Singer Sidney Esiri, popularly known as Dr. Sid is a son of late Nollywood actor, George Esiri. He hit the Nigerian music scene over 20 years ago. In this interview with UZO CHIKERE, Dr. Sid explains his sudden switch from rap to singing. He also explains why he thinks the Mavin collective debut album, Solar Plexus, was underrated, the latest Mavin signings and the controversy surrounding the Mo Hits break-up.
You hit the Nigerian music scene with your debut on the hit rap single, ‘Oya’ by Da Trybe, but upon joining Mo Hits, you abandoned the bar for the melodies. Why?
The reality of the matter is, I wasn’t really the best rapper out there; one of the most important things I tell myself is ‘know thyself.’
I could spit bars but I wasn’t the best, as much as music is a passion. I also see it as a business, and no disrespect. Rappers at the time were not exactly cashing out and I had just ditched a career in health-care to focus on music. So, whatever I decided to do had to just make sense.”
You released your debut album, Turning Point in 2010 and definitely a lot has changed in those years. With the benefit of hindsight, what’s your view?
Don Jazzy and I in the studios put the ”Turning Point” album together in a space of three weeks. At that point, there were no social media. It was about radio and TV; you literally had to take the CDs everywhere and that was tedious, but it was also an experience; that taught you as an artiste to appreciate the process. It was also a very good learning curve to appreciate the industry and everybody involved, from the plugger to the OAP’s, the guy printing the CD in Alaba, everybody. Overtime, the industry has changed to a digital realm, where you just stay at home and send Mp3 files around.
After the Mo Hits broke up in 2012, D’Banj, in an interview, accused you as the person who caused the separation. What’s your involvement in the Mo Hit break-up and how has this affected you?
It was very difficult and it was very hurtful. It was very painful because anybody that knows me knows that I am a team player; I will sacrifice my personal gain for the sake of the team. Next to D’banj in Mo Hits, there was nobody who could command a stage like Dr. Sid, but I never was the guy who threw myself out there. I was all about how to make the team better. But when somebody names you as the reason why something like that happened, it hurts, especially when you know the truth.
For me, I fought hard to keep it together. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. So, for that situation to go down like that and people turn on me like that, I spent a lot of night crying and it really affected me in a lot of ways, but I have moved on.
What achievements has Mavin records made six years after it began operations?
It was difficult when we started out because we put out a body of work that was five years ahead of its time: the Solar Plexus album was grossly misunderstood. We tried to make music as opposed to making popular songs. There was music in there, but when there is an expectation of what they want you to sound like and you don’t, that is what happens.
And I don’t blame people because there was a lot of emotions following the break-up of Mo-Hits. But the likes of D’Prince with ‘Take Banana’ came out of that project. Wande Cole and Tiwa Savage also did good, but we had a pretty tough start.
But I think if you look at the six years of Mavin Records, we have done pretty well.
Mavin Records started with five artistes, lost one, gained three. So, now seven. In the last three years, we have had most of the founding members still there going strong.
In the first three years, we exposed three new artists (Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, D’ija) to the world, who all in their own right have released songs that have made their marks on the scene.Korede Bello’s numbers for his single, “Do Like That” are ridiculous. So, number-wise, we have done alright. We have definitely had a dip recently, but we signed more artistes; so we are constantly expanding. So, I think we have done alright. We could do better, but we have done alright.
For me, I fought hard to keep it together. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. So, for that situation to go down like that and people turn on me like that. I spent sleepless nights crying, and it really affected me in a lot of ways, but I have moved on
A lot of questions have been raised about the last set of artistes signed unto the label such as DNA, Ladipoe and Johnny Drille. What’s your own comment?
Do people forget that there is always a growth period? Everybody wants overnight success; because we signed them today don’t mean they will be successful tomorrow. These artists are still growing and will soon come into their own.
