Segun Lawal of SecureNigeria365 was recently a host to fast rising musical Act SkyP. In this interview, the crooner opens up on an earful bordering his family, background, musical journey and love life. Now you can have an eyeful.
Kindly Introduce Yourself
I'm Peter Amuche, a.k.a SkyP, your favourite Arab-Money crooner.
How did you come about the name "SkyP?"
Well, the name came like a joke, we were chilling, and the guy is like, 'you are always looking good, fresh, and clean. It's only the sky that we know that can always be clean all the time,' and from there, everybody started calling me 'Sky.' And the name sounded nice to me, and I didn't ask them to stop. Then my first name, Peter, abbreviated to "P." So, Sky P.
I’m sure not a few would like to have a peek at your family background
Ok, I'm from the eastern part of Nigeria, Imo State. A family of 3 boys, no girl. However, I have a girl in my family that is like a sister, because she grew up with us. So, my dad, Late Raymond Amuche, was an ambassador. I'm supposed to be like a politician, but at the end of the day, I found another career. I have my mum, my dad, and my siblings that are all.
Did your Father in some way influence the society ,for eg, like you are now?
He was a great man. The man did a lot in this country. He obtained his PhD degree at the age of 25 in Oxford University, London.
What is your educational background?
My dad died when I was at 4. So, it wasn't really easy growing up. I had to struggle with my mum and other siblings. I'm actually the last born. My primary school was Centre primary school. My secondary school was Okwuato Secondary school, and I was fun for me. After that, I travelled to Ghana, from Ghana, I went to London. From London, I went to Atlanta for my tertiary education.
Can you share some of your experience with us, while growing up in school?
I had a lot of girls that liked me, and always fighting like, 'he is my boyfriend, my boyfriend.' I didn't even know what that was then. But it was really fun, because I was kind of the centre of attraction during my school days. The fact that I used to play soccer a lot and was also brilliant, always coming first, at most time. Or worse, second. I was always been used as an example in school. So, I had a lot of fans, female fans, but then, but for me it was just sort of heady being the attraction because I didn't know what that was then to have a girlfriend. So, it was really fun, and that kind of shaped me to who I am today. It gave me this exclusivity which I took to the world and had to apply in everything I do. Even in music; if you can go get my singles, from 'INSANE' to 'HIGHER MART,' 'I REP MONEY,' you will see that exclusivity.
How did you go back to the world, can you please clarify that?
That's when I went into the real world; when I went into the world of maturity; when mum is not there to say "why did you come back by 8." When I was growing, I dare not come back home after 7pm. So, that kind of training helped me, making who I am today. My manager can testify to it, I live a very simple life; I don't live life based on the things I have access to.
Music as a career, can you share with us, how it all started?
Well, I can't even place where the talent came from, because when I was growing up, the only thing I knew about was education. But my mum used to lead different choir, different musical groups. Every musical group my mum was part of, when I was growing up, she was the leader. As early as 5am she would always wake-up singing. So, I got to loving music through my mother.
So, your mother had a great influence on you
Yea, positively, because I knew all the hymns, my mum sang. I met this producer Lelo, who goes by the name Kelvin Board, now. And he produced for Ice Prince, right before my face, and while they were doing that, I was getting different melodies in my head. So I later told the guy I would try something. So, after 2 weeks, I called him up to say I was ready to sing. That was my first ever recorded single.
What's the title of the single?
"INSANE." It has over 85,000 download on 'Notjustok.' It has over 50,000 views on Youtube. The response to that song was inspiring. Whenever I played the song in car with my friends and they asked 'who sang that song?' I would like ‘one of my friends’, and they would say, 'it sounds so nice.' When later I told them that I was the one who sang the song, they said, ‘you can't be the one, impossible.’ So, I started seeing the talents in myself. I discovered myself. That's why I'm signed to my own record label, because nobody can really understand what I see; the kind of dream I have regarding the music industry.
So, what's your style of music?
Something different 'hip life.' I listen to a lot of hip-hop songs. I listen to lots of Afro songs. Arab-Money has this hip-hop with an Afro-beat on it. So, my own hip-hop life represents hip-hop in a highlife way. That is hip-hop and highlife coming together.
What's the concept behind Arab-Money?
The concept behind Arab-Money is doing something out of the box. Something nobody has done. That has been my intention, what I've always wanted to come up with. I've travelled to Dubai a couple of times from Atlanta, and Arab-Money is not really about physical money, because if you watch the video, I didn't show that kind of physical money. But, it's about how the Arabians live their own life - that we, Africans won't be able to see. As an artiste, I have to artistically bring that to the screen, because I am supposed to bring people's imagination to reality, through my heart. That's what I did. So if you are imagining how Dubai looks like, How they live their lives, i gave what i could. We shot with their helicopters, we shot on the sea, we shot in the desert, we shot in a nice mansion, beautiful girls, camels and others; Just about artwork, bringing something to the script; something that my fans would appreciate. I'm not going to show 'Oshodi,' 'Ikeja,' something we see every day. I’m still going to show them in my upcoming project. But particularly, Arab-Money. I had a good intention, and which I achieved.
Clarify the intention and how you achieved it
From reviews, the TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, all the media houses really appreciated that work, because they know what it takes to finance a project like that. I know how many media houses, even in South Africa that are already asking for me to come for interviews, just because of that Arab-Money. I want people to know who I am.
How Supportive Were Your Parents in your chosen career?
My mum was kind of in-between. But, she would always want me to further my education to some kind of office work, and that's the normal thing that we are all experiencing in the Nigeria's community. But, at the end of the day, when she saw the outcome of my first single, she was like ‘okay.’ Then, the second one came in then she was like, 'are you serious?' Then Arab-Money, she was like, 'ok, you have my support.' It wasn't easy at first, but right now, I've been able to convince them, not by word of mouth, but by actions.
