Why My Music Has Indian Influences Even Though I Never Listened to Such Songs - Rema

Nigerian singer Rema is known for his very distinct style of Afrobeats music. Since he started releasing music, people picked up on the fact that Rema's style is very different and often seems to incorporate Arabic, Indian, and Asian stylings into the sound.

Now, Rema is currently hot on the release of his new studio album, Rave & Roses and is embarking on an international tour to promote the record. During his Complex Magazine stop on his promotional tour, Rema got to sit down with the magazine and talk about the origins of the very unique sound. Funny enough, the singer says he was never actually exposed to the music that has now greatly influenced his sound. So if he wasn't exposed to that kind of music, how did it end up making its way so deeply into his music? That's the question and here's what Rema had to say about it.

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During his interview with Complex, Rema was asked: "Your sound is very much your own, but alongside your fresh take on traditional Afrobeats, Arabic and Asian influences are also present. What were you listening to growing up, and how did that impact the music you make today?" Rema responded saying:

Funnily enough, I had never listened to Arabic or Asian music to develop my sound. It took a long time before I even had a phone; I listened to whatever I could come across. And, to be honest, if there was a route I followed or I follow now, it would be the route of least expectation. Everything in my life has been quite organic; I’ve learnt how to let go and, you know, just let the universe arrange things for me. I started with rap—I never used to do the African sound and I never used to do this Afrobeats sound. I’ve been rapping since my church days. I tried to dabble around in Afrobeats, but it just wasn’t clicking for me at the time. But in 2018, when I met D’Prince, I kept working on myself.

So when I was given Afrobeats instrumentals, I gave my all to make sure I crack this sound. And in that push and