&B, Soul, Pop, and Trap was quick to say that she believes in doing quality songs capable of turning to evergreen music, even after years of their release, adding that she had engaged producers like Blaq Jerzee, and Camo Blaizz to do songs that became irresistible, “because of its good quality.”
She called on Nigerians to embrace creative works of hustling youths and support them to greatness by patronising their works, through which the local contents can be well developed and circulated to an extent it yields profits to creating financial independence to the hustlers, while it also boosts the national economy.
Anola, a native of Kogi State, who relocated to the US at the age of 12, said her musical interest was sparked at an early age, while coming across a biopic of a 60’s rock star. “The music had energy, feel, and beautiful melodies whilst still being tremendously simple,” she said, describing the experience as what instantly grabbed her imagination, as from that moment on, she got transfixed with music.
To her, music has been more than a hobby. “It is a serious passion,” saying, she understands the importance of developing her vocal techniques and skills but also want to have an in-depth knowledge of music and the way in which it has evolved over the years.
Anola said, in her career, over the years, she has been fascinated by such aspects as the history of music and music theory, as according to her, “music has no genre,” therefore, she sings her emotions as experienced.
“I have various musical influences such as, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Micheal Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyonce Knowles and many more,” Anola said.
Reflecting on her musical journey, she informed that, in 2006, she had the opportunity to sing background for a huge African Mega super star, Tuface ‘2baba’ Idibia who sang the sound track to the movie Phat Girlz staring comedian Mo’nique titled “African Queen.”
In 2008, her first single titled “Miss Me” alongside “Music in Me” was released, while in 2010 she had her first performance as an opening act for a well known Nigerian singer and songwriter, Wande Coal.
It was the following year 2011 she dropped another soulful single titled “Tonight,” and two years down the line, 2013 precisely, she had the opportunity to perform at African Superstar Concerts featuring top musical acts such as Bracket, Wizkid, Banky W, Skales and others.
The following year 2014, Anola also partook in the biggest Midwest Afrobeat festival in Chicago featuring P Square, and in 2016, she was was an opening act for Wande Coal and Tiwa Savage at a musical event. Her latest opening act show was in 2019 at Chicago for Teni “Tenientertainer,” and in 2020 she did the backup vocals for Sweet Mary J by Kcee.
Musical analysts have described the musical journey of Anola to be a beautiful one thus far, having developed her sound throughout the years, and her experiences, which have all made her a force to be reckoned with, with her musical style of music described as “captivating but yet versatile.”