1, How did you get started?

Thank you so much for interviewing me…It is amazing music was accidental. I came from a traumatic background.My dad was a polygamist and i was treated very badly by the woman that my dad had an affair with and abused by her family.

Long story short really when i started to fight back and knew that things were not right my dad thought it was best to send me away to live with my older sister in Washington DC..My sister the late Miriam Ikejiani Clark of Political Science Department and former minister of State FCT. and her husband at the time my brother in law the late… Dr Chuba Okadigbo was President Of The Senate Of Nigeria sometimes referred to as the OYI Of Oyi.

Now when Chuba’s younger brother John died in a car accident returning back to Virginia where he was studying medicine.. His death shook Chuba and he decided he had to return home to Nigeria.

Now when i was sent back to live with my dad i was still rebellious and fighting for my rights and mothers rights my dad then thought it was best to send me away to Montreal Canada.

It is amazing that people think just because one comes from a privileged background that things should be all roses noooooo.

Long story short my dad put me on on a plane and left me in Montreal where i continued in my education.Now my dad should have protected me. He did not he allowed the woman and her family to get away with the abuse. My dad did not support me i was then homeless in fact i reached out to the Maurice Cerullo Foundation and told them what happened and they did not help me. I looked older than my age i walked up and down St Catherine Street and explained to them what had happened. Now i started to perform at piano bars to secure a roof over my head and continue in my education. Well, i was part of the Drama Group at Concordia Universtiy and one day a producer came Mr Joe Lagreca gave me his card and i went to see him.

Now my God we then recorded my First Album that was released in my African name Uchenna Ikejiani….my Middle name is Carol…..Second Album Recorded The late Mr Glen Larusso came up with the idea that it would be best to Switch names and use my middle name because it would be easier to pronounce and call me CAROL JIANI. That was the making of Carol Jiani……I recorded the Hit And Run Lover Album that has now become a classic. Hit And Run Lover has become my signature song.

Simply music was accidental it became my most powerful tool for survival and that was how i started my career…ADA NDI IGBO “THE MAKING OF CAROL JIANI”

2, What made you realize that music was your path?

When i was younger my dad used to ask me to sing at parties and he was the one that introduced me to the Artist Millie Jackson..You know African Parents would show you off to their friends at parties but would say to you that you had to get your degree it had to be Medicine, Law or become and Architect….hahahahahaha so i guess the gift was placed in me really but it was when i was in trouble that my vocal ability saved me and i had to fight for survival and i knew that music was a powerful platform for surviving.

3, Who are your influences?

My influences God the late Teddy Pendergrass. Millie Jackson. Tina Turner. Fela…They just don’t make them like this anymore. In the good old days, we perfected our gifts by working hard…..

4, What makes your music unique?

As a Nigerian Recording Artist established in the West my music is unique in the sense that still following old school my songs have great melody lines..My vocals are far superior because i have been in the business for so long i perfected my gift and ….I sing live and i do not mime at shows..We must respect the fans because without the fans we would not be who we are.

The instrumentation and production are simply the best and classy….My music is uplifting and hey i can sing hahaha .

5, How long does it usually take you to write a song?

It depends it varies really one can write a song in 10mins it can take a year to perfect a song.

An example through the loss of my son Chuka that died from a rare form of Brain Tumour …It comes easy because of the pain i have so much to say to him …I have written songs since his death and it took me no more than 20 mins to come up with the melody line and lyrics.

6, Where would you most like to perform?

God, i have performed all over the world but at the moment my passion i would love and intend to perform in Nigeria. Using music as a platform to help raise awareness of how traumatic Cancer is. The lack of facilities in Nigeria all over Africa. The hospitals are not equipped the lack of working Radiotherapy Machines back home.

The plan is to perform there and use music to help make a change back home

Music and sports are powerful tools crazy as it sounds i would love to have my own football team…Getting the youths of the streets .To perform at the biggest stadium in Nigeria bringing all together for a great cause.

An Evening with Nigerian Recording Artist Carol Jiani at the Hard Rock Cafe Lagos..too hahaha

7, What’s next for you?

I have so much going on at the moment i am lucky. I have four singles ready to be released and also collaborating with other Artists also.

On the 23rd of Feb my single is being released in Canada ..World Wide also.

