Sabrina Ruth, popularly known by her stage name, Sabrina, is an exceptional music artist and songwriter who manifested her attraction to the world of music at a very tender age. She speaks with TUNDE OMOLEHIN about her musical journey, her unique way of producing good lyrics for her teeming fans and what her fans should expect in her upcoming album. Excerpts:
What got you into music?
I come from a family whose members are mostly into music. So, I can say that I grew up in a very beautiful musical environment. When I was in high school people really enjoyed listening to me sing. That is when I realised I had something in me. Then I started going to a music studio to record some songs’ covers and people really appreciated it. After passing my advanced level, I had the opportunity to meet Afrobit Productions, which is a record label with whom I have been working for four years now. That is how everything started.
Who inspired you to make music?
Growing up then, I used to admire one of my aunties a lot. She has an amazing voice and she used to perform in the choir. So, she was a mother and every time I watched her performing, I just wished to be like her. I also got used to listening to the artists she has in her playlists like Charlotte Dipanda, Fally Ipupa, Celine Dion and Beyoncé. After signing with Afrobit Productions, I just said to myself that my dreams are about to come true. All these actually influenced me to make good music.
How would you describe the music that you create?
First, I am a versatile artist. I have the capacity to adapt to any genre of music, but I also identify myself more to Afro-fusion which is a genre of music that blends African rhythms and melodies with other genres, such as Pop, Hip Pop, Reggae, Jazz and R&B.
There is this genre of music that everybody likes and it is trending right now. I am talking of Amapiano. I’m in love with it and I’m actually working on it in my second album. These two genres of music are definitely going to be represented in my album.
What is your creative process like?
The way I create music actually depends on my mood. Sometimes I take part in everything from the scratch with my sound engineer. We both find melody together and exchange our ideas. When we have a good base of the beat, we just send a loop and that is what I use to write. It continues with some modifications and adjustments on the beat.
What inspires your music productivity?
I’m more productive in a very quiet environment. When my sound engineer sends the beat to me, I just go to somewhere very peaceful and quiet and think of what I want to talk about in the song. whatever comes first, whether chorus or a verse, I go back to the studio, record it and everything continues from there. Sometimes the song engineer would just send me a full and complete beat. I would just sit quietly in my room, write everything and then go back to the studio and we record it. That’s it.
Who would you like to collaborate with?
Actually, there are many great artists in different parts of the world. To me, music is the strongest form of magic and I strongly believe that a mixture of genres from different parts of the world will sound so amazing and beautiful. I will collaborate with Angelique Kidjo from Benin Republic. I have already had a collabo with Koffi Olamide from Congo and that means a lot to me. I would also love to collaborate with few great artists like Yemi Alade from Nigeria, Charlotte Dipanda from my country – Cameroon, Beyoncé from US and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania. The list is very long, but I really wish this turns to reality because it will really mean a lot to me.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
If I could open a show for any artist, it would be Burna Boy. I would love to share the same stage with him. I admired him so much and I love his energy on stage
What is one message you would give to your fans?
One candid message for my fans is that as long as we breathe, and as long as we live, there is hope and we can achieve everything we wish to. We just have to be disciplined, focused, put in more effort and then pray to God to bless our efforts and the magic will happen.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Twinkle in a funny way. I can even do better by moving my nose and rolling my eyes.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Of course, I do. Most of the time when I’m recording a new song, I will just be super excited and I keep on singing it every time and everywhere, including when I’m having my shower or when I remember a song I love so much like 2Face Idibia’s ‘Love is Crme’, Brandy’s ‘Long Distance’ or one of my songs titled, ‘Frenemies’ that you will find in my upcoming album.
What would you be doing right now, apart from your music career?
Honestly, I don’t imagine myself doing any other thing than music. That is just the truth. But I guess I would be in school studying human resource management because that’s what I was doing before I got into music and activities have just been following one after the other.
Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Last December, I had a concert with my fans. It was amazing. I opened a show for Charlotte Dipanda, one of our artists here in Cameroon. I recently performed in one of our beautiful night clubs here in Cameroon. I will be performing at the Trace Award ceremony in Kigali. This December, I will be performing on Christmas Day with my fans to end the beauty.
What’s your sad moment?
My sad moment is when I have an idea of what I want to do in the studio and when I finally do it, it doesn’t sound the way I want it. It makes me sad. Generally, it makes me feel like I’m not good at anything. When it happens, what I do is, I leave the project for one or two days and start working on it again.
What is your favourite song to perform?
My favourite song to perform right now is ‘No Time’ because while I’m performing this song, I’m passing information and at the same time talking to myself like eh girl! you must succeed and you don’t have room for distraction. It is an Amapiano song. When I’m doing all this, I’m also dancing and having fun.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I admire Yemi Alade, her energy and personality. I also admire Tiwa Savage for her swag and for her personality. I admire Burna Boy for his uniqueness and I admire Asake for his originality.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
I’m not a troublesome person and I always try as much as I can to run away from trouble. I remember in high school, my friends got into trouble and they planned to fight after school hours. Immediately I heard that and they rang the bell, I just quietly carried my bag and went back home because I cannot fight to save my life.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I have been given is to practise discipline and to put love and determination in everything I do. Honestly, this advice is gradually taking me to where I wanted to be.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
Well, if I were given the opportunity to make a change in the industry, I would focus on enhancing the promotion and discovery of lesser known artists, maybe by providing increased access to music so that it should be gaining visibility.
What’s next for you?
I will be releasing my second album soon. I’m currently working on it. I am also preparing the performance I’m going to give in Kigali at the Trace Award ceremony. I will be doing a concert this December with my fans to end the year and I will keep on working on how to propose good melodies to my fans.
About the Author
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
