Inspirational: 'I Have Gone Far On My Own Without a Record Label' - Taiwo Herz

When you meet him, this guy is just
like any other regular hustler guy, but
this 20-minute interview with him
reveals something greater than just a
regular guy. Taiwo Herz is a music
producer, Afropop-genre singer and a
300L student of Mass Communication
at the University of Ilorin, Kwara state.
He bares his mind about his music and
the challenges he has faced as an
upcoming artiste
Check out the interview with this independent artiste and extra
amazing talent from Lagos, Nigeria.

May we meet you?

T.Herz: My names are Taiwo David
Yusuf, AKA Taiwo Herz, I am a singer, a
self-taught music producer, composer
and director.

You have a funny combo of names- Yusuf (surname) and David
(middlename) how is that?

T.Herz: (laughs) my paternal
grandparents were Muslims but my mum is a Christian, so I had to inherit something from both sides. But left to me, I am a Christian.

How did you come by the name,
'Herz'?

T.Herz: Well I also got 'Hassan' as my Muslim name. I liked it, but I decided to add some flavor to it in my own way. So I
adopted 'Herzern' instead of 'Hassan'. Then later I shortened it to 'Herz'. And I have loved it like that ever since.

Wow, so how's with you and music?

T.Herz: I can't exactly say when I
started music, but I have always liked
music. I also like poetry. I write a line of
two or more lyrics and I assign musical
notes to it, there goes the song. I learnt
to play the piano at a young age and
then music production caught my
interest. I started out by getting the
Fruity Loops software and I played
around with it. Within 2 weeks and
without any help or training
whatsoever, I made my first
instrumental and uploaded it to the web. It made me feel happy. I did my first song with RockyTee titled 'Planted', then other songs followed.

So, how has the music hustle been so far?

T.Herz: honestly, it hasn't been easy.
The Naija Music scene is getting hotter and there about a million musicians around here. I don't have a manager, I am an independent artiste, and I don't
even have my own studio yet, but I am doing fine. I have released about 10 singles, performed in several places, and I even shot two videos last month.
They are still being edited currently and I'm sure they will be bangers! I have gone far on my own without a record label. The saving grace I have is my Mom. She saves me. She has been my
major sponsor. She helped me with funds to get my videos shot and she funded some of my audio projects. She has been super. If not for her, I wouldn't have been here and I wouldn't have achieved most of what i have achieved. But that doesn't mean I don't need a record label to sign me ooo (laughs) I still do need a manager
and a record label, infact more than ever at this stage of my career. The other factor hindering my music is school. I like my school and my course of study (I attend University of Ilorin
and I am currently in 300l Mass
Communication) but if not for school package, I would have gone far with my music. There are numerous shows and opportunities that I have missed,
but I know what and where I'm going with my education. There is still time.

Wow, so what's with the two new
videos you shot?

T.Herz: oh, okay, I shot a video for my two singles, 'Little Boy' and 'Good Life', both directed by David Ekpo. Both are still being edited but they will be released very soon by God's grace.
'Little Boy' is a great song in the ballad genre, produced by myself. The song reflects my life and the life of other struggling young people like me. Its a song of inspiration and encouragement that goes on to say the future will eventually be bright. 'Good Life' is a song I did on a lighter mood. Its a great, entertaining song.

What do you do apart from music?

T.Herz: I manage my blog
(SwaggRadio), I produce music and
instrumentals for other artistes, and
when I'm free, I workout; I also write
short poems. Currently I am running
my 3 months SIWES at LTV 8. Those are
majorly what I do.

What should your fans be expecting of
you in the nearest future?

T.Herz: well, I plan to release my two
new videos (for 'Good Life' and 'Little
Boy') very soon, I plan to release
another single very soon, titled 'Bless
My Hustle'. Its a song which reaches
out to my friends and fans that God
should bless our hustle and not let our
hardwork be in vain. I am also
planning to run a collab with a top
artiste. I won't reveal who it is yet; its
gonna be a surprise package for my
friends and fans. I also have plans to
make this year a break-out year for me.

Awesome. What are your inspirational forces?

T.Herz: God. He is my main source. Anything that sounds great inspires me. Great people inspire me. Chris Brown, Pitbull, P-Square, Wizkid, Sarz, Banky W, Iyanya, Flo, Tye Tribbet, Don Moen, M.W.Smith. They inspire me. Then my mum. She believes in me. And I don't plan to let her down. (Laughs) yesso, I be Omo Mummy.

What's your opinion about drugs? Hard Drugs.

T-Herz: drugs... Well, I don't do drugs, I don't smoke, I don't drink, and I don't intend to start such habits. No inspiration for me there.

That's great, so any words on marble for your fans?

T-Herz: To all my fans, (I prefer to call them my friends and family) thank you so much. My advice: y'all already know what I'll
say; be yourself. (Sings:) Don't give up your dreams, everything is gonna be alright. Bye!!!

That was a nice hangout with superstar
Taiwo Herz, one of the hottest and fast
rising artistes from Lagos, Nigeria.
Download his songs here-
Taiwo Herz (Reverbnation)
SwaggRadio!
Hang out with him on facebook and
twitter-
Taiwo Herz
@TaiwoHerz.

Are you an entertainer (artiste/actor/­
actress/showbiz) and you wish to get
featured or interviewed on this blog?
Send an email to
smugboss@gmail.com or call
08111504585

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Three Suspected Terrorists set ablaze in Ikotun

It was a sad end for three suspected okada robbers who it was alleged had been terrorizing the residents of Ikotun area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria as they were  caught and set ablaze by an angry mob.  The suspected robbers were killed after their robbery operation was foiled by a member of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, vigilante group in the area.

The robbers, who allegedly operated with the aid of motorcycle, met their waterloo when they attempted to rob a woman, a wholesales recharge cards seller, at Governor’s Road, Ikotun at about 7 p. m. on Wednesday.

According to an eye witness account, on the fateful day, the suspected robbers parked their okada in front of the woman’s shop. While one waited outside, the other two suspected robbers went inside the shop to rob the trader.

It was alleged that one of the robbers pointed a gun at the woman and demanded for her bag containing recharge cards and sales proceeds for the day.

The woman refused and insisted that she will not hand over the bag to them. The argument between the woman and the suspected robbers alerted some of the residents of the area who fled when they  saw the gun pointed at the woman.

This caused commotion in the area and drew the attention of the  OPC member.

An eyewitness said: “When the OPC member confronted the robbers, one of them shot at him but the bullet did enter his body. The robbers were afraid and attempted to escape with their motorcycle. But as they attempted to zoom off, a motorist hit their motorcycle. They fell down and were rounded up by the residents”

According to the eyewitness, before the police could intervene the mob had gathered the suspects together and burnt them beyond recognition along with their motorcycle.

“The mob set them ablaze with the petrol they got from their motorcycle. Though the police were informed about the robbery,  before they got to the area, the suspects had been burnt by the angry mob,”  the eyewitness said.

Reacting to the killing of the suspects, some of the residents complained about incessant attacks  by okada robbers in the area but did not support jungle justice meted out to the suspects.

They said the suspects should have been handed over to the police who would have used them as bait  to fish out other criminals in the area.

When P.M.NEWS visited the Ikotun Police Division  to speak to the DPO, CSP Chris Akika, he was not around.

However, sources at the station confirmed the incident and said no arrest had been made in connection to the jungle justice meted out to the suspected robbers.