“ A DEEPER LOVE” Phoenix Lord Feat. Carol Jiani . Disque Lachapelle Recods. Canada

COMING SOON ALSO

Track “NO MORE” Carol Jiani Feat Capital Edge.

Jiani Records UK / Nigeria

Track “FEEL IT” Germany March release. Sounds United Germany.

I am looking forward to touring and using the platform to help make a change and let our people know their rights.

Healthcare is a priority back in Nigeria /Africa.

I am so grateful to the UK things we take for granted when my son was fighting cancer. The NHS the support from friends fans everyone thanks.

We need to make sure that we equip the hospitals God the list is vast.

One day i plan to launch my own Record Label and recording studio…Campaign for 24/7 electricity.

The list is vast get the youths of the streets so many young talented wasting away….thank you so much for a great interview and looking forward to Part 2.

Basebaba Global Media Thank you.

Carol Jiani

Thanks for usual support!

Its very obvious that most comedians now delve into Music as they see they are also selling in the comedy market, in the likes of Akpororo, Maleke, Julius Agwu, Okey Bakassi, Klint d Drunk, Yanbaba, Kelvinsapp, etc always add music during their performances while on stage. 

But popular Nigerian Comedian and Colossus Gists BRAND Ambassador Kelvin Sapp has recently uncovered that he can still do stand up comedy without adding music as he bares it all on this interview with  "D OLOKPA SHOW". The music-Comedy artist with an album at hand spoke about his career, brand, upcoming project amongst others.

Now for the benefit for those that don't know much about you, can you tell us about yourself?

Kelvinsapp: My names are Eseavworho oghenero kelvin aka kelvinsapp. Am from Delta State, a comedian and a gospel music artist, presently a final year  student of Delta state university Abraka precisely history and international relations. Am the eldest son of my family.

So how was growing up like for you as the eldest?

Kelvinsapp‬: Growing up for me was a rigorous task because as the eldest son I needed to set a standard and act as a role model for my younger ones to follow,most especially academically. In all by God's grace am building a legacy that they are proud of and even my family too. So growing up demanded I live a disciplinary antecedents for my younger ones. Which I am still doing everyday.

At what point did you go into comedy?  How did the journey start for you?

Kelvinsapp:  I got into comedy during my my diploma program at the Delta state university (Oleh Campus) although I was just a funny guy at first until a friend of mine by name princewill who happens to be a wonderful spontaneous comedian till now told me I could be a standup comedian. So I started in school,hosting the student union event and some other church concerts and that's how it all began.

People know you as that guy that does music comedy. Did you begin by singing and later decided to add comedy to it? Or how did that style came about?

Kelvinsapp: I started with music. By the age of 9, I was already the junior choir master,it was over time I started developing the flare to actually do music comedy,so what I did was to write out my own comedy songs the way I want then.  Although I flipped some songs and turned them upside down but I did change the flavor of the song.

And when you started performing officially in school, how was the response from the students?

Kelvinsapp‬: I started in school 2013 and at first the encouragement from the students was wow because they really loved me maybe because I was very friendly plus I stayed in the school's boys hostel,so I had this formal relationship with most of them and that aided me spontaneously.

Looking back at your career from where you started till how, how would you describe the journey so far?

Kelvinsapp: The journey so far I must confess has been and will always be God's grace. There are sometimes I get really discouraged because performing comedy and doing real music are two different concept but indeed God's grace has helped so much in mastering the enterprise and developing the talent.

A lot of persons have argued that if you remove the music aspect from your comedy, there will be no kelvinsapp, do you share their thought?

Kelvinsapp‬:  Hahaahahahaha (Laughs), I totally disagree and that's because when it comes to standup comedy without me having to sing,trust me I have a lot to offer and some of my close friends will attest to it. I have been in event where the client asked me not to sing any comedy song,that he wanted to see my spontaneity and trust me by God's grace I wowed him. Kelvinsapp can crack jokes without having to sing. Although the  singing is what makes the performances unique than other comedians.

How has it been for you combining school and comedy?

Kelvinsapp‬: Comedy and school is like giving a child a bone with thick flesh attached to it, the child is tired of bone but wants to continue because of the flesh on it. I Can't count classes I missed sometimes and some few test too. It's not easy at all but what has kept me going is myself discipline and how I choose to work with the time at my disposal. At the end I just tell my self I can make it work and that guts has kept me going

Has it in anyway affect your growth in the industry?