How many tracks so far?
I've released 4. I have a few tracks that features other talented artistes but from now till December, I should be coming out with 1 or 2 tracks for the year.
Which is the most interesting of your albums?
Arab-Money is the one that appeals to me most.
What would have become if not a Musician?
I first wanted to be a soccer player, but I tried a lot of things here in Nigeria. I even went to Ghana, played in Nani, the club was owned by Abedi Pele. I played with Abedi Pele’s son, in the same team. But growing in Africa it is not easy doing this. Sometimes they will tell you, you have trial in Germany, but you need to come with some amount to sponsor yourself.
How Acceptable is your Music in Atlanta?
They play it in all African clubs. There are also comments of people saying they heard the music in this or that club. In Atlanta, I started having musicians as friends, producer friends. I associated myself with entertainers, that’s why it was easy for me to penetrate.
Are you Married?
I’m single for now.
Engaged?
Not yet.
So, What Kind of Girl Are you Looking At?
A supportive woman, understanding, because you know the industry I’m in. So, I need an extra-ordinary woman to have a healthy relationship with. And I’m looking forward to that extra-ordinary woman, someone that would just understand ‘SkyP.’ There is ‘SkyP,’ there is Peter Amuche. Not the one that would see in a video, and believe what she’s seeing, forgetting that there is a director behind the scene. There is make-up artiste, there is my manager, a lot of people are there. But after the video must have been edited, you would only see me and the girl. So, I need that woman who thinks more than ordinary woman. That’s what I’m looking for.
How Do you Manage Your Female Fans?
I’m a friend of all. I try to make everybody happy, as much as I can. In as much as you cannot please everybody, but do all I can, to make them feel important, because everyone is important, in one way or the other.
Your First kiss, How was the Experience?
(Laughs)… my first kiss was in my SS3 when I became school prefect. There was this girl, who even if she didn’t conform to the dress code, I allowed her be. She was the only one I allowed to school even without sandals; she could wear something different. And I would be like, ‘don’t touch her.’ So, one day I escorted her home, so, we went to this track road, we looked left, right and nobody was coming. And before we knew it, our mouths came together, and I had goose bumps all over my body. It was a good experience and wonderful. But now trust me, I’m the best kisser in the world…(.laughs).
What Will you Not Be Caught Doing?
Stop singing. I would not be caught without singing, without recording, without working hard.
What Can you Say About your Manager?
He is wonderful and fantastic. A hard-working manager. As an artiste, you really need to be very careful with who represents you, because that’s the person who carries your image. If you have an arrogant manager, you are bound to fail. So, my manager is a humble guy, and straight forward. He makes my work so easy, my music can enter anywhere without my presence. So, that’s what I looked out for, and that’s what God gave me.
Where Do you See Yourself in the Next 5 Years?
I see myself having a stronger team, and ‘Sky Diamond Entertainment’ being a major record label, that would grow talents from the African entertainment world.
How would you Describe Yourself?
I’m passionate, humble and a hard-working gentle man. But I don’t like praising myself too much. The way I talk to my gateman, manager is the way I talk to everyone whether rich or poor. I try not to offend anybody. So, that personality came from my father. My father had so many friends, the poor, the rich, and the ordinary. And so, that’s my personality.
Your Most Embarrassing Moment?
I don’t want to go into that, but I will. So, my fans can get to know where I’ coming from. I came from a family that my dad had it all. He believed in helping others. He did not invest and buy house like the politicians we have now. He didn’t do all that. He was kind, and invested in humans, uncles, brothers. But at the end of the day, when the man was not around, everybody disappeared. So, it was like really, really ugly growing up. Especially when they chase us for school fees from school. You know how embarrassing that would be. So, that used to be my most embarrassing moments.
Your Likes and Dislikes
I dislike lies, and people that take advantage of other humans. That’s what we find in our society, today. I hate people like that. For the fact that someone is being nice to you, trying to help you doesn’t mean that person is a fool. So, I like people that are honest, appreciative of other people. People that love their neighbor, not only your next door neighbor. If I meet you anywhere I don’t have any reason to disrespect you. People that respect other people. And I like to eat good food, especially vegetable soup with, semovita, pando yam, and I also like jollof rice.
Your Kind of Perfume
I wear like 4 perfumes at a time. And the names are; conquer mixture, conquer mixture is a combination of 4 different perfumes. I have creed, I have Tom Ford, I have Pacorry Band, and an Arabian perfume, which I can’t pronounce the name fluently.
Who is your Fashion Designer?
I will go with Tom Man, because that’s where I find things that suit my body structure. It’s not about how expensive the thing you wear, but it’s about the fitness. So, whenever I travel to London, I always make sure I get my Top Man.
Any Collaboration with a Nigerian Artiste?
Yea, I did ‘Lamba’ with Dj Real. I have something big coming up for Christmas. I want to celebrate the x-mas with my fans in a musical way, that they would be happy and forget the ups and down for the year.. So, I’m going to keep that on the low for now, because I don’t want to break protocols.
Your Advice for Upcoming Artistes with Your Kind of Experience?
Stick to that bright dream, and always listen to that first positive voice in you. That’s always telling you, you can do it. If you know you actually have the talent, don’t be disappointed by the things people say to you, day-by-day, trying to take you down. Just believe in yourself, we hear that word ‘believe in yourself,’ but a lot of people don’t really understand that word ‘believe in yourself.’ You can only believe in yourself when people disbelieve you. When you drop a single and everybody condemns it, and you still go ahead. So, that’s all I can tell them.
Thank you very much, it was a pleasure talking with you…
