April 28, 2025 • 29 mins
On this episode of We Need To Talk, Nyla Symone sits down Lojay to discuss his journey from a creative upbringing in Nigeria to rising as an international music star. He reflects on the formative experiences that shaped his path, highlighting the influence of friends, mentors, and his evolving creative process. Lojay speaks on the inspiration behind his hit songs, the lessons learned from early fame, and the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the music industry. Throughout the dialogue, he emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey, staying grounded, and remaining true to oneself amid success. Tune in and comment in the socials below.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to We need to talk with production of the
Black Effect podcast network, and you're looking.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
To get down with you with you as your boy.
What's up now?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We need to do the girl.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Went along and you're not.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
You need to talk, my girl. We need time.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I was not an artist. I would be a pilot,
really flying planes.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
You like to fly? Interesting? Have you tried it?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Just being like I see something in you, bro Like
it's something that like you that you have and you're
holding it back like and it was very profound for
me because there was something I was holding in.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh shiver, oh shiver, Sorry because we knew your now
see shimper.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
What's up, guys? I'm lo J on my new single
Moir it's out now. What's up, Naala? We need to talk?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
What's up? Guys? Welcome to another episode we need to
talk today.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
I have a very special guest in the building all
the way from across the pod man.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We've got lo J here. How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What's up you? How you feeling I'm.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I'm feeling good and inspired. I'm so happy that you're here.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
You have no idea how much burn Moda Lisa gets
in my sets every time I.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Spend that's so interesting. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Like obsessed with that song.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Still obsessed with that song, Thank you. I know it's
such a feel good record.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
But I'm curious. I just want to learn more about
you and like your upbringing and just growing up in Nigeria.
Do you like pick the picture for me.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Growing up with I think more than anything. I mean,
I grew up in a place col Cordu, which is
kind of far away from like the main city, but
they're still like it's a life of there's a life
of its own, like happening recorders, So like growing up
(02:12):
was really fun. I had a lot of like close
friends and family members around me, so I was quite
routed and grounded in terms of like family. My mum
was a pastor. He is still a pastor, so she
we There was a lot of church in the house.
There was a lot of like gospel music in the house.
(02:34):
There was a lot of prayers and all of that
religious stuff happening when I was growing up, and that
was more or less. More or less like my life
was very very simple upbringing. I was thankful to God,
my parents like protecting me.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Were you a good student? Did you play sports. Did
you have siblings?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I was I'm the best student, But I think that
was just because because I used to think I didn't
like school or I didn't like like academics. But then
I kind of just realized, like over as I grew up,
I was like, yeah, I think it's my teachers that
didn't understand me. Like I don't think I like my
teachers really took the time to understand like what type
(03:21):
of student I was and how I liked or knew
how to learn. So like I came off as bad
in school, but I would say till today, I'm one
of anybody who knows me knows that like I am
so like I'm such a learner, Like I always just
(03:43):
want to like learn new things. I'm always like on
YouTube looking for like new information or like just researching
something like That's just my thing all the way to
the point where I want to now at some point
start a school. So it's like when you see when
you see somebody take that path when it was written
(04:06):
in all the report cards that like president doesn't like
academics or whatever, it's like something is wrong in that
system that I feel like it used to be changed.
But yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I agree with that favorite memory or like hobby as
a kid.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
As a kid, like I used to play a lot,
Like I wouldn't say I had like a favorite hobby.
I just see to like just outside playing catch, like
what Americans will call catch. Nigerias we call the police
and thief, but.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Like police and thief police.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, so one person, one group of people or the
police the other group of the thieves they chase. It's
catch basically.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, okay, cool, well tag rather okay.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Yeah, normal games, kitty, normal things. And as I grew older,
like I started to like find my passions. I think
at very early I kind of knew like I was
more of a creative person because like I used to
love drawing, so like I would draw, play drums. I
listened to a lot of music growing up, so there
(05:21):
was just like there was influence from like unconscious like
subconscious influence from like listening to like gospel music from
my mom or like like folk Nigeria music for my dad,
or like urban music for my like uncles and aunties,
and because they would just come around and be in
the house for like three months or something and they
(05:42):
just listening to all the cool stuff. At that point
in time, so I was just exposed to like music.
So it was just I guess I had a very
creative childhood upbringing unconscious subconsciousness, a.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Good melting pot. Yeah, So what was the moment where
you committed to music?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
I think I was very interesting story. Actually I was.
I was in UNI University at that time. So basically
we're having this party for my friends that was about
to leave school at that point in time because they
were about to graduate. Everyone was like really like pumped,
(06:21):
let me see. Everyone was really you know, yeah, and
we're having a good time. But like it was one
of my friends, like she was sober. Mind. You were
like twelve people just like partying and there was this
one person and she was like the only sober person there.
