‘It’s my time to take on Nigeria,’ Says New Kid OD Woods
By Babajide Awoyinfa
Have you ever heard a song and flipped out wanting to know the artist and the title? Hoping that you’ll remember it long enough so you can go home and download it as soon as you can? Well, that’s what it’s like for almost everyone who has heard of O.D Woods’ debut brand new jam, ‘Go Below’. The singer whose real name is Ikon Orduen Andrew was born in Makurdi, lived in Jos and moved down to Lagos in search of fame through music.
With production by Shizzie of Maye Hunta’s Ekaette, Davido’s ‘Dami Duro’ and Wizkid’s ‘I Love My baby’ fame, ‘Go Below’ is already promising to be a major hit. Already, it has won an award as the ‘Best new song of January’ on Beat FM by listeners’ choice. I had a chat with him recently where he talked about his music and where he is heading. Excerpts:
How did you come about the name OD Woods?
My name is Ikon Orduen Andrew, I am from Benue State. The name OD Woods came from my name. Ikon in Benue means Woods in English, OD came from Oduwem and I chose to use OD Woods. A lot of my friends then had problem calling me Oduwem and they started calling me OD, so I added the English translation of my surname which was Woods, and came about OD Woods.
How did the struggle begin?
My struggle started way long in my secondary school in Benue State where I formed a group called Dust Creation. We were then doing music for fun. My first recording was on a crown tape, we performed in schools, and then after graduation, I moved from Makurdi to Jos where I did my university. I studied social work and still continued my music there in Jos. It got to a particular level in Jos that my song was all over the radio, and then I decided to move to Lagos because my musical dream was not something I was going to achieve staying in one place. So I just kept the hustle going on the street, because I believed that the more I move, the more momentum I gain and growing better until I get to the place God has designed for me. So that was why I left Jos to Lagos.
What was is it like coming to Lagos in search of a musical dream?
Moving to Lagos was weird for me at first because people kept asking me who I was and what was I up to? Which was awkward to me. I was prepared for it though. First of all I let the music dream lay low and I put my film-making career first. I was making movies and working. I got a job at Sound City as a programme producer. I started a movie company with my friends called “Film Boys Inc”, we graduated from film school together then in Jos, I was working with Sound City and doing project Film Boys Inc. with my friends. I just needed time to understand Lagos system. After working for a year in Lagos as a programme producer, I met a lot of people. I also went for shows; it gave me a better understanding of people I could meet in case I dropped a song and people I needed to connect with. I met a lot of people working for Sound City though. In 2011, my friends Maye Hunter and my manager Bayo now felt that it was high time I dropped a song because we have taken time to understand the system. So I called up for Shizzie, Shizzie produced Maye Hunters ‘Ekaette’ song, he produced ‘Dami Duro’ for Davido, he also produced ‘I love my baby’ for Wizkid. Maye Hunter advised me to call Shizzie. Shizzie came to my house, I sampled a couple of songs for him, and he picked ‘Go below’. He said it sounded catchy and groovy. That was how we came out with ‘Go below’. We produced it, sampled it and pushed it for a lot of people through the internet. People heard the song and we got good comment on it. January this year, the song was aired all over radio stations in Lagos and the song also won an award as the ‘best new song of January’ on Beat Fm by viewer choice. The programme on Beat Fm is called Fresh beats; they play couple of new songs where people get to hear and vote for their best song. And my ‘Go Below' song won the best song for the month of January. I didn’t even know that they were voting on radio, I was just called that my song had just won the best newcomer song of the month of January. I was happy to know that people have started liking this song. It gave me the confidence to keep going. I shot ‘Go Below’ video with my home boys from film school. ‘Go below’ is like the major thing that a lot of people know me for now, which is my first international single.
What is the concept behind the song ‘Go Below’?
I have a very funny way of getting my inspirations and writing my songs. I wrote the song in the bathroom. I do think and sing in the bathroom a lot. I just thought of a song that I will sing and the fans will be responding to what I say. I was humming the song at first and I imagined the harmony and melody, then I put up the words. I listened to that Lagbaja song long time ago ‘go below, go, go below’ and I felt it worked for my song.
Who are the artists that influenced you?
Artists influence me without me even knowing. When I was young, I listened to certain kinds of songs. I grew up listening to the likes of Lucky Dube, Peter Tosh and Eric Donaldson, I also loved Jarule back then. Some people who heard my song ‘Go Below’ said I was doing Jamaican-reggae style. I just don’t know how the Jamaican style reflected in my song, but I later realised that my subconscious just had connections with songs I had been listening to while I was growing up. I have been influenced by a lot of people.
What is your style of music?
My style of music is afro hip-hop, R n B, with dance hall infused in it. I wish there was a style they call cocktail style, which allows you to mix every genre. I put every good thing I listen to my song.
What makes you unique?
I am OD WOODS and there can never be another me. I try my best not to sound like anybody that I know, even though I might end up sounding like them subconsciously. My uniqueness is that God has blessed me with a talent and I use it in my own way. I do my things my own way.
Any album plans yet?
After my ‘Go below’ song, I want to drop another single and by the time I drop the third one, plans to release my album will be ready. But definitely before the year runs out the album making should be in process by then. I have written almost all my songs at the moment, recording some and as people like them, I am sure that God will direct me in the way He wants me to follow concerning my album.
Do you think it is easier to make it Lagos that any other state in Nigeria?
It is actually harder to blow in Lagos than in any other place. It is not easy in Lagos, but if you make it in Lagos you’ve made it in Nigeria. Lagos is like the New York of America. Lagos is the central that distributes entertainment all over states in the country. When you get that popularity in Lagos then you are successful. It is actually hard to make it Lagos. Jos is a smaller town compared to Lagos; entertainment business is not like major.
What has been the reaction to your ‘Go below’ song?
I have been getting a lot of good and also dumb comments. A lot of people at first did not believe me when I said I wanted to start singing, because when I came to Lagos, I started as a filmmaker. When I dropped the song ‘Go Below’, people did not believe it was me that sang that song. Funny enough, a lot of them loved my song. I got a lot of comment on twitter, Blackberry, facebook, but when people say they love my song, I feel the need to work harder. I have a lot of fan base now especially on twitter and facebook because people like my song and comment on it.
Which artist will you like to work with?
I will like to work with Jesse Jags, M.I., Tuface, Shank, Maye Hunter. A lot of people. But one thing about me is that when I have a song, I already know who I am going to need to work with.
Who will you like to like produce your song?
I have worked with Shizzie, he produced ‘Go Below,’ Jesse Jags is also someone I will like to work with. I like to work with a producer that I will be able to relate with and reason together with. I feel comfortable and glad to work with Shizzie.
Finally, who is OD Woods?
OD Woods is a new artist to reckon with, I have been chilling for a long time and I guess it is time to take my rightful position in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
Follow me on twitter @odwoods on twitter and odwoods on facebook
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