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Since her debut album five years ago \u2013\u00a0<\/span>King of Queens<\/span><\/i>\u00a0\u2013, the Nigerian star\u2019s career has kept developing.<\/span><\/p>\n From Lagos to Abidjan via Nairobi, the 30-year-old performs everywhere on the continent, where she successfully created her fanbase, especially by covering her own songs in French or Swahili languages, and collaborating with various fellow artists (Arafat, Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo, etc.) If the prolific Nigerian music scene has continuously provided countless stars, Alade is the only female \u201cheavyweight” competitor. Not a surprising fact when one listens to the mature professional talk about her job. In a country where culture, and music in particular, is entirely run by the private sector, quality is not enough. You need to prove you are endowed with an entrepreneurial spirit. And, undoubtedly, as a female artist, you have to be a \u201cwoman of steel\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n I almost felt obliged to use \u201cwoman of steel\u201d because as\u00a0a kid, I grew up with a lot of super heroes: Superman, Superwoman, Spiderman, Catwoman\u2026 Only later I realized that I was my own superhero, and I decided to name my album after the character I represent: the \u201cwoman of steel\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [in French] <\/span>Oui, c\u2019est moi\u00a0!<\/span><\/i> [\u201cYes, it\u2019s me!\u201d]<\/span><\/p>\n I always wanted to remind the women out there \u2013\u00a0and also the guys\u00a0\u2013 that we all need to be strong from the inside out. Especially women, because there are lot of double standards, and unfortunately female artists are never the ones in favor: most of the times we have we to prove ourselves capable, and we have to work twice to earn the support of an audience. This is crazy because we, women gave birth to the whole world. I always like to remind women to stay strong because nothing is going to be given to us \u2013\u00a0we have to take it, earn it, work for it and grab it, we can\u2019t be cry-babies. And the same goes for guys: through my music I want to remind them that showing strength is the best character trait. Violence or demonstration of power isn\u2019t necessary. The inner strength that we all have is definitely one of our strongest powers, and we need to make sure that it is always shining.<\/span><\/p>\n I know music is very powerful, because music has the power to change people\u2019s minds. I use my own music to stress on the positive things in life, and it\u2019s important that someone reminds you this because the world is so full of negative things\u2026 Catastrophes, so much negative stuff on TV and in the media\u2026 I do love to promote love, joy, and happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n I released four albums and one EP. I think that one of the driving forces that have encouraged me to keep putting up albums is definitely the CEO of Effyzzie Music Group [Yemi\u2019s label since her debut album], Taiye Aliyu. He is always trying to push me into the studio and make me pull work out there. And according to my current mood, he would say: <\/span>\u201cYou see that feeling right there? Go and put it into a song.\u201d<\/span><\/i> And I think that has worked for me because instead of tweeting and tweeting again about it, I can put it into a song. So that\u2019s what I have been doing. But it was not that easy to do because I already have shows booked around the world, concerts to attend, I have a life, I have family\u2026\u00a0
\u201cWoman of Steel\u201d, why did you chose this title for your latest album?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
So you are the Woman of steel ?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
Since the beginning of your career, some of your songs or albums referred to female power.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
You released four albums in the course of five years. It\u2019s a great number!<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
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