And I remember she pulled me to the side and
like she ended up having a conversation with me for
(06:42):
like two three hours, like straight, like we're just talking
and it was her just being like I see something
in you, bro, Like there's something that like that you
have and you're holding it back like and it was
very profound for me because there was something I was
(07:06):
holding in which was like my music, my dream for music,
and what I was doing at the time, basically was
basically focusing on school and just trying to like, you know,
do what I felt was like right and what I
felt maybe like my parents would like because it worked
so hard to like put me through school and make
sure that like everybody's proud, but like I was kind
(07:28):
of suppressing who I really wanted to be and what
I really wanted to do, so like subconsciously there was
something like like burning in me that like needed to
come out, and she kept like just like pressing hammering
on it. And I remember, like I remember how being
like she made a statement that kind of stuck with me.
(07:49):
She said, like she said, can you look around here,
Like if you look at everybody here, I know my
might not seem like it, but I feel like your
star is the brightest, like like amongst everybody here, like
and I'm just like, where is all of this coming from?
Like why are you telling me all of this now?
And in my mind, I'm like, Okay, maybe she's not
(08:13):
like in her right mind, but it's like, wait, no,
she's actually the only person here that is in her
right mind, So like why are you telling me all
of this? And I remember like that night I couldn't sleep,
like whatever it was, I was burning inside me. Now
it was knocking, like it was like it's now, like
(08:34):
now or never, And I remember having a comfort, like
literally like I call a friend of mine who she
was just like she was the person I knew that
had a DJ brother and knew a little something about
music because she hung out with like people. I'm like, you,
I want to stop making music. They won't be my manager,
(08:55):
and she was like huh. Like She's like like, come
to my house just like talk or something like. And
then I remember like I went there, her brother was there,
and then I'm like telling them now I want to
be an artist, and a brother is like, okay, do
you have music. I'm like, no, I don't have music.
I just I just know. I don't know how to me.
It's like I just know that I want to be
(09:15):
an artist, like this is it. And then she's like, okay,
let's go to London, let's go record something like that.
And I'm like okay, because I went to school in
the UK. And also at this point, I was in Portsmouth.
So Portsmouth is like a small town like two hours
away from London, and in Portsmouth is probably like two
three studios or something like that, and they probably make
(09:37):
like like indie like music or like rock music or
just wasn't like my vibe. So we decided to go
to London, and then we met with this producer called
ATG at the time. And shout out to ATG though,
because he's an amazing producer. But we worked. I remember
(09:58):
like we made like the first we made two songs
that day, and I remember like recording one of the
songs and I just like said like one or like
two lines, and literally like I came out the booth,
I'm like.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Damn man, like this is crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Oh my god, I mind you. Like I remember like
ATG like smiling and looking at me, and I could
just see in his face he's like what are you
kind of you kind of excited, like we've barely done anything,
like we have like four lines in like, but I
was I could see it. I don't know how to
explain it. I could just like see I could feel it,
(10:39):
and I think recording that at that point in time
was like Okay, I'm one step closer. Like he just
felt like like just like keep going as long as
like you started, and you can just keep going that's it,
which like for me kind of like also now it
takes me back to like the fact that like my
(11:00):
career has actually been like a crazy journey, and I'm
grateful for the fact that I've actually spent a lot
of time just enjoying the journey. Like I haven't been
too like focused on like the end goal and everything.
And it's crazy because as time goes on, you just
find yourself crossing those end goals without even being aware that, Okay,
(11:25):
we already passed that, like all those things you used
to dream about. It kind of already done some of
those things like or like now you're doing them, or
like you're so close to doing them now or some thing.
It's like I've just like spent the time just like
enjoying the journey, which is actually hilarious not thinking about it.
But yeah, that was just like where like the whole
(11:48):
like music thing just started. Like that was where like
I consciously decided, Okay, this is it. Like I didn't
want to care, I didn't want to do anything else,
I didn't care about anything else, and it was just
that I just kept hammering.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
No, that's honestly really inspiring. What or how long did
it take from that moment to when you caught like.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Your big break, crazy thing? It was exactly exactly four
years and was it for exactly five years? But I
used to tell myself it was going to take me
four years, Like I just had this, I had this
piece of paper that like I just wrote, Okay, these
(12:33):
are all the things that I need to do, and
by the time I'm like twenty three, twenty four, this
is going to happen. And like a week after I
turned twenty five, I dropped my first single that like
blew up, which was Toongo Okay, And I was like
that for me was very profound because it's like I
(12:55):
kept hammering that it's going to happen at this time
and like fighting for something to happen at this time,
only for it to happen the new music Friday after
I turned twenty five. Yeah, from that point, I was like,
I'm never putting a date on anything again in my life,
Like never put in a date because like sometimes you
tell yourself, oh, you want something, you want to achieve something,
(13:17):
and you think now is the best time for it,
but like, ah, life probably just has like bitter like options.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Let's get into Tunogo a little bit because the story
is pretty cinematic but inspired by like real life.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
What the song, yes, very much inspired in real life, okay,
but it was a very interesting song to be honest,
in a lot of ways. For one, it was it
was one of the first songs like I recorded with stars.
