Elle Erinle sits down with Skales for One Big Cultur.
The Nigerian music Super Star to talk about his viral moment with Lamine Yamal, the resurgence of "Shake Body"
"And what's next for his music career"
From touring Europe to collaborating with international artists, Skales dishes out the details on his journey so far.
Elle: I think the last time I spoke to you was 2023. I don't even understand how time is just going. Honestly, I feel like then you were in a headspace where you were talking a lot about mental health. You were talking a lot about putting so much energy and time into your music, and I don't think that's changed.
I said the other day, on my TL(Time line) , girls were saying, he is paying this much to push his music. That can't be real. And I'm thinking, how are you guys unaware of the high cost of track promotion?
However, I'm very glad that you've persevered. You've managed to show vulnerability. And with Shake Body's worldwide comeback, this viral moment has returned.
How do you feel? What do you think of that?
Skales: I feel very fortunate. I am quite fortunate. To be honest, I feel equally honoured, amazed, and overwhelmed. But, you know, it's a wonderful feeling to know that, for need of a better word, all of your prayers have been heard. Your every wish has been fulfilled. Also, the task never ends. I only need to take advantage of it and turn this into a life changing event because it's a new level with new difficulties.
Elle: I believe it has been ten years since you included Shake Body in your album or project.
Let me not waste your time. Alright, so Barcelona And Lamine Yamal, what was your initial reaction and where were you when you saw it, Who forwarded it to you? What were you thinking about?
Skales: Yes. I think I just went to the club that day. Yes. I remember it was on a Sunday. I visited the club. I just returned home after attending a party with a few of my close friends. Also I kept receiving messages from other people. I was just confused. When I checked, I saw three people dancing to my music, one of which was Lamine Yamal, but then I had no idea who they were. Do you understand? Although I am aware of him, I didn't know he was that huge. even though I'm a football fan, I'm not really into it. But now I am now a true football fan!!
Elle: You must be a fan o!!!
Skales:I am a Barcelona fan till I pass on!
Elle :Yeah, but how were you feeling?
Skales: I mean, honestly, I just reposted the video, I saw how the views were just going crazy and crazy. Like, in an hour, I saw how many views there were. Then I went to his TikTok because he posted on TikTok. That's Lamine Yamal. And I saw that in, like, three, four hours, it was almost 80,000,000 views. I was like, what? Who the hell is this guy? So I checked him all. And I am like, oh yeah. I know of him. I know he was being compared to Messi and stuff like that. So, I mean, from that time, it's just been crazy, nothing was planned. So it's just been mind blowing. Every plan I had for this year, we had to re-strategize, we had to change everything.
Well, it's just been mind blowing everything that's been happening. Before, you know in like two, three weeks, I found myself in the same flight with the footballers.
Elle: You know that meme online, where it’s like God wants to give you a big thing, but you are just holding on to the little things, like let me have this, but God is like, I have something better for you, I am sure that is how you are feeling right now. And then you responded with music too, as you should, with your latest single produced by killertunes and Adnan.
Skales: Yeah, He is amazing, Adnan is an artist that is buzzing at the moment!
Elle: He's dope. So you released Dance like Lamine Yamal. What inspired that track, I mean we already know, but how did it feel tapping into that energy creatively versus on social?
Skales: Well, honestly, I would say for the past, close to almost two months, I've just been there, the only thing that has been ringing in my head was Shake body to Lamine Yamal to Shakebody. So for me how I write my music is with experiences. So when I heard this particular beat online, I was eating that day. And I was like hmmm, I was vibing. I was like, oh, why don't I say do the Lamine Yamal dance? My friends were like, no, say dance like Lamine Yamal. It was funny, but I sent it to, like, a bunch of my friends that we would always criticize each other, and they were like, it makes sense. Like at the moment, this is right. Let’s keep the energy going, I was like alright, Let's do it. And for me, it was not just about Lamine Yamal because, really, I don't mind if he never gets to hear it. It's fine. You know? For me, it's just inspirational like, this is an anthem. An anthem that just proves that you can just come from anywhere and just be anything. Like, you could just be a god. You know what I mean? So it's like a celebration kind of anthem for me, really. So for me, whether people like it or not, I don't really care, this is personal for me. It's celebratory. It's like a congratulations to myself.
