Up-and-coming artiste, Henry Orji, aka Henrisoul, counts his blessings on his new video, Blow my Mind, writes AKEEM LASISI
Some years ago, he found himself in the
recording studio as a vocalist. A friend had invited him to help lend a
voice to his song. But, in the process, the producer discovered that he
was very gifted – perhaps more than the principal he was assisting. That
was how the producer developed interest in Henry Orji, to the point
that he asked him to ‘try something’.
Since 2009 when the emerging act, whose stage name is Henrisoul, recorded his first song, Gbagoroagbago,
his profile has continued to grow. While he has produced a few other
numbers, he recorded what he considered a major development in his
career last week when the video of his new single, Blow my Mind,
was featured on the BET 106 and Park, a popular music video programme on
American cable and satellite channel, Black Entertainment Television.
The artiste, who studied Estate
Management at the Yaba College of Technology (OND) Lagos, says he is
still interested in further education, though does not mean he has to
shun his talent. Some of his heroes are highlife legends, a factor that
seems to have shaped the pattern of the ‘afro fusion’ he sings.
“My songs entail highlife and reggae. One of my songs, Your Love actually
comes in the highlife tradition. I like Osita highlife because it has
depth. I like Osadebey a lot. The same applies to Oliver d’ Coque
because their songs are very rich and have elements one can learn a lot
from,” he explains.
Apart from Gbagoroagbago, in which he featured gospel act Kenny Kore, he released Your Love in 2012. It is the video of Blow my Mind, shot by Clearence Peters, that is, however, currently blowing Henrisoul’s mind.
He says, “The video got to Youtube about
two weeks ago. Within the first week, it recorded 53, 000 hits. For an
artiste just emerging, getting such a number is an achievement.”
He notes that his songs preach the need to appreciate what God has done for him and his listeners connecting them.
“This means you have been blown away by
what God has done. So, the song is not just for a lady, as some people
have interpreted it. What I have realised is that all songs need not be
about ladies. You can sing something that is gospel in nature and still
get commercial values. You don’t necessarily have to sing about girls.
You can celebrate God and still get people to follow you,” he adds.
With his bright skin and relatively
smooth face, Henrisoul is a young guy many people will consider
handsome. Now that he is into music, his net is likely to be full with
babes. He says he his not into any relationship for now.
His words, “I am not dating anybody at
present. I am taking my time. I don’t want to date just for the sake of
dating. I want to be sure that the person and I are getting somewhere.”
Although based in Lagos, Henrisoul hails
from Aburuike Isialagwa in Abia State. He discovered his talent at age
12, as a member of the choir of the Assembly Church of God, where his
father is a pastor. He notes that his father has no cause to lose sleep
over his exploits in music.
He adds, “Daddy is not scared. He understands I don’t take the kingdom essence out of my music because I know where I am going.”
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