(14:00):
Like working with stars really like changed a lot about
like my music making process in general, to be honest.
How So, it's just like you know when you know
when you're raw and unrefined and you just need someone
to just tell you, okay, do this, don't do this,
do this.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Okay, he refined you like just like three little like
key steps.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
They're just like ah and everything just like and Tongo
was like the first song that came out of that.
It's like I remember like meeting him for the first time.
I'm like, we spent a long time just like talking
and just like blending bonding, listening to music, not really
(14:47):
like recording recording when like we did just jump in.
And I think your best part about it was the
fact that this was like during the pandemic, so there
was really no rush. It's like the world has literally stopped,
so just take your time and we just like took
our time, really understood ourselves and like really discussed about music,
(15:08):
like really spoke about music, and it was these conversations
are kind of like shaped, like kind of decided to
change the way I was seeing music changed how intentional
I became, like just really made me now see myself,
like see the music from almost mostly very spiritual point
(15:32):
of view where it's like you're you're playing, You're not.
This is not a toy, Like this is not like
this is something and you can't just like mess about
with it and just like, oh I want to do
this because this is trended into it. It's like, nah,
this is like something, and you'll through those conversations. I
remember one night he just played me to beat I
(15:54):
like to be. He was like, bro, I'm going to sleep, man,
I'm tired. So he just went into the room and
I was just sitting with the beat and it was
just like I'm thinking, I'm just like feeling everything. And
at some point I just start talking and it's like
the way I was talking just like change, like and
(16:17):
when even he hear like this, like the song even
to now, whenever I hear the song, I'm like if
I heard somebody right now, jump from the song and
start like that, I'll go crazy because it's like who
do you think you are? But then it was just
through like there's a level of connection that I now
(16:37):
started to like get with like music that made me
like create that basically. But and I think that's the
same energy that I have channels like all through like
in all of my music, which has now till like
giving me like my own space where it's like you're
just he's just in his own world. And I love
(16:59):
that about myself, Like I love that about my music.
If I was in lu J fan, I would respect
that about Loj. I am a lou J fan, and
I do respect that.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
It's crazy, but I respect it and I am a
fan as well.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Okay, so we have something in common. Yeah, I say like.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
You and.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
A sake or like the first two afrobe artists.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
That I was like committed to actually learning the words
even though it's not all the way English funny enough.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I use a lot of English. I just saying ways
that are interesting and that's very intentional, like.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
You sprinkle them in.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
But it's at least fifty to fifty English fifty Euroba.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, I mixed yoba English or else.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Then then it's me. Then I just don't know what
the hell you're saying. But like because sorry and.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
No, no, no, I don't want, don't worry, but I.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Always be wondering, like what am I singing?
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Like what am I saying singing in Mona Lisa before
Mona Lisa.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So basically it's that that's what I'm saying, Like there's
a lot of English in that, to be honest. Okay,
So it's like I'm saying, oh, baby, follow my commanding
like a zombie. Actually follow what I'm saying like a zombie.
Go down on me what with your coca body?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
No, literally.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
My commenting like songby go down on me with your
coca p.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Oh, that's the first the first lines.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Then you repeat it just follow my commenting like so
it's so it's like another wrong. So I feel like
that's why it just like.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Oh my god, I didn't know it was so raunchy.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
The song I thought was beautiful unless you think it
a completely different.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
But I thought you were acknowledging how beautiful the girl was.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
But that's the thing, like, and that's why the song
is interesting because it is raunchy. But in a respectful way.
It's not in it like I'm not seeing it in
like a oh I own you. It's more like a
centraal way.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
It's definitely sentraal.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
I feel like most of your music is central actually interesting.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So that's the beauty of it. Like if you're somebody
who like.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Yeah, I feel bamboozooed, hilarious, that is how I feel
right now.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
But that's it. It's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yes, it is. You know, I should have pulled up
all the lyrics. I can act you what does this mean?
I need to know?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Okay, on Moto, what is the core message that you're
sending with that record?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
So basically it's like I'm letting go, that's the core message.
It's like like obviously, like you're talking about somebody that
you used to love and giving this person everything, but
the person has decided to like move on to you too.
You have to like just move on. But it's like
in all that time where like we were together, it's
(20:29):
like I was telling you about all like my dreams
and I love you so much, and it's like I
told you I was going to get this car, and
now I have this car, but I'm driving it alone.
Because like now you're no longer here and I got
to move on too.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Okay, yeah, all right, I was okay, I kind of
picked that up, and at this point I need to.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Check, like what is it's honestly, it's easy. It's actually
not hard.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Okay, it's not hard for you because you made the song.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
I know all the words.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I would hope.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
So talk to me about how did the collaboration come
about with Chris Brown for the remix?