Kelvinsapp‬: On some occasions it has but I don't regret it anyway. I believe it's all for the better good.

You been coming and going to Lagos. Some feel to make it big in the industry, you need to station in Lagos, are you planning making that switch after school?

Kelvinsapp: I don't believe in that notion that many artist bore in their mind for their respective careers. The truth is God does not need a map to locate you, once your time is set you don't force things to work,they work for your sake. I don't undermine the fact that Lagos is the center of all entertainment endeavors in Nigeria but that not withstanding growing your personal self still matters a lot. You can achieve what you want where you are,it's all about your mindset.

I have shuttled Lagos and back over a few times and I made tremendous growth in my personal career but what has helped me is that fact that I worked on myself here in Delta state where I grew up and when I entered Lagos I came as an already made material and anybody that want to support me would gladly do so. This is because I have worked on my self. Warri language will say; who wan blow go blow so no reason am at all. Even the bible tells us that time and chance happens to us all for it is not by our will. So no need to force things.

What's that thing that stages you out from your equals? That special thing about Kelvinsapp brand.

Kelvinsapp: The most unique thing about the brand kelvinsapp is the God factor in it. The next is the voice and the grace backing it. Note; in my introduction I forgot to mention, that I am one of the registered partner to the power house entertainment company where, Mr Ajiri Afimoni stands as the CEO. Onosakponome Cyril Komeno a.k.a Youngchief is also a partner ,together we hold the core the company and upload it's integrity

You have climbed big stand, performed in numerous cities around the country, the fan base is increasing, just like your partner, Youngchief, should we be expecting a Kelvinsapp concert soon?

Kelvinsapp: Yea it will surely come forth. That's the peak of every career,the ability to give back to the fans. But for now we just concentrating on the scheduled album tour. As event unfolds we will unleash information on where and when this concert will happen.

You are one artist that still does gospel music. Can you shed light on that?

Kelvinsapp: Yea thats correct. The truth is, performing gospel songs in our environment in Nigeria calls for lot of patience and persistent efforts. It's easy for Nigerians to absolve a circular song and forgo it after some specific time but gospel songs are evergreen and this is because the process of making the listeners accepting the content is tedious but the moment they accept it,an artist stay all of his life eating the benefits of that one song. I have my own album which is still very new for grab and the sound is entirely different from the regular gospel beats.

How many tracks and what inspired the album?

Kelvinsapp: The album comprises of 9 tracks and it was a 2years recording process. Sometimes I and my producer Ebiscoondabeat, would record and delete and re record again. What has inspired me in all this, is God and my faith. I never stop believing in the actuality of the best.

Any special plan for the album?

Kelvinsapp: For now we working on how to circulate the album and so far there is a forgoing plan for an arranged tour and this tour is open to other churches who are interested in having kelvinsapp and his crew at their respective denominations anywhere in Nigeria.  The major aim is to spread the content within our individual strength and allow the marketers do the rest in regards to nation wide spreading.

Coming back to you. Being an handsome talented artist, how do you relate with your female fans that flock around you?

Kelvinsapp: Female folks will always be there and I am fully aware of that fact and God helping me I have been able to manage them as time passes.

Is there any Mrs Sapp TO Be currently? Cos all artist claim to be single.

Kelvinsapp: That's my private life and I would love it to be private so help me God

Where should we be expecting to see your brand in few years to come?

Kelvinsapp: Expect to see my brand where God is taking it because I am  too confident he is not taking me to crash.

Last word for your fans.?

Kelvinsapp: My fans are my strength and I respect them, on this note I wish to let them know that more is yet to be seen and heard from kelvinsapp whom they have continually supported

Any special appreciation?

Kelvinsapp: Special appreciation to the CEO Powerhouseent, also to my friend and brother younchief,my producer ebiscoondabeat, my crew (boldknights) and to everyone who has not stopped believing in my career and my rising, words are not enough to say thank you, I can't mention all name but to my spirtual father in the lord,mothers and guidance in faith,I say thank you, Mr Peter Enas,Mr Richard gbajimi, Mr voke, crownfm 89.9 , kpokofm 100.5 thanks to everyone.

Thanks for your time.

Kelvinsapp: You welcome sir.