From Boston, Show Stopper arrives

STORIES BY CHUKS NWANNE
He launched into the country’s entertainment industry in 2006 when he released his debut album, I Don Taya; the work successfully registered his name on the long list of Nigerian returnee artistes, who have come to indentify with the industry at home.
Three years after, Duncan O. Onyemuwa Jnr, is back with a follow up to his first effort. Entitled Show Stopper, Duncan Daniel, as he’s fondly called in the industry, is optimistic that the 18-track album would easily find its way into music charts in the country.
A fusion of different music genres like Pop, Rock and R&B, the album, which will be officially released today, has tracks such as Show Stopper (the title), Stolen Identity, Like This, Medicine Man, I’ve Found You, My Head O, Come and Go, I Wanna Know, Falling and Decide. Others include Complicated, Take it Off, I don’t Care, Telling Me Lies, Live Again, To the Top and It’s Over.
To ensure the new work has bits of Nigerian flavour, Duncan, a graduate of the Berkeley College of Music, Boston, USA, who started writing music and playing piano from the age of 11, collaborated with some notable home-based artistes such as rap stars MI and Mode 9, Mark Gee, Johnson & Griot, Felyne and others. However, all songs were written and mixed by the multi-instrumentalist himself.
HINTING on the new work, which is expected to hit music shelves around the country from tomorrow, Duncan says, “I decided to release the work on Valentine’s Day as my little way of showing love to my compatriots. The album is so much fun; it will surely make you sing, cry and dance with attitude. As the name goes, the album is truly a ‘Show Stopper.”
On his choice of Nigerian artistes featured in some of the tracks, Duncan informs, “aside the fact that some of them are people I’ve known for some time now, I also wanted to show love and respect to my roots by including some prominent Nigerian artistes in the work; I could have worked with foreign acts, but promoting my culture is very important to me.”

SONGWRITER and music producer, Duncan has performed in Boston, Lagos, London, Atlanta and others, where he thrilled with his blend of pop, rock and R&B. He had in the past, worked with notable record labels and production outfits such as Tuck Tyght Records, Rolladice Records, Grafton Records and others.
“What makes you an artiste is the ability to not only sing, but at least handle one or two musical instrument. For me, playing music is not accidental; I had to study it formally in school,” says the acoustics guitar specialist.




HOME FRONT

Keffe fetes less privileged, artistes on her Day
Aqua 27, Victoria Island, Lagos, was recently awash with top Nigerian artistes, family members, friends and fans of Keffe Obareki, as the Branama Queen marked her Birthday on February 5, 2010.
The party, which saw the Delta State native perform her latest single, Sapele Water live on stage, attracted notable artistes such as Tuface Idibia, Sammy Okposo, Yaw, Koffi, Alariwo, Princess, Tony Tetuila, Onos, Azeezat, DJ Humility, MC Abbey, Ramsey Noah, Davina…the list was soo long.
According to the celebrant, the birthday bash, which lasted into the early hours of the following day, was organized as a means of saying “thank you to all my friends and fans that have been a pillar of support during my trying times. I wanted to appreciate all my friends in the media for your support, may God reward all of you,” she said.
Meanwhile, as a way of giving back to the society, Keffe had earlier visited Living Fountain Orphanage, Lagos, where she entertained the kids with her songs, as well as donate materials for the upkeeps of the less privilege children in the home.
“This is a time to show love; there’s no better time than on my Birthday.”

Nigezie in Colour Of Love gig
As part of activities to mark this year’s St Valentine’s Day, music TV channel, Nigezie is partnering MTN Nigeria for a special party tagged Colour Of Love. Billed to hold today, starting from 6pm, the show will hold at Let’s Go Bowling, The Palms Shopping Complex, Lekki, Lagos.
To make the event worth the while, organisers have contracted some notable Nigerian artistes, who are expected to thrill the gathering. The list includes 4kasibe crooner DJ Zeez, Durella, Dagrin, M.I, G-Exploits, Inyanya, Ruggedman, YQ, Mike, GT Tha Guitarman and MTN Project Fame All-Stars.
Meanwhile, some lucky guests stand the chance of winning BlackBerry phones and other gift items, courtesy of MTN. To be part of the gig, guests were expected to email their names and phone numbers to love@nigezie.tv, for official invitation cards.

H-MAN returns with Love Nwantinti
He appeared earlier in the industry with the track Ndoli Ndoli, but went low months later. After weeks of working on his beats in the studio, pop sensation H-Man, is back with a new single, Love Nwantinti.
Already, the video of the new track shot and directed by Clarence Peters, is enjoying airplay in some TV station across the country.
According to the singer, “I was off the scene in order to repackage; change my sound and looks, and come out with a fresh and more soothing sound and image that suits my craft,” he said.
Though he has relocated from his Lagos base to Abuja, H-Man is not worried about making in-road with his new work. With the backing of his new management company, Blarque Brotha Entertainment, H-Man is confident of taking his music to a greater height this time.


Valentine Diamond Ball2
Nollywood stars, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Zack Orji, alongside their spouses, will be special guests at a Valentine’s Day show for couples tagged Diamond Ball 2. The event, which is organised by Black Butterfly Events Company, will hold at theWelcome Center & Hotels, Int’l Airport Road, Lagos.
According to Glory Adeyemi, a member of the organizing committee, “the event is a social networking platform for couples. And also an initiative for providing support, creating awareness and mobilising action for health and social causes relating to women in particular and children.”
Aside the usual music, dance and comedy, this year’s edition will also feature a special celebrity couple appearances with a raffle draw that would see some guests smile home with prizes such as return tickets from Dana Air, relaxer kits from Venus, hair extensions from X-pression, a weekend stay over at Travel House, beauty products from House of Tara, love chairs from Modern Home Makers and lots more.
Tola Olamiju, a consultant for the event, informed that proceeds generated from the events would be used to help raise fund