Speaker 2 (21:10):
That was actually very interesting. Was actually spent like a
while just like thinking about like who we wanted to
have on the remix Mona Lisa, and he was just
somebody that came into mind and he just felt like
like he slotted like right in. It just felt like
he was the right person for it. And we sent
(21:32):
it out after some time, like he sent it back
and I was just like, yes, he ate it up,
Like wow, he definitely did. You're angry.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Now you're you're back on a new record. You and O'Dell. Yeah,
crazy combo. I know, I love love love O'Dell. How
did you guys connect?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
It was a round Christmas time. I think it was
on Christmas Day. We had the work it like cooked
up or maybe a day before Christmas something like that.
We had a session and like the vibe was just right. Like,
to be honest, going into the session, I had no expectations.
I didn't know like what to like think or what
to expect out of it or anything. But like I
(22:16):
was just like as time just went on, I was
just like like like in the session, we're just like vibing,
and I was like, yeah, this is it felt right
basically and loud of just like played like the instrumental.
We both liked it, and I just like popped up
and I just literally a lot of just posted a
(22:36):
video now when you know, and like that was like
the video of how the song actually just came about.
I just said, like the whole chorus like sexy, and
he was just like this recorded and we just recorded it.
And that was just how the song just popped up,
I know.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Right, So, are we going to be getting a project
from you this year?
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yes, debut debut album.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Are you nervous?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
No? No way, not way past nervous. I think I
was probably nervous when I hadn't recorded the music, But
now that like the music is ready, I'm just like, yeah,
I can't wait for people.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
To hear this, how does it feel to be an
international start? Because you know there's like people who are
just like hometown, you know, never make it past their city.
But like like you're in New York right now, Like,
how does that feel.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I'm blissed, That's all I can say. I can't say
for a fact, like because at the end of the day,
like for me, the feeling is I need to wake
up in the morning and get everything I need to
do done and get my work done and everything. That's
the feeling that from the internal. Yeah, But at the
(23:58):
same time, I like to like sometimes stop and take
a step outside and just see it from an external
point of view, Like you're blessed. And that's how I
feel every day and I'm always grateful. I start my
day with thank Good, end my day with thank God.
(24:19):
And that's something I just have maintained I want to
keep maintaining in my life, just a connection and just
knowing that, yeah, nothing is by your power. You can
just do the best you can push yourself to your
own limits and everything else is just gone.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Yeah, Okay, So we play this game questions that need answers.
All you have to do is from the blank.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
The older I get, the less I oh.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Okay, the older I get, the less I spend time.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
And money time okay, so I don't got time to waste.
Sometimes I look back at my life in and.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Thank God jay Z is an entrepreneur.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
With my first check, I bought Urine Drover.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
What nice you see the all I get the list
I spend okay.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Good, good, good good. By the end of twenty twenty five,
I want.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
I want everybody in my team to be proud of
all the work we've done.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Out of all the songs I ever made, my favorite is.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Not out yet.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Mmm on the on the album can we get the name?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Yeah, Shiva Siva, Siva Siva. Yeah, that's the name of
the song, Shiva.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
What does sheva mean?
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Like shiver?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Oh shiver?
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Yeah, oh shiver, Sorry because we in New York now,
No sae shimper.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I just want to make sure I'm getting your right.
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
If I was not an artist, I would be a pilot.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Really flying planes? You like to fly? Interesting? Have you
tried it?
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I'm going to learn it, but I just want to. Yeah,
I just haven't had the timement. But that was what
I wanted to like initiative, wanted doing school.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Interesting. My new album is fire, talk about it?
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Blank is one movie I can watch with the SoundOff?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Jangle? What with the soundoffs? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
That's crazy?
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Visually appealing, it is.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
It's a lot going on in that. My heart can't
take it. Ten years from now, I want my legacy
to be.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Full feeling.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
The hardest lesson I learned about fame.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
It comes at a very big cost, cost of many things.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
You're over it? Are you over it?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
No? Okay, I'm not over it, but a little things.
It's like with great power comes a great responsibility. So
it's like you can't you can't play around with it.
What a what a famous person does? That would have
(27:34):
been like what a normal person does that? People like
slid it off? When you're famous, you don't. You don't
get to go with that.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Yeah, what's your sign?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Taurus? Mm hmm? You Leo Leo? Interesting? My mom's Leo.
Leo's a great and you have a good sense of style.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
What if you're watching? But okay, so album on the way,
I'm excited about that. What about tour?
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Are you going to be Yes? I am going to
be touring.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Touring us. Yes, okay, cool.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I know waiting it's time. Oh my god, I can't
even wait. Like the shutdown is going to be televised,
I know, don't worry.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
What do you like even performing?
Speaker 2 (28:24):
You be dancing, You'll see, man, you get no trust me,
You're going to get everything you want. Okay, trust me,
I do.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
I have no fear. I played too many of your
records for me to not have a good time to
be like.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Oh my god, oh my god, you look so calm
when you're on set. I'm like, yeah, I know. And
now we're on stage. Yeah, here, you love it. I
know you love it.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Okay, Well, I'm excited and I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Thank you so much for coming on the pod.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Of course, make sure you guys follow low J new
tape on the way. Until next time, guys, Peace.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Until next time, guys, Peace.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
We Need to Talk is a production of the Black
Effect Podcast Network.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
listen to your favorite shows. Mixture you guys follow We
Need to Talk at WNTTLK on Instagram and TikTok
Welcome to We need to talk with production of the
Black Effect podcast network, and you're looking.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
To get down with you with you as your boy.
What's up now?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We need to do the girl.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Went along and you're not.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
You need to talk, my girl. We need time.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I was not an artist. I would be a pilot,
really flying planes.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
You like to fly? Interesting? Have you tried it?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Just being like I see something in you, bro Like
it's something that like you that you have and you're
holding it back like and it was very profound for
me because there was something I was holding in.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh shiver, oh shiver, Sorry because we knew your now
see shimper.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
What's up, guys? I'm lo J on my new single
Moir it's out now. What's up, Naala? We need to talk?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
What's up? Guys? Welcome to another episode we need to
talk today.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
I have a very special guest in the building all
the way from across the pod man.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We've got lo J here. How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What's up you? How you feeling I'm.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I'm feeling good and inspired. I'm so happy that you're here.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
You have no idea how much burn Moda Lisa gets
in my sets every time I.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Spend that's so interesting. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Like obsessed with that song.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Still obsessed with that song, Thank you. I know it's
such a feel good record.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
But I'm curious. I just want to learn more about
you and like your upbringing and just growing up in Nigeria.
Do you like pick the picture for me.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Growing up with I think more than anything. I mean,
I grew up in a place col Cordu, which is
kind of far away from like the main city, but
they're still like it's a life of there's a life
of its own, like happening recorders, So like growing up
(02:12):
was really fun. I had a lot of like close
friends and family members around me, so I was quite
routed and grounded in terms of like family. My mum
was a pastor. He is still a pastor, so she
we There was a lot of church in the house.
There was a lot of like gospel music in the house.
(02:34):
There was a lot of prayers and all of that
religious stuff happening when I was growing up, and that
was more or less. More or less like my life
was very very simple upbringing. I was thankful to God,
my parents like protecting me.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Were you a good student? Did you play sports. Did
you have siblings?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I was I'm the best student, But I think that
was just because because I used to think I didn't
like school or I didn't like like academics. But then
I kind of just realized, like over as I grew up,
I was like, yeah, I think it's my teachers that
didn't understand me. Like I don't think I like my
teachers really took the time to understand like what type
(03:21):
of student I was and how I liked or knew
how to learn. So like I came off as bad
in school, but I would say till today, I'm one
of anybody who knows me knows that like I am
so like I'm such a learner, Like I always just
(03:43):
want to like learn new things. I'm always like on
YouTube looking for like new information or like just researching
something like That's just my thing all the way to
the point where I want to now at some point
start a school. So it's like when you see when
you see somebody take that path when it was written
(04:06):
in all the report cards that like president doesn't like
academics or whatever, it's like something is wrong in that
system that I feel like it used to be changed.
But yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I agree with that favorite memory or like hobby as
a kid.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
As a kid, like I used to play a lot,
Like I wouldn't say I had like a favorite hobby.
I just see to like just outside playing catch, like
what Americans will call catch. Nigerias we call the police
and thief, but.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Like police and thief police.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, so one person, one group of people or the
police the other group of the thieves they chase. It's
catch basically.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, okay, cool, well tag rather okay.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Yeah, normal games, kitty, normal things. And as I grew older,
like I started to like find my passions. I think
at very early I kind of knew like I was
more of a creative person because like I used to
love drawing, so like I would draw, play drums. I
listened to a lot of music growing up, so there
(05:21):
was just like there was influence from like unconscious like
subconscious influence from like listening to like gospel music from
my mom or like like folk Nigeria music for my dad,
or like urban music for my like uncles and aunties,
and because they would just come around and be in
the house for like three months or something and they
(05:42):
just listening to all the cool stuff. At that point
in time, so I was just exposed to like music.
So it was just I guess I had a very
creative childhood upbringing unconscious subconsciousness, a.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Good melting pot. Yeah, So what was the moment where
you committed to music?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
I think I was very interesting story. Actually I was.
I was in UNI University at that time. So basically
we're having this party for my friends that was about
to leave school at that point in time because they
were about to graduate. Everyone was like really like pumped,
(06:21):
let me see. Everyone was really you know, yeah, and
we're having a good time. But like it was one
of my friends, like she was sober. Mind. You were
like twelve people just like partying and there was this
one person and she was like the only sober person there.
And I remember she pulled me to the side and
like she ended up having a conversation with me for
(06:42):
like two three hours, like straight, like we're just talking
and it was her just being like I see something
in you, bro, Like there's something that like that you
have and you're holding it back like and it was
very profound for me because there was something I was
(07:06):
holding in which was like my music, my dream for music,
and what I was doing at the time, basically was
basically focusing on school and just trying to like, you know,
do what I felt was like right and what I
felt maybe like my parents would like because it worked
so hard to like put me through school and make
sure that like everybody's proud, but like I was kind
(07:28):
of suppressing who I really wanted to be and what
I really wanted to do, so like subconsciously there was
something like like burning in me that like needed to
come out, and she kept like just like pressing hammering
on it. And I remember, like I remember how being
like she made a statement that kind of stuck with me.
(07:49):
She said, like she said, can you look around here,
Like if you look at everybody here, I know my
might not seem like it, but I feel like your
star is the brightest, like like amongst everybody here, like
and I'm just like, where is all of this coming from?
Like why are you telling me all of this now?
And in my mind, I'm like, Okay, maybe she's not
(08:13):
like in her right mind, but it's like, wait, no,
she's actually the only person here that is in her
right mind, So like why are you telling me all
of this? And I remember like that night I couldn't sleep,
like whatever it was, I was burning inside me. Now
it was knocking, like it was like it's now, like
(08:34):
now or never, And I remember having a comfort, like
literally like I call a friend of mine who she
was just like she was the person I knew that
had a DJ brother and knew a little something about
music because she hung out with like people. I'm like, you,
I want to stop making music. They won't be my manager,
(08:55):
and she was like huh. Like She's like like, come
to my house just like talk or something like. And
then I remember like I went there, her brother was there,
and then I'm like telling them now I want to
be an artist, and a brother is like, okay, do
you have music. I'm like, no, I don't have music.
I just I just know. I don't know how to me.
It's like I just know that I want to be
(09:15):
an artist, like this is it. And then she's like, okay,
let's go to London, let's go record something like that.
And I'm like okay, because I went to school in
the UK. And also at this point, I was in Portsmouth.
So Portsmouth is like a small town like two hours
away from London, and in Portsmouth is probably like two
three studios or something like that, and they probably make
(09:37):
like like indie like music or like rock music or
just wasn't like my vibe. So we decided to go
to London, and then we met with this producer called
ATG at the time. And shout out to ATG though,
because he's an amazing producer. But we worked. I remember
(09:58):
like we made like the first we made two songs
that day, and I remember like recording one of the
songs and I just like said like one or like
two lines, and literally like I came out the booth,
I'm like.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Damn man, like this is crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Oh my god, I mind you. Like I remember like
ATG like smiling and looking at me, and I could
just see in his face he's like what are you
kind of you kind of excited, like we've barely done anything,
like we have like four lines in like, but I
was I could see it. I don't know how to
explain it. I could just like see I could feel it,
(10:39):
and I think recording that at that point in time
was like Okay, I'm one step closer. Like he just
felt like like just like keep going as long as
like you started, and you can just keep going that's it,
which like for me kind of like also now it
takes me back to like the fact that like my
(11:00):
career has actually been like a crazy journey, and I'm
grateful for the fact that I've actually spent a lot
of time just enjoying the journey. Like I haven't been
too like focused on like the end goal and everything.
And it's crazy because as time goes on, you just
find yourself crossing those end goals without even being aware that, Okay,
(11:25):
we already passed that, like all those things you used
to dream about. It kind of already done some of
those things like or like now you're doing them, or
like you're so close to doing them now or some thing.
It's like I've just like spent the time just like
enjoying the journey, which is actually hilarious not thinking about it.
But yeah, that was just like where like the whole
(11:48):
like music thing just started. Like that was where like
I consciously decided, Okay, this is it. Like I didn't
want to care, I didn't want to do anything else,
I didn't care about anything else, and it was just
that I just kept hammering.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
No, that's honestly really inspiring. What or how long did
it take from that moment to when you caught like.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Your big break, crazy thing? It was exactly exactly four
years and was it for exactly five years? But I
used to tell myself it was going to take me
four years, Like I just had this, I had this
piece of paper that like I just wrote, Okay, these
(12:33):
are all the things that I need to do, and
by the time I'm like twenty three, twenty four, this
is going to happen. And like a week after I
turned twenty five, I dropped my first single that like
blew up, which was Toongo Okay, And I was like
that for me was very profound because it's like I
(12:55):
kept hammering that it's going to happen at this time
and like fighting for something to happen at this time,
only for it to happen the new music Friday after
I turned twenty five. Yeah, from that point, I was like,
I'm never putting a date on anything again in my life,
Like never put in a date because like sometimes you
tell yourself, oh, you want something, you want to achieve something,
(13:17):
and you think now is the best time for it,
but like, ah, life probably just has like bitter like options.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Let's get into Tunogo a little bit because the story
is pretty cinematic but inspired by like real life.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
What the song, yes, very much inspired in real life, okay,
but it was a very interesting song to be honest,
in a lot of ways. For one, it was it
was one of the first songs like I recorded with stars.
(14:00):
Like working with stars really like changed a lot about
like my music making process in general, to be honest.
How So, it's just like you know when you know
when you're raw and unrefined and you just need someone
to just tell you, okay, do this, don't do this,
do this.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Okay, he refined you like just like three little like
key steps.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
They're just like ah and everything just like and Tongo
was like the first song that came out of that.
It's like I remember like meeting him for the first time.
I'm like, we spent a long time just like talking
and just like blending bonding, listening to music, not really
(14:47):
like recording recording when like we did just jump in.
And I think your best part about it was the
fact that this was like during the pandemic, so there
was really no rush. It's like the world has literally stopped,
so just take your time and we just like took
our time, really understood ourselves and like really discussed about music,
(15:08):
like really spoke about music, and it was these conversations
are kind of like shaped, like kind of decided to
change the way I was seeing music changed how intentional
I became, like just really made me now see myself,
like see the music from almost mostly very spiritual point
(15:32):
of view where it's like you're you're playing, You're not.
This is not a toy, Like this is not like
this is something and you can't just like mess about
with it and just like, oh I want to do
this because this is trended into it. It's like, nah,
this is like something, and you'll through those conversations. I
remember one night he just played me to beat I
(15:54):
like to be. He was like, bro, I'm going to sleep, man,
I'm tired. So he just went into the room and
I was just sitting with the beat and it was
just like I'm thinking, I'm just like feeling everything. And
at some point I just start talking and it's like
the way I was talking just like change, like and
(16:17):
when even he hear like this, like the song even
to now, whenever I hear the song, I'm like if
I heard somebody right now, jump from the song and
start like that, I'll go crazy because it's like who
do you think you are? But then it was just
through like there's a level of connection that I now
(16:37):
started to like get with like music that made me
like create that basically. But and I think that's the
same energy that I have channels like all through like
in all of my music, which has now till like
giving me like my own space where it's like you're
just he's just in his own world. And I love
(16:59):
that about myself, Like I love that about my music.
If I was in lu J fan, I would respect
that about Loj. I am a lou J fan, and
I do respect that.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
It's crazy, but I respect it and I am a
fan as well.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Okay, so we have something in common. Yeah, I say like.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
You and.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
A sake or like the first two afrobe artists.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
That I was like committed to actually learning the words
even though it's not all the way English funny enough.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I use a lot of English. I just saying ways
that are interesting and that's very intentional, like.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
You sprinkle them in.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
But it's at least fifty to fifty English fifty Euroba.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, I mixed yoba English or else.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Then then it's me. Then I just don't know what
the hell you're saying. But like because sorry and.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
No, no, no, I don't want, don't worry, but I.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Always be wondering, like what am I singing?
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Like what am I saying singing in Mona Lisa before
Mona Lisa.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So basically it's that that's what I'm saying, Like there's
a lot of English in that, to be honest. Okay,
So it's like I'm saying, oh, baby, follow my commanding
like a zombie. Actually follow what I'm saying like a zombie.
Go down on me what with your coca body?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
No, literally.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
My commenting like songby go down on me with your
coca p.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Oh, that's the first the first lines.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Then you repeat it just follow my commenting like so
it's so it's like another wrong. So I feel like
that's why it just like.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Oh my god, I didn't know it was so raunchy.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
The song I thought was beautiful unless you think it
a completely different.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
But I thought you were acknowledging how beautiful the girl was.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
But that's the thing, like, and that's why the song
is interesting because it is raunchy. But in a respectful way.
It's not in it like I'm not seeing it in
like a oh I own you. It's more like a
centraal way.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
It's definitely sentraal.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
I feel like most of your music is central actually interesting.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So that's the beauty of it. Like if you're somebody
who like.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Yeah, I feel bamboozooed, hilarious, that is how I feel
right now.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
But that's it. It's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yes, it is. You know, I should have pulled up
all the lyrics. I can act you what does this mean?
I need to know?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Okay, on Moto, what is the core message that you're
sending with that record?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
So basically it's like I'm letting go, that's the core message.
It's like like obviously, like you're talking about somebody that
you used to love and giving this person everything, but
the person has decided to like move on to you too.
You have to like just move on. But it's like
in all that time where like we were together, it's
(20:29):
like I was telling you about all like my dreams
and I love you so much, and it's like I
told you I was going to get this car, and
now I have this car, but I'm driving it alone.
Because like now you're no longer here and I got
to move on too.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Okay, yeah, all right, I was okay, I kind of
picked that up, and at this point I need to.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Check, like what is it's honestly, it's easy. It's actually
not hard.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Okay, it's not hard for you because you made the song.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
I know all the words.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I would hope.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
So talk to me about how did the collaboration come
about with Chris Brown for the remix?
Speaker 2 (21:10):
That was actually very interesting. Was actually spent like a
while just like thinking about like who we wanted to
have on the remix Mona Lisa, and he was just
somebody that came into mind and he just felt like
like he slotted like right in. It just felt like
he was the right person for it. And we sent
(21:32):
it out after some time, like he sent it back
and I was just like, yes, he ate it up,
Like wow, he definitely did. You're angry.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Now you're you're back on a new record. You and O'Dell. Yeah,
crazy combo. I know, I love love love O'Dell. How
did you guys connect?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
It was a round Christmas time. I think it was
on Christmas Day. We had the work it like cooked
up or maybe a day before Christmas something like that.
We had a session and like the vibe was just right. Like,
to be honest, going into the session, I had no expectations.
I didn't know like what to like think or what
to expect out of it or anything. But like I
(22:16):
was just like as time just went on, I was
just like like like in the session, we're just like vibing,
and I was like, yeah, this is it felt right
basically and loud of just like played like the instrumental.
We both liked it, and I just like popped up
and I just literally a lot of just posted a
(22:36):
video now when you know, and like that was like
the video of how the song actually just came about.
I just said, like the whole chorus like sexy, and
he was just like this recorded and we just recorded it.
And that was just how the song just popped up,
I know.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Right, So, are we going to be getting a project
from you this year?
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yes, debut debut album.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Are you nervous?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
No? No way, not way past nervous. I think I
was probably nervous when I hadn't recorded the music, But
now that like the music is ready, I'm just like, yeah,
I can't wait for people.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
To hear this, how does it feel to be an
international start? Because you know there's like people who are
just like hometown, you know, never make it past their city.
But like like you're in New York right now, Like,
how does that feel.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I'm blissed, That's all I can say. I can't say
for a fact, like because at the end of the day,
like for me, the feeling is I need to wake
up in the morning and get everything I need to
do done and get my work done and everything. That's
the feeling that from the internal. Yeah, But at the
(23:58):
same time, I like to like sometimes stop and take
a step outside and just see it from an external
point of view, Like you're blessed. And that's how I
feel every day and I'm always grateful. I start my
day with thank Good, end my day with thank God.
(24:19):
And that's something I just have maintained I want to
keep maintaining in my life, just a connection and just
knowing that, yeah, nothing is by your power. You can
just do the best you can push yourself to your
own limits and everything else is just gone.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Yeah, Okay, So we play this game questions that need answers.
All you have to do is from the blank.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
The older I get, the less I oh.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Okay, the older I get, the less I spend time.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
And money time okay, so I don't got time to waste.
Sometimes I look back at my life in and.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Thank God jay Z is an entrepreneur.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
With my first check, I bought Urine Drover.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
What nice you see the all I get the list
I spend okay.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Good, good, good good. By the end of twenty twenty five,
I want.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
I want everybody in my team to be proud of
all the work we've done.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Out of all the songs I ever made, my favorite is.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Not out yet.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Mmm on the on the album can we get the name?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Yeah, Shiva Siva, Siva Siva. Yeah, that's the name of
the song, Shiva.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
What does sheva mean?
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Like shiver?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Oh shiver?
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Yeah, oh shiver, Sorry because we in New York now,
No sae shimper.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I just want to make sure I'm getting your right.
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
If I was not an artist, I would be a pilot.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Really flying planes? You like to fly? Interesting? Have you
tried it?
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I'm going to learn it, but I just want to. Yeah,
I just haven't had the timement. But that was what
I wanted to like initiative, wanted doing school.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Interesting. My new album is fire, talk about it?
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Blank is one movie I can watch with the SoundOff?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Jangle? What with the soundoffs? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
That's crazy?
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Visually appealing, it is.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
It's a lot going on in that. My heart can't
take it. Ten years from now, I want my legacy
to be.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Full feeling.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
The hardest lesson I learned about fame.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
It comes at a very big cost, cost of many things.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
You're over it? Are you over it?
Speaker 2 (27:13):
No? Okay, I'm not over it, but a little things.
It's like with great power comes a great responsibility. So
it's like you can't you can't play around with it.
What a what a famous person does? That would have
(27:34):
been like what a normal person does that? People like
slid it off? When you're famous, you don't. You don't
get to go with that.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Yeah, what's your sign?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Taurus? Mm hmm? You Leo Leo? Interesting? My mom's Leo.
Leo's a great and you have a good sense of style.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
What if you're watching? But okay, so album on the way,
I'm excited about that. What about tour?
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Are you going to be Yes? I am going to
be touring.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Touring us. Yes, okay, cool.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I know waiting it's time. Oh my god, I can't
even wait. Like the shutdown is going to be televised,
I know, don't worry.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
What do you like even performing?
Speaker 2 (28:24):
You be dancing, You'll see, man, you get no trust me,
You're going to get everything you want. Okay, trust me,
I do.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
I have no fear. I played too many of your
records for me to not have a good time to
be like.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Oh my god, oh my god, you look so calm
when you're on set. I'm like, yeah, I know. And
now we're on stage. Yeah, here, you love it. I
know you love it.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Okay, Well, I'm excited and I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Thank you so much for coming on the pod.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Of course, make sure you guys follow low J new
tape on the way. Until next time, guys, Peace.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Until next time, guys, Peace.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
We Need to Talk is a production of the Black
Effect Podcast Network.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
listen to your favorite shows. Mixture you guys follow We
Need to Talk at WNTTLK on Instagram and TikTok
Host
Nyla Symone
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