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KICKING IT WITH SCRIM
Kicking It With; Scrim
9 April 2011 No Comment
Mc Gunfinger caught up with Scrim to bring you the latest on his sound and style, his new ventures behind the camera and memorable moments of a pioneering career.
Q1. Growing up, what and who were your musical influences. How have they impacted the musician you are today?

I was born in the ancient kingdom of Benin City (Nigeria) where art is tied to tradition and customs. Music is part of every day life, I was surrounded by music, record stores littered my street . The music of Fela Kuti, Phil Colins, Michael Jackson, Seal , Bob Marley, Police, Sting, Victor Uwaifo , Yvone Chaka Chaka, Brenda Fassie just to mention a few were my inspiration. I have come to be who I am today due to these different styles of rhythms my mind has adopted, I really don?t have one true style. Sometimes I sound like a rock artist, reggae or even RnB and some other times I sound classical or acid jazz but i just describe myself as a pop artist (popular music)



Q2. Does your heritage impact your music content or sound?

I don?t try to pretend to be what I am not, I understand that I am an African so I let the African in me rule my music, that is my identity, that is where I am more comfortable. At the same time I also try to make my sound more universal so as to be able to convert more fans outside my comfort zone.

Q3. What aspect of making music excites you the most and what are you up to right now, music-wise?

The process of production, bringing different sounds together and and then lacing it with best instrument of all..the voice, that is beautiful. I can live in the studio for a month just making music.

Q4. The entertainment industry can involve a lot of odd hours and travel, how do you balance your musical interests with making time for family and friends as well as other commitments?

The entertainment industry is very time consuming, you get to travel a lot and spend lots of time perfecting your ART. You have to find balance, you need to make your family and friends just as important as your career, make sure you make time for all, it is not easy but it is possible. Even a simple call can make a difference where it is impossible to be with loved ones physically.

Q5. Gotta ask?do you write your own songs?

I write my songs, I am more of a writer. I have been writing since I was a little boy and I also write for other artist.

Q6. What are the main topics across your music and have they evolved over time?

Because I grew up under military dictatorship, my songs originally were very political, I was asking for freedom, I was asking for human rights, I asked for equality but recently I have discovered that my lyrics are becoming more playful perhaps it is the sign of the time we are living in. I still write deep , I am a deep thinker so even when I write love songs people have been known to interpret it deeper than I thought or meant it to be.

Q7. Got to hear the ?Daughter of the Night? collaboration, pretty dope. Chaka D and Pliers are pioneers and legends of dancehall, what was it like sharing creative control on a track?

Daughter of the Night is a song that I wrote many years ago. It was actually inspired by the duo of Chaka Demus and Pliers. I remember as a very young man watching these guys on MTV in Lagos, Nigeria. They were on top of the charts and I looked up to them as my heroes. I dreamt that one day I would be able to see them in person and my dream came true about 2 and half years ago when I was asked to perform alongside Chaka Demus and Pliers on their Australian tour. During the show at the Metro Theater in Sydney they said they were happy with the way I performed and my song writing ability . They said they had just recorded a song with Nigerian superstar Tuface Idibia, they asked that I jump on a track with them, I thought I was dreaming.
I chose the song Daughter because I knew it was close to their style, we went to a studio in North Sydney and recorded the song and got it mastered at Sony Music Australia . Pliers was a bit surprised that the song sounded like something they would have done and I made it known to them that they inspired me to write the song many years ago. The surprising thing about it all was their humility, they said thank you Mr Scrim for letting us jump on a track with you, I was very humbled.

Q8. What?s been you biggest challenge in the industry so far?

My biggest challenge has been finding a good record label, I still don?t have a record label but I am popular especially within the community. I need an organized label to promote and distribute my works. I see myself as an international star but the music industry seems to be in chaos right now and the record companies here seem not to be interested in African acts. My songs are available online via iTunes and some marketer also tried promoting it in Nigeria but they are not doing a good job with it. The videos are doing well in most Nigerian TV stations.

Q9. What?s been your most memorable ?This is why I do it? moment?

With music everyday is memorable but I will never forget performing alongside Lucky Dube at the Roxy Theater in Sydney and recording with Chaka Demus and Pliers.

Q10. So, how can fans to be keep updated on your music?

My fans should know that I will never let them down, I have almost finished my next album. I am just going through mixing now , it should be done in a few weeks. I have been told that the new album is 10 times better than what I did before but I will let my fans be the judge of that. This time I will try and get a good record label and promoters so as to make my album available to all my fans wherever they may be.

Q11. Lastly, word is you?re now dabbling in film, what?s that about and how?d you get into it?

First I am a musician and will always be. I like film making and have been involved with film making for sometime now. I was the first African in Australia to try and make a movie. In 2002, I made my first African-Australian film titled Death Is A Diamond, the film was about the issues of blood or conflict diamonds as it affects Africa and Africans. Afro-Australians were very excited about the film but sales dropped due to the amount of violence depicted in the film, my argument was that this is what Africans are going through due to the presence of these death stones in our lands. I gained experience and moved ahead and made Love Lost and Temptation two years later.
I have just produced Gossip Nation with director Mike Kang, I got the inspiration for the film while shooting the video of Daughter Of The Night with Chaka Demus and Pliers. Gossip Nation is of a very high quality, this film is a testament to my growth, it is the first Nollywoood-Australian collaboration, Gossip Nation is starring Nollywood superstars Monalisa Chinda and Ejike Asiegbu plus other established and upcoming African and Australian actors. I will be taking Gossip Nation into the Nigerian cinemas soon.

Well, thanks for taking time out to give us your take. We at Afrimarque wish you the best and are looking forward to you doing much, more epic things.


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