Playing musical instruments is a rarity among women. However, there is just one lady, who is blazing the trail in that regard. She is Ebele (Ebele Ezeamakam), who is ardent at blowing the flute. She has already carved a niche for herself with the way she dexterously manipulates this musical wind instrument. In this interview, Ebele speaks about her musical career, the instrument and other projects close to her heart.
Excerpts:
You have for quite some time now been playing an instrument more identified with men- the flute, how has the experience been?
It’s been great, and it’s a good thing to be identified with something peculiar and challenging like this. It makes me keep moving, and knowing I have to meet up with the challenge set before me. I find the challenge interesting because it makes me strive to be the best I would love to be.
I am all in one (smiles). A musician is a full-fledged individual, who is vast in music; singing, composition, performance etc. An instrumentalist is someone who plays a musical instrument. A recording artiste is involved in studio recording of music. I do all really! I am a contemporary musician because I play and sing different genres of music. I do jazz, classic, urban, etc. I perform on both Gospel and non-gospel platforms
Apart from playing the flute, is there any other function you perform in music, like singing?
Yes, I sing; I do both very well. It’s always a combination for me in my songs and when am on stage performing, I always play my flute and sing. I play a little bit of the keyboard as well.
Do you perform live on stage with any group?
I am not involved with any group. I have a live band of my own. I normally perform with my band when invited for programmes that entail me coming with them. But sometimes, most event organisers can’t afford payment for full band; so I sometimes use their own band for the
occasion.
Have you been involved in any recording project before?
Oh, yes. My songs are online too. I have my own composed songs, with lyrics written by me.
You seem to be more interested in giving instructions on how to play the flute, which you do weekly online. How will you rate the impact?
It is going on well really, and a lot of people are showing interest. It’s a project I plan to run this year; I’ll be rounding it off at the end of this year. It’s also a project to project my music school, which is in the pipeline as well. Even after rounding it off this year, I’ll still keep promoting the training online. It can be found on my website www.ebeletheflutist.com.
How would you like to be described-a musician, an instrumentalist or a recording artiste?
I am all in one (smiles). A musician is a full-fledged individual, who is vast in music; singing, composition, performance etc. An instrumentalist is someone who plays a musical instrument. A recording artiste is involved in studio recording of music. I do all really! I am a contemporary musician because I play and sing different genres of music. I do jazz, classic, urban, etc. I perform on both Gospel and non-gospel platforms. I am also into a project I call “Ebele’s World,” which entails health and fitness, beauty and style, as well as my talk show programme.
They can be seen online for now on Instagram and Twitter: @ebelesworld
From where do you draw inspiration?
I get my inspiration from God.
Who among Nigerian artistes is your role model?
I really don’t have role model, because I don’t want to be like anybody. I want to be the best God has made me to be; the best of me. I only have mentors and people, who inspire me. Majority of my mentors are outside the country.
Where would Ebele want her art to be in say, the next five years?
In five years to come, I must have launched my music school, also a label to help others build their craft, especially those who want to follow my line and to raise other flutists, who will become mega
stars.
