Artist: Essence
Essence started her foray into music about 10 years ago, as a “back–up” vocalist to various Up-coming Artistes in Nigeria, at the tender age of 17. After her Secondary education, she joined her local church choir and in a very short time rose to the rank of, Head Vocalist / Soloist and Praise and Worship Leader, which exposed her to the rudiments of Music and Stage performance. She soon took a break off, being a somewhat Studio rat, having vocal back-ups to Prominent Nigerian artistes (Kingsley Ike, Eddie and Remedy, to mention a few) to engage herself in Tertiary Education which saw her through university.
Whilst in school, she teamed up with Nigeria’s foremost contemporary Gospel Superstar, Kenny St. Brown (Nee Ogungbe), and this saw her backing her up on stage Performances and was thus brought to the consciousness of Nigerians as a voice to be reckoned with. Kenny St. Brown soon featured her on one of her tracks “Heave Came Down” and this was the single that catapulted Essence into limelight.
Simultaneously, the Sound track of a Soap Opera, popular in West Africa “SUPER STORY” which she also did, brought her closer to the hearts and minds of all who heard it, and it has over the years become a sort of clarion call whenever the soap is about to be aired.
Essence, whilst working with Brown, garnered experiences of a full-blown artiste, as she did this for 6 years, before embarking on her journey as a Solo Artiste on Nigeria’s Number one Record Label and Management Outfit; Kennis Music And Prime Time Entertainment. This saw her album being produced by Nigeria’s hottest Producer, OJB Jezreel, and thus saw the churning out of Radio hits like “Coming Out”, “African Prince”, a remake of Tu face’s classic “African queen” and her club banger “Like Dat”
Essence has performed in various shows, concerts both within and outside Nigeria. Events Such as an AIDS Concert held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2001, which featured international stars such as Ashanti and DMX. Stomp 2001, which featured American gospel superstar, Kirk Franklin. The First Black Heritage Festival, held in Badagry, Lagos Nigeria, in 2000, which saw a host of African Americans coming back home to acquaint themselves with their roots.
Inspirational, as she sees the youths as the future and a tool for change, and thus encourages them to call up all that is within them, to help them achieve all they hope to achieve. All these are a result of the experiences she herself has gathered, and the triumphs she has achieved as a result of life’s struggles.
Record Label Nigeria Kennis Music
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