Seun Moriafe also known as Sean Tizzle, has won over fans in the entertainment industry since his hit single, Sho lee stormed the market in 2013.
In this interview with Nigerian Tribune entertainment reported by Joan Omionawele, the artiste talked about his struggle, private life and controversies.
Excerpts:
You scooped the award of the best R n B/pop album for 2014 at the Headies. What went into the album you titled ‘The journey’?
My team and I put in so much to bring forth the album. We watched a lot of mistakes people made in the past and we tried not to repeat the mistakes. We tried to put together songs that even the next generation could identify with.
Did you at any point think you were not going to get the award since you were competing with other big artistes?
Honestly speaking, I knew I was going to get the award. I’m not trying to be proud, but I knew I was going to get the award because everywhere I went to, I could hear at least a track from the album being played. It was pretty much the whole album they love, so I said to myself, ‘the street is on my side, I have nothing to fear.’
Is it true that some artistes try to bribe the organisers of the Headies for awards?
I’m not really sure about what anybody else does, but my own team and I don’t settle anybody. We buy one another’s album, listen to one another, but then judge yourself. We don’t bribe or ‘settle’, we just believe in hard work, dedication and determination and pray to God that things work out for us. It’s not by luck. We don’t believe in luck, luck is for those who don’t believe in hard work. We do our work and come out victorious.
You became an MTN ambassador last year, what are you meant to bring to the table as an artiste?
I felt pretty good about the deal. I’ve brought lots of creative and innovative ideas and lots of new plans to bring more awareness to the brand. I try to incorporate a little bit of yellow into everything I do. Also with slogans like Big Better, I make sure I add it to whatever I tweet. Whatever promotion is going on, I also make sure I am available to help.
Let me take you back to the days you were not the popular Sean Tizzle. What were the broke days like?
Those days were very rough, but we thank God that we have been able to sail through. I used to sleep outside, hustle and fall asleep in buses. I also used to go to owanbe parties not to dance, because I didn’t have party clothes to wear, but I used to go because they had food. So at least at the end of the party, I could help out, get a little change, then go find shelter somewhere and continue my hustle the next day.
Whatever change I had, I would take to the studio and use to do my sessions, get a little recording done and transport myself around.
There is this story that most people don’t really know about you. Some years back, you came to perform at an event on a bike and could not pay the bike man, who in turn made a scene. What really happened that day?
Yes, it actually happened. Not everybody was born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouths. It’s clear, all those things happened for a reason. I got to the venue of the event on the bike, checked my pocket and there was no money in it, but I had money in it before leaving the house.
So, how did you resolve the situation?
Someone who happened to know me came out and asked what was going on. I explained what happened to him and he told me not to worry. He paid the bike man and even gave me extra, so I could go to my event and go back.
But so far, I haven’t heard that you are from a wretched family, how come you had to go through all these while growing up?
I wouldn’t say my family was so poor, but we weren’t so rich that I could ask my parents for all I really wanted. When I first started, my parents were not in support of my music, and as an entertainer, one had to go places, change clothes, and my parents had other children to take care of, so I had to go out and get things done for myself in order to finance my project.
So, what has life been like since you hit stardom?
Life is okay, we are still going higher, getting shows, performing at weddings and meeting top government officials at both public and private sectors. We are going to different countries and people have accepted my music
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