Yeah, from a business angle, you've talked about how you're having to, like, realease music, you've had to release this year. Yeah. And, honestly for me, my right time was 2011, that Mukulu era. if I was using Spotify then, that your Mukulu will be on 10,000,000,000 streams because, bro, that was our jam in university. Which brings me to now, You talked about how you had to shift your business. Which brings me to this tour, this Shake Body Europe tour. How are you feeling about that, and what has been your experience so far compared to touring before?
Skales: Well, I mean, yeah, the demand is high, for one, the demand is really high. But, what's crazy is we already had planned this whole tour before everything happened. So everything happened three weeks ago. The viral moment when Lamine Yamal posted his video with his guys happened three weeks before the tour started. Because the tour started on April 19, and he posted on the 28th.It was, like, two days before my birthday. So it was pretty much like a birthday gift. On my birthday, I was just chillin too. I was like, I already have my birthday gift. There's no point in doing anything. I was just home watching TV and praying, that's it. You know? But yeah the demand was crazy, the kind of people that were booking were different. It was not like Africans in Europe anymore.
Elle: Let's talk about the booking. Let's talk about that. So as a result of the reality from this moment, you've had a variety of new bookings.
Skales: Yeah. I mean, it was not a variety. It was a decent amount.
Elle: Touring has become such a major topic globally, especially post-COVID. Artist like Davido,Burna and wizkid are constantly in conversation, and the reality is that touring is more demanding but also more rewardingthan ever. For you, Skales, this viral hit came at the same time you already had plans in motion, and it feels like its made all the preparation worthwhile. I love that for you. Shifting gears a bit, i want to talk about JOGO, which was one of my top 20 songs of last year. Where was your headspace when you created that track?
Skales: Honestly, I learned something, you know, like, every year, it's like a new mantra. I decided to just stay happy and say only good things. So even when I remember that I wanna complain, I stop myself from doing that and just stay relaxed, but I won't say that's the reason because I really don't know why things happen the way they do, but I just know it's the grace of God because I'm really into my Christianity. But in those ways, Jogo was just out of a very great place. I was in Dubai at that time. I was touring the Middle East also. And it's the same kilertunez again. He played a sample just like this one. I was like, Guy, send me some beats, So he sent it, and I remember the idea I had. I was so excited. I kept playing it in the car. Everywhere they were taking me, I kept playing it. So my guys were like, you know what? Let's take you to the studio so you can let us hear word, so I went to the studio, and I recorded it. I recorded it, and I didn't play it again. I just left it alone, but I sent it to Killertunez, and he worked on it and sent it back to me. I was like, oh my god. This is so dope. And that's how I knew, like, that was what I was gonna release next.And, honestly, every other vibe, every other song has just been me being in a very good space. Like, you know, just ignoring the noise. And, I mean, I'm human. Sometimes it gets to me, but, you know I'm learning to, you know, build a tougher skin and just be grateful for the fact that I'm here, which means if I'm here, there's still hope.
Elle: I wanted to actually just do a little deep dive into your discography because, again, not just as a fan, but I feel like when we have these moments, I think it's great to point, you know, your fans to what else you've been up to, for example, if we go back to 2022 where you had Sweet Distraction. And you have so many collabs on that project as well. When I look at some of your collaborations, I am like, how? How do you even know these people? I am guessing they have known you for a long time. How have you built these relationships where you're able to have that many people, just ready to jump on your project, Zlatan, Blackbonez, You've been working with Krizbeatz forever, how has that been?
Skales: So for me, honestly, I believe in collaboration a lot. You know? I just recently started chilling on collaboration because of how stressful it is. You know, artists have different schedules. Some artists are assigned to labels to create a song. It's just a long thing. So I just started from the beginning, before I record with artists, I'll be like, yo. How are we clearing this thing? Because if it was going to be long, let's forget about it. For me, collaboration really builds or helps to expand your fan base, And for me, it's just challenging, and inspirational, being able to work with great artists or artists that I really admire. for example, Burna to Davido and everybody, it is very inspiring for me. The music is always amazing when we do it together. So that's why I love collaborations. For my range, I just feel like I'm a very diversified artist. Like, you can’t put me in a box no matter how hard you try. I mean, for many years, they've tried to just leave it with me that I was just a rapper, and I've tried to explain myself that I was not even a rapper. Before I was signed, it was just what it was at that time.
Elle: Now I am going to come to proof of life. I don't want to talk too much about it, because I feel like we did the last time I spoke to you. I love proof of life, and I love that this was part of your healing process from what I remember talking to you about your mom, your daughter, and just where you were in your life. The question we want answers to is, Where are you now? Like, how do you feel about that project a few years later?
Skales: First of all, I'm really proud of that project, man, because that project was a time where I just rediscovered myself again. And, honestly, every time I'm always rediscovering myself. Like, with even this new story now or this new resurgence of everything that's happening with my career, it's like I'm rediscovering everything. I'm this close to canceling my album and doing it again, but I'm not going to do it because my team is tired of me doing it every time. But so I'm just in a very happy place. I'm just very grateful, high spirited, you know, ready to go and I'm just motivated. I'm just happy, honestly. That's all I'm saying.
Elle: I actually just found out you and JaySynth linked up. That's my guy as well. I love him. How did that come together? Have you guys known each other for a long time?
Skales: Yeah. I've known Jaysynth for many years, but we've been trying to work. We were not able to work. So that that was, like, our first time trying to work, actually. And we made that. We made, like, two records but it is one of them that came out. The other one, I was trying to get an artist on it, but the artist took so long and it killed the energy for the song. So, yeah, he's amazing. He's someone that I wanna work with again, as a matter of fact, as soon as I get back to Lagos. Mhmm. There have been times we want to meet, but most of the time, I either have to travel or something.
Elle: Yeah, you guys have to please make it work, So since you started this new journey, since you began your tour, Has any city surprised you, like, what the hell?
Skales: Honestly, I think, Castle. Some place called Castle. I didn't even know that kind of place existed. You know?
Elle: Where is it?
Skales: It's in Germany. That place was, like, mind blowing for me, man. It was crazy. You know, the show was packed. It was full. That one. And which my second biggest show again? Damn. I can't remember but then there's another one, Augsburg. That was neat too. Those are, like, my top two now. I've only performed in four Cities so far. Those are like my top two.
Eller: How many would you want to go to?
Skales: 15
Elle: I hope you're well. Eating well, Any partying?
Skales: No. No, I'm resting only. It's just traveling a lot.
Elle: Okay. Fair enough. Okay. Now I'm gonna move on and just ask you, like just a quick fire set question.
What is one skales song you would play to a stranger?
Skales: One skales song you would play to a stranger. Man, man, it's Shake body, man. What other songs do I want to play?
Elle: I should have given you a rule. No Shake body!!
Elle: When I told my team I was gonna be interviewing you. The Gen z, the youngest one in the team, put DLLY, and I was like, I have to stop thinking. Do I have to show my age and be asking her, what does that one mean? So I went to Google, and I typed in Skales DLLY, and then it came up. And I was like, oh. It was so funny. I didn't know what she meant. So, yeah, it's definitely going. It's definitely going.
What do you think is a gem of yours that people need to really hear about?
Skales: There’s a song called come baby come. I was featured on it. I'm, like, one of the co owners of the song. It's by Mohammed Ramadan. Yeah. I was supposed to perform the song at Coachella, but I was already in Europe touring, so I couldn’t. But, yeah, the song was performed at Coachella, and it has, like, over a hundred million views. Yeah. It's crazy. You know, that's, like, one song that I want the world to hear because, first of all, the blend is mad. I never saw it coming either. We just were just being experimental, and it worked.
Elle: I love that. What’s a song you wrote that still gives you chills?
Skales: I would say” Don’t say much” the whole song, because that song was written in like 30 minutes. It was actually about things I wanted to get off my mind, because of the beat, it got me in my feelings, if you want to get me, just give me a soulful beat. I would write a song so fast, you would think I had written the song months ago. Honestly the song came from an emotional space, where I don’t want to share everything now, but yeah.
Elle: So yeah, before we release you, Which producer or artist do you think people are sleeping on right now? I know you are a fan of collaboration, putting people on, so give me someone on your list.
Skales: Jay Pizzle, He produced Shake body, he is one of the best producers in Nigeria, he is so great, he has produced a lot of my songs, and a lot of other classics that people don’t know about, he has been my producer for almost 15 years or more, throughout my career till date, he is someone I can’t wait for the world to really hear very soon.
Elle: Fantastic, I really appreciate your time, and when next you are back in london, i dey here oh I can’t wait to see what happens next for you, Quick one, should we be expecting music or an album?
Skales: Yes a lot, my music is coming, my album is coming out September.
Elle: I really am happy for you, and i can see you are in a better headspace,
That’s Great, t’s always great catching up with you Skales, I’m happy to see you thriving and I hope you keep the OneBigCultur team updated, hit us up when you’re physically in town!
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