Bracket as a musical duo have always seemed
like they never got it right. They did initially don’t
get us wrong, but took a long hiatus and then
returned to gain heir ground.
Unfortunately, such
spaces get occupied by newbies who are also
looking to make it in the industry, and since then
the duo have been looking for a spot.
Speaking to Vanguard recently, Bracket, finally
admitted that they don’t have a place in Lagos
but are making waves in their home town in the
east.
If you recollect, one of the duo suffered a cancer
scare last year and this added to the deterring of
their musical career for a bit. They addressed it
by thanking God for survival, “We are thanking
God for sparing the life of Vast who survived
cancer last year. Last year, we thought of setting
up a foundation, Bracket Cancer Foundation. The
aim of the foundation is to assist cancer patients
to have access to quality treatment.
Many people
have died as a result of cancer related disease
mainly due to financial constraints.”
Yori Yori was the duo’s major hit as the song
went on to remain atop charts for a while but
since then, they went downhill. which isnt much
of a surprise in nigeria as most end up as one hit
wonders. However, they said it has more to do
with the competition than their incompetence,
“Sometimes, I’d laugh it off. This is because,
there’s a big competition going on in the industry
at the moment. People tend to pay more attention
to the ‘new school’; (emerging artistes) who just
had their breakthrough in the industry. That’s why
most times, people don’t really know when other
artistes drop their albums. I remember that we
dropped a song last year titled “International
Baby.” Though, it wasn’t a hit.
Also, while Vast was still on his hospital bed, we
did a song with Clearence Peters called,
“Temperature.” Later, we released “Mama Africa”
followed by “Nana.” We have been busy, but I
wouldn’t blame anyone who said, he has not been
hearing from us again. Like I said, the “new
school” are ruling the airwaves and people are
paying more attention to them than the old
school. But frankly speaking, outside Nigeria, we
are celebrated in other African countries. We don’t
have to make noise about it. Our work speaks for
us. It’s not as if we are not doing enough. But
the attention today is being shifted to the up and
coming artistes. We have songs that can keep us
performing on stage for more than 45 minutes.”
Add that for excuse, including this, “If don’t, we
could as well have gone back home.
But I think
the Nigerian music industry is more of a fame
thing than fortune. I would rather get that fortune
than fame. I know certain things that the older
artistes venture into, which the new generation
artistes dare not attempt. All these things, have
to do with media hype. And sometimes, when you
over-publicize an artiste, it has its negative effect.
I rather remain in the middle and still be relevant
than to be pushed to the front and contribute
nothing meaningful.”
It kept seeming like they were suffering from
inferiority complex, “For instance, in Lagos, if our
song like, “Nana” was released by Wizkid or
Davido, it would have been a big hit. But it did
not fly here, while in other cities like Port-
harcourt, Owerri, “Nana” is played everywhere.
Surprisingly, one time in Port-Harcourt, we were
asked to close a show, that had one of the top
artistes in attendance. In fact, we are celebrated
everywhere, except in Lagos. Some artistes know
how to go about it.”
One thing is for certain, they finally found their
niche market, “I give it up to the emerging acts
who are making waves in Lagos. We have tried to
hold our own in the industry till date.
Though, it
has not been easy to sustain the tempo.”
But that hasn’t taken away the umbrella of gay
accusation, especially since the notion is that the
act is on the increase in the eastern part of town.
In response they said, “When we read the story
online, we thought it wasn’t a serious allegation
until my cousin called from Enugu. I was
laughing…There are certain things, we wouldn’t
want to say on the pages of a newspaper. All we
can say is that ‘ you wait until you see us marry.’
But to clear the air, we are not gay.
People that
are close to us will attest to it.”
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