Meet London R&B singer and songwriter Fola! He just released his latest single “Comfortable”, which is a smooth, sensual and captivating modern day R&B record, which hasn’t forgotten its roots by any account. The record which has been supported and featured by SBTV, MOBO.com, Urban Development, Pardon My Blog and ILUVLIVE as well as Soul Train, SingersRoom, and YouKnowIGotSoul in the states among others, sees Fola tapping into the heart of classic 90’s R&B and paying homage to the likes of Keith Sweat and Brandy to glorious effect. We sit down with the Britsh Nigerian artist to find out more.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi Readers!!! My name is Fola. I am a Nigerian r&b/pop artist born and raised in south east London. I love music!!!
Your latest single “Comfortable” has a unique 90’s R&B flavour to it, how did you come about this?
The sound of Comfortable came about from my love for the golden era of r&b music THE 90’s. I grew up on 90’s r&b music from Brandy, Aaliyah, R.kelly, Toni Braxton, SWV, Mary J Blige, Usher, 112 … list goes on. These were the days where R&B music used to go straight to number 1 here and in the states. I wanted to create a song to pay tribute to this amazing era in music. I came up with Comfortable on my way home in mad traffic on the top of shooters hill in Woolich. I just knew Comfortable would be perfect for that sound, so I did it. I was scared because r&b in the UK is almost like a taboo. But i am very proud of the song and the credibility it has brought me as a singer/songwriter.
Your new EP ‘Promise Land’, can you tell us about the name and what it means?
Promise Land is a project I am working on at the moment. Not too sure if it’s an EP or an album, but we shall see. The project is based on a message from a song I wrote called Promise Land. ‘If you treat me the way that your treat yourself then yes we will go there… to that Promise Land’. Promise Land is that place of peace, happiness, fun good times. All the songs are based around the theme of having a good time, peace and self discovery. In terms of sound, you will find all types of music fused with r&b. Very excited about the whole project.
What can we expect from the EP?
You can expect sexual music, fun music, deep thought provoking calm music, sad music. I really want the project to cater to everything i feel and experience through the eyes of others.
You released a song “The Way You Are” previously, can you tell us a bit about that song?
The Way You Are was a song i did not plan for. My producer, Villi Vbeats Mambu sent me a beat. I heard it, really loved it and wrote to it. I put it out online just to kind of test waters, as i had not put out a song in a while prior to that moment.
What is ‘Pensouls’ about?
Pensouls is a writing duo that i’m in with another singer/songwriter David B. We write for each other and are currently penning songs for up and coming artists. We plan on doing more work for more established artists and work with different producers.So artists, managers, publishers get in touch.
If you had the chance to work with anybody dead or alive, who would it be and why?
It would be Michael Jackson. My favorite artists of all time. He is king period. I would learn so much from him. Can I be cheeky and name others? Whitney Houston, Brandy, Beyonce & Stevie Wonder.
What’s your creative process like?
I usually get hit with melodies randomly, then scat the melodies onto my phone. Then start writing to that melody with what i have in mind for that melody. Take it to the studio with a producer and start working on production. I co-produce a lot of my songs. not really the type to collect beats and write to them. I prefer to be in the same room as musicians and vibe and create from scratch.
Your “Comfortable” single is reminiscent of the likes of Keith Sweat and Brandy, how have these artists influenced your career?
Keith Sweat’s Twisted and Nobody are like one of my favorite songs of all time. I love his tone and i can relate to it vocally, because we both have that deep tone. Twisted inspired Comfortable in the aspect of having female vocals complementing a male vocal.
Brandy is a vocal bible!!! SHE IS QUEEN!!! I love her to bits words can’t describe. I am her biggest fan. She is definitely my biggest inspiration vocally. I just think her tone is the best tone ever, and she has mad vocal skills that has influenced a generation of great singers. Her first album was Comfortable’s biggest inspiration.
What do you make of R&B music in the UK right now?
I pray for the state of R&B in the UK. As a child i had Damage, Misteeq, Honeyz, Shola Ama, Another Level, Gabrielle and Beverley Knight dominating the charts with hit records. Right now you have to be really on your online game to find good UK r&b music. Even that is hard because there aren’t many. As i said earlier, the genre is almost a taboo, because it doesn’t sell, and people want money.Therefore you do music that sells. However, there are some acts that are incorporating r&b in their music even if it’s just within their vocal style. I can hear that soulful/ r&b vocal style in Sam Smith, Emeli Sande, Adele, Jessie J and MNEK. I am a huge fan of these artists as well as the likes of Angel, Loick Essien, Mark Asari, Jacob Banks, Kwabs and so forth. They definitely provide hope for the genre. So hopefully things turn full circle with the genre and i hope to be part of those who contributed great music to it and to the world.
What can our readers expect from you for the rest of 2014 and into 2015?
You can be expecting more and more and more music from me, live performances, music video and everything else. I’ve been singing since i was 12, and this has been the most excited time for me because i am finally making the music i really want to make. I just hope people like it and follow me to that great place i hope to get to shortly.
Connect with Fola on Facebook, and Twitter.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0u7Hlkg_ms?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
