| | Sunny Neji
Label: Blue Pie Productions
Artists Genre: Acoustic
Sunny Neji is an MGN Productions Nigeria, Blue Pie and
Perfect Pitch artist. His music is now available
throughout the world on Blue Pie at all leading
digital retailers.
Born on October 24, 1965 in Lagos to Mr. and Mrs.
Raymond Neji, Sunny, the youngest of five kids (three
boys, two girls) had his primary education between
1972 and 1978 in Ogoja, Cross River State, his home
town. He completed his secondary education at
Government, College, Ikorodu, Lagos in 1984 and
proceeded to Yaba college of Technology where he
obtained a Diploma in fashion design.
Sunny Neji’s active involvement with music began at an
early stage. His parents' love for music and his ol’
man’s collection of classic records provided the
initial tonic. As a boy, he participated in cultural
performances and steadily developed the talent through
the course of his formal education. By 1987, he took
his game one step further and ventured into recording
earning a reputation in the jungle production scene in
no time. 1991 brought the release of his debut album,
Captain on EMI.
The debut was slept on but the artiste was undaunted.
He joined Colours Band with which he performed as lead
singer for five years and inched his way further into
the mainstream. He made a grand return to the
recording circuit in ’97 with the release of his
sophomore set, Mr. Fantastik on GM Intercontinental
Records and firmly established himself a bona fide
star whose fame stretched from Maiduguri to Bakassi.
The album sold hugely and won numerous awards for the
artiste who came to be recognized as one of Nigeria's
top all-round artistes.
His third offering, Roforofo dropped in October 2000
on the same label, GM Intercontinental and easily
picked up from where Mr. Fantastik left off. It
consolidated Sunny’s position as contemporary
highlife’s premiere protagonist and further showcased
an already glaring steak of versatility.
In 2002, Sunny Neji lent a hand and voice to Now
Muzik's Touch of Genius: Tribute Album to the
Legendary Sir, Victor Uwaifo project and scored again
with his re-interpretation of the classic Joromi.
After narrowly escaping the January 27, 2002 Ikeja
bomb blast disaster, Sunny Neji raised his golden
voice in a piercing call for support for victims with
the single, Victim of Circumstance and the massive
benefit concert at the Lagos Television grounds to
mark the first anniversary of the event. The project
opened a new chapter in the artiste’s career. It
marked his involvement with O’Jez Music, the company
that came all out to support the Victim of
Circumstance Project. The socially sensitive artiste
also recorded the single, Wake Up! in 2003 to
challenge Nigerians to vote right in the general
elections. These special projects set the tune for his
forth full length album, Unchained, recorded in Ghana,
released on O’Jez Music, Oruka and Face Me, the
pre-release singles needed only a few days to
completely dominate the airwaves and assure everyone
that another monster hit has dropped.
Sunny Neji tied the nuptial knot with Peace, his
hearthrob, on November 1, 2001 and the union is
blessed with a baby girl, Ntishokarome- the one to
whom the Unchained track of the same title is
dedicated.
An amiable and clean-living gentlemen, Sunny Neji
spends a great deal of his time writing, playing,
performing and recording music. His scandal-free image
is not contrived. His major pre-occupation is making
music and attending his regular Christian fellowship
services. He watches talk shows, documentaries and
movies when he can squeeze out time and his favourite
charity is The Little Saints Orphanage. Sunny is
however, quite opinionated, passionate and vocal about
the problems of the local music industry and doesn’t
hesitate to join issues with whoever represents a part
of the problem and this has naturally, rubbed a few
people the wrong way.
One thing is certain though. Sunny Neji is totally
committed to his art and intends to keep upping the
ante in every regards until he completely runs out of
gas.
-Efe "Freak" Omorogbe
An interview with Sunny Nneji: A straight to point A &
B with the man who is making us all anticipate a
wedding day.
NE: For those who don’t already know, who is Sunny
Nneji?
SN: I'm from Ogoja Local Government Area in
Cross-Rivers State of Nigeria. I'm the last of five
kids.
NE: How long have you been in this business?
SN: As an art, as long as I can remember. As a
business, since the early 90's.
NE: What was it like starting out
SN: Challenging. Life is always about challenges ,even
now.
NE: What would you call your style of music?
SN: It's contemporary, its African, it's got soul,
spirit, rythm and highlife.
NE: Tell us about your current album, Unchained?
SN: Unchained is a 12-tracker and it was released in
Dec. 2003 under O'Jez Music label. I titled the album
Unchained because its the beginning of a revealing
process.
NE: What has the response been like?
SN: The response has been incredibly amazing
NE: Your song Oruka is a very beautiful song, what
inspired the song?
SN: The need to have a wedding song
NE: Do you get a lot of wedding requests due to that
song?
SN: Very much so.
NE: Where would you say your career is at the moment?
SN: Right now I would say I’m climbing steadily to the
Top.
NE: Where do you see your career in another 5 years?
SN: On top of the world.
NE: How many albums do you have to date?
SN: 4 albums and a single.
NE: Who do you think your fans are?
SN: My fan base cuts across all age groups. The young
and old feel me, even the kids.
NE: What are your feelings about the Nigerian Music
industry?
SN: I'm not too happy about where we are presently,
but I’m optimistic that it'll get better soon.
NE: What obstacles have you had to face breaking into
the industry? I've had to face series of rejections
from recording companies.
NE: What’s a normal day like for you?
SN: Everyday is supposed to be different, if today is
exactly like yesterday, then something is wrong.
NE: Are you currently working on any projects?
SN: Currently I’m trying to strategize on how to
expand my fan base.
NE: What artists have you worked with and what artists
would you like to work with?
SN: I've worked with Lagbaja, Sammy Okposo, Rymzo,
Sola Mojeed, Dele Taiwo, Freestyle. I'll like to work
with Wyclef, R.Kelly, Salawa Abeni, Wasiu Ayinde, K.1,
Osadebe.
NE: Any plans to break into the international scene?
SN: Yeah! We are making plans.
NE: What major artist would you compare your music to
and why?
SN: I cant compare my music to any artiste. I sing
from the heart.
NE: Is sunny Nneji single,? If not how does your other
half deal with your fame?
SN: I'm married with two lovely kids. I don’t think
its the easiest thing in the world, but then
everything is a challenge.
NE: Is there anything you would like to share with our
readers about yourself?
SN: For them to always make that extra effort to buy
only the original of my music.
NE: What advice would you offer up and coming artist.
SN: For them to always believe in themselves no matter
the circumstances.
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