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By TOSIN AJIRIRE
Saturday, March 27, 2010
She is a songstress who has become a sought after in the gospel music circles in Nigeria. She is also a song writer and author of yet to be published books. Indeed, Carol Franklyn boasts of a vast repertoire and has collaborated with reputable gospel artistes like ACHO who is signed to Got Beats Records in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Carol
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A graduate of Mass Communication and Marketing, Carol is currently signed to Udoworld Music Record on whose label she is set to release her brand new 10-tracker, Heaven @ Last. Born in the mid-1970s, Carol’s love for music started from her teenage years in Gospel Youth Ministry International in Enugu. Her commitment to the youth ministry gave her a strong footing in gospel music before her producer, Kennedy Shammah discovered her during the National Youth Service programme.
According to the gospel diva, who dubbed her music “Good Music”, her desire is to sing and restore hope to the hopeless and to imbibe the spirit of self-worth while spreading the message of salvation. She asserts: “I want to use my songs to teach people how to appreciate God.” In this encounter with Blockbuster, Carol opens up as never before. Excerpts:
The beginning
The inspiration has been bubbling in me and crying out for expression. But it got a boost when I started backing up some local artistes in Enugu. I was also in the youth choir before I came to Ibadan, Oyo State in 1999/2000 for my NYSC. In the house where I lived, all my neighbours were singers, these include Michael Fashina of Erujeje fame, Gbenga Erins and Kennedy Shammah Ologure, who discovered me and who is today my producer. It was the constant rehearsals of those songs we used to harmonise that culminated into the zeal that took me to the studio as Kennedy could not resist producing my songs.
On inspiration
Holy Spirit inspires me. I also derive inspiration from the word of God and other people’s cum personal experiences. I write down all the rhymes I get from the word of God. As I discern them, I turn them into melodious tunes. Music equally comes to me through meditations especially when I am having my quiet time. Sometimes when I am reading some devotionals, inspiration starts flowing because I am connected to my source.
Heaven @ Last
My wish for everybody is to make heaven that’s the reason I entitle my CD Heaven @ Last. It is a seven-track album with three remixes making it 10. All the songs to me make sense. But the one I have so much reverence for is the title song, Heaven @ Last. You may ask why? It’s because the song makes both the singer and listener to think about eternity. It reminds me that there is a one-stop avenue for everybody, I mean, every Tom, Dick and Harry. It teaches about leaving good legacy because that’s only what we’ll be remembered for after this earthly sojourn; that’s why I am wishing everybody to make heaven at last.
Why I stick to gospel
I can’t see myself doing another kind of music except gospel. Gospel to me is good news and good news brings succour to the mind, body and soul. It inspires one’s spirit, encourages and chastises as well. Above all, I have compassion for the lost souls with the intention of bringing them to Christ through my songs. I also want to bring the presence of God to the people through my music.
Hubby’s support
I was working before I went into private business so that I could have time to attend to my husband and little baby. I also do a whole lot of things like event planning and packaging of young football players with Vladimir Boatic, my Croatian partner since 2006 till date. However, my husband likes what I am doing. He encourages me. He even does verbal promotions for me because he loves my music a lot and he is proud of me.
Challenges
One of the challenges I faced was getting a genuine and God fearing marketer. I have done some videos that I couldn’t use because I felt they were substandard. I have really put in money for my promos and other things before my marketer, Udo World Music came in. So, shooting the videos without being able to use them was another challenge. It was only the video Elvina Ibru did for me that I was able to use because it was nice.
Right now, some churches are already demanding the CD because I have had the opportunity of ministering to their congregation. At the same time, my marketer is working on some distribution channels to get the album well circulated within the country. I will also embark on direct sales and other means to get the CD to the public.
On piracy
Piracy is a virus, it is a cankerworm that reaps from where it did not sow. No pirate should be spared; they are thwarting the efforts of intellectual property owners. It leaves the owners wretched. Could you believe that my CD is yet to be released and the promotional song has already started selling in Alaba Market like pure water? Please, help me tell those pirates to stay off my work or else they will incur the wrath of God.
Role models
My role model is Aretha Franklin. She is a woman with poise. I love her alto voice. Her songs are highly inspirational. I also love Onyeka Onwenu. I admire her stage presence and control. She is bold and charismatic. I love her use of Igbo dialect in most of her songs.
Me and my fans
It feels so lovely and wonderful to know that people love what you are doing. At the moment I have lots of fans online from all over the world. Most of them got connected to me through myspace and facebook. I could remember a certain day I was on the same platform with Apostle Alfred, founder of Christian Faith International Outreach, UK. After ministering, he told me that I should keep it up that he is going to invite me to sing in his church one day.
Also, after singing in a church in Lagos, a man walked up to me and gave me a cheque and I was shocked. Sometimes, when I finish ministering people will pass notes to me, saying: “You really blessed my spirit, how can we get your CD?” one day, a certain young man walked up to me as I finished singing in a birthday party and said: “If your album comes out and no one buys it, I will buy all and share them to everybody”. Those words are like panacea to my soul. They give me confidence that God is interested in me and this calling is of Him.
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