Dammy Krane
Only
19, hip-hop act Dammy Krane has made his presence felt in the music
industry. In this interview, he tells how he ran away from school to
concentrate on music
When did you discover your talent in music?
I started singing when I was six, joined
the toddlers’ choir in church when I was only eight. I was doing back
up songs and dancing for other artistes at the age of 11.
Professionally, I started music when I got signed on to Tuface’s label,
Hypertek.
How supportive were your parents?
They were not supportive; besides, I had
not seen my mum for 10 years. She lives in the United States of America
where she is an event manager and manager to some Fuji artistes. I am
from a polygamous family, the only child of my mum but I was brought up
by my grandmother.
Did you lobby Tuface to sign you on his label?
No, I did not. About two years ago,
there was a party at a hotel in Victoria Island where a number of
artistes were invited. One of my friends Iyad, a white guy was also
invited so he took me along. Iyad later invited me over to a corner
where he sat with Tuface. Tuface mentioned that he had listened to
some of the collabos I did with other artistes and also watched one of
my performances. He then asked if I was signed on to any label. Of
course I was not and Tuface signed me unto Hypertek.
You were doing your own thing before Hypertek…
Of course I was. When I was in
Redeemers University, I was a local champion there. I used to do a lot
of free styling and collabos. I had a song ‘Uni Girls’ that was popular
in a lot of universities. It was a Fuji pop song. The buzz created by
the music got me a job as the face of Dynamix magazine.
With the kind of music you do, are you not scared of incurring the wrath of the authorities of your university?
They don’t support entertainment and
that was why I left. I had to leave so that I won’t be rusticated.
Everybody in school loved me and I was in my first year studying
microbiology. I even ran away from home, though I am back. I was living
and working in different studios and was what you would classify as a
studio rat. Leaving school was a risk I had to take and I hope to go
back someday to study business management this time around.
You must have been influenced by bad friends…
I was 17 then and now I am 19. I don’t
think I have ever had bad friends and that is why I don’t have tattoos
or piercings. I don’t even think I will be getting any in the future
because of the kind of discipline I had growing up. If you remember the
kind of home you are from, you won’t want to engage in certain things. I
don’t drink or smoke either. I am naturally hyperactive.
Your genre of music is quite different…
I call it 21st century music and it’s a
fusion of Fuji, hip hop and R&B. Some people call it concoction
music but I don’t mind.
Being a Hypertek artiste must have given you some kind of leverage…
Yes, it has changed things because
Tuface is a legend and that is how people see him. For him to have
chosen me shows that there is something I have that others don’t. Some
people think that I am riding on his back to fame but it is not so and
that is why you don’t see me and Tuface together. He leaves me to do my
own thing. He even tells me that without Hypertek, I would still have
made it. That statement makes me want to do things more on my own. He
once told me that he signed me on because he saw himself in me. That is
very encouraging.
How did you come about the name Dammy Krane?
My real name is Oyindamola
Johnson-Hunga. My mum is from Lagos State while my dad is from Ado-Odo
Ota in Ogun state. I was with my brother one day and he asked me what I
wanted to achieve as an artiste and I said I want to uplift the
industry. He just started calling me Dammy the Caterpillar and later he
changed it to Dammy Krane.
There is so much competition. How are you coping?
I don’t believe in competition so I
don’t even think about it. I believe that once you are in the industry,
your focus should be how to make yourself relevant. My success in a
short while can only be attributed to God, my family and my fans.
Which song shot you into the limelight?
That must be my first song, ‘My dear.’
That song was inspired by the fact that I had been doing a lot of
collabos and people were asking for a single.
Should we be expecting an album from you soon?
An album is dependent on the demand I
get. Right now, I am trying to create a buzz for my music so hopefully, I
am looking at towards the end of the year or sometimes thereafter.
Who are those you look up to apart from Tuface?
I look up to the likes of Dbanj, Psquare and KWAM1.
What don’t you like about being in the limelight?
Being in the limelight is a challenge in
itself and as an artiste have to be careful about how you handle thing
you because there are so many uncertainties. Personally, I have resolved
that when life throws me a lemon, I catch it and make lemonade out of
it.
Don’t you consider your age a challenge?
I don’t think I am that young. Judging
by what obtains in western countries, I am even too old. In this
industry, the younger you are, the better. You also need to be
intelligent to make it in this industry.
How do you handle female fans?
I grew up with women; my managers are women, so, I am always with women.
You have a unique way of dressing. Is that a marketing strategy?
That is just me. I don’t think it’s a deliberate act. I dress to look good and make my fans happy.
If you were not doing music, what do you think you would have been doing?
Maybe I would have been an actor. I really can’t tell because I have never given life outside music a thought.
Does that explain your relationship with Yvonne Nelson?
That was just a rumour from mischief
makers. Yes, she is my friend but we have never been lovers. We met on
the set of a movie and we took a picture together. People saw the
picture and decided to draw their conclusions from that. I was surprised
but not happy. I was on tour when the story broke and I was slightly
distracted.
Your single ‘Condom Sir’ generated some controversy…
A lot of people think the song is lewd but it is a safe sex campaign. I am only preaching safe sex .
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