On this very hot Afternoon, one thing led to another and the next thing we knew we gained a privileged access to the soft spoken songstress.

We must say, not only is she a bundle of Talent, she also is goofy, fun, full of life and very accommodating.

Here's how the conversation went.

RC: Efezino It is such a privilege to have this chat with you.

Your name Efezino sounds so sophisticated, tell us the story behind that name?

Efezino: Hello ray, thanks for having me, I am glad to be here. So Efezino is my birth name, named by my dad and it means wealth has come.  I love my name very much. (Chuckles)

RC: You were on the voice, what was the experience like ?

Efezino:Yea, being on the voice in 2017 was fun, the most fun  singing competition I’d ever been on. We met a lot of people, met contestants from the voice SA. I’ve made lifelong friendship from being on  the show. It was an eye opener, we saw live theater performances, learnt a lot about vocals and just the business in general. So yea, the voice Nigeria is actually the best show I’ve been a part of. Actually I was on season one, but I didn’t make it to the live show, then i went back on season 3 2017. That was when I had my shot, and i guess i took it. (chuckles)

RC: Do you think being on the voice has played any role in how well Africa has received you as an Artist.

Efezino: Being part of the voice has played a huge role for me as an artist. I’ve heard people say, they first saw me on the voice before they heard about anything that I am doing right now.

RC: What was the highlight of the show(the voice) for you?

Efezino: For me, the highlights of the show, "The voice" was the fun we got to have, we used to go out on this mini tours where we would go round to the Nelson Mandela square and window shop, cos we didn’t have so much. One time we got left behind by the bus, it was cold and had to join a tricycle back home, they call it tuk-tuk, we didn’t have enough money to pay, and luckily the driver was Nigerian so he didn’t make a big deal of the situation.

RC: You are very African, from your dress sense to your singing. WHAT INSPIRED IT?

Efezino: Oh yea, I’m African and I am proud to be African, I am very in tune and connected to my roots. Not just as a Deltan, or a Nigerian but also as an African. We hear stories of Africans who live abroad and how they don’t feel like they belong there. So we are privileged and fortunate to have our culture, to be here and know our heritage.

RC: Are you currently signed on to a record label.?

Efezino: well, I am currently independent, I look forward to getting a deal, being signed to a label, getting a deal or an investment with someone who has bigger platform. I am ready to work together and achieve bigger things.

RC: Do you have a dream record label or Do you prefer being an independent artist.

Efezino: Hmmm, I don’t have a dream record label par say. Sometimes it’s not all about the big names. I don’t mind anyone so far as we have a common goal to do something great together, I’m with it.

RC: Tell us about your recent project "Sounds from Africa"

How did you cook that up,?

Efezino: Sounds from Africa is something I started on Instagram two years ago, I just wanted to create content for my social media.  We would put calls through to people of different cultural background, Ijaw, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, name it. We just wanted to create a cultural feel and people loved it.

RC: I always feel like the industry is a bit unfair on women? What's your thought on this?

Efezino: well I’ve been hearing a lot about this topic but for me, being here is only by the grace of God. Women work sometime even harder than men, I also believe women who make it to the top don’t necessarily help other ladies get up there, unlike the guys, who just pick up each other, that’s why the industry is full of guys.

RC: so you are saying in essence that those statements are untrue?

Efezino: when they say the industry has been unfair to women, there are two sides to it, like I said for me I’ve only been fortunate to be here and still getting higher. I wouldn’t say unfair, I just think it is more challenging. Guys look at a talented lady and the first thing they do is objectify her sexually, especially if she is a beautiful woman. So that’s one major issue that girls have to deal with. Some of us have however been fortunate. But the truth is there are stories in the industry today that I can’t even begin to divulge, about what some women have to do to get ahead, and quite frankly it shouldn’t be that way.

RC: Which of the songs on the project is your favourite and why?

Efezino:  On my latest project, my favorite song would be Oreo. Oreo is about a mother providing food for her little child, I guess knowing what it means makes me love it even more. It takes me back to when my grand pa would sit me on his lap and feed me fish.

RC: Which Nigerian Artist would you be star struck, if you met them?

Efezino:  I don’t really know which Nigerian Artist would be star struck if they met me,(laughs out loud) but I love Asa, when I met her I was like wow she is so Amazing.  I met Wizkid too back on Nigerian idol, so yea that was cool.

 RC: I have this belief that Most Musicians eventually get to act, at least once in their life time.... So are you getting ready for an acting gig sometime in the future?

Efezino: Oh yea, I’m looking forward to acting, I have always wanted to Act. Back then, I used to pretend I had invincible children on my dad’s couch, and I would yell at them, sing along Florian Maria from the sounds of music (laughs out loud) . So yea, I have always wanted to Act.

RC: Quick one, Tiwa Savage or Beyonce and why?

Efezino: oh my God Beyonce of course, I love Tiwa but Beyonce is an embodiment of energy. I love her art, her energy, and her brand as a whole.

RC: Who and who have influenced you as a singer and a recording artist?

Efezino: As a singer I’ve been influenced by a lot of people. My first influence was yanny, then Enya, Sia, Adele, Beyonce, Asa, Angelique kidjo and a whole other range of new age artist.

RC: Back to the competition (The voice) how did life change for you after the show, what was it like , before and after?

Efezino: The voice opened up a lot of opportunity music wise, when I put out my song, even though it was folk, people received it. Cos I had already been on a show Nigerian idol, I came in Top 6 but I was just kind of out there without a song. So being a part of the voice was a major one for me.

RC: Tell us about the Maggi Song, how did that happen? 

Efezino: The Maggi song, how it came about. So my former label owner, reached out and told me, Maggi wanted me on that project, and that is just how it happened. We recorded two versions, one for the radio and another for TV.

RC: Fix it on the go" the DSTV advert, still rings in my ear every time I see you. Did you write it?

Efezino: Fix it on the go.  I didn’t write it, it was written by Oscar while I was still signed to his label, I think I wrote a little, but most of it was already written by Oscar.

RC: Okay now! what the guys want to know... Are you "Single, Single"?? Lol

Efezino: why is everybody so concerned about this (says this while laughing). Anyway I understand sha, so if you mean if I’m in a relationship, I am actually just focusing on myself and career right now.

RC: Alright let's talk about your voice, I know you hear it a lot but what do you do to sound so good ? Choi kilode?

Efezino: Thank you for the compliment (chuckles). But it is just God o, I just open my mouth and it comes out. Thank you.

RC: Do you have any formal musical training?

Efezino: I don’t have any formal musical training, I actually studied human anatomy. Besides being in the choir as a teenager, going for competitions winning one, and getting to top shows. I guess I could say all of that has been my “formal” education.

RC: What is the next project in the pipe line? give us a hint.

Efezino: I am not going to let the cat out of the bag, we all have to wait and see.

RC: Finally, would you ever consider relocating from Nigeria?

Efezino: (Laughs out loud) see question oh,  me that i have already left Nigeria like this (She laughs, while she jokes about this)

This will always be home, but i would like to be a Nigerian ambassador abroad,  maybe USA, Canada, Etc. But Nigeria will always be home

RC: Thank you so much Efezino, we are so privilged ma'm.

Efezino: Please don't call me Ma'm, (laughs out loud) that just makes me feel old.  Please stick to Efezino.

Follow Efezino on IG and be in touch with all the fun stuff she has coming up.

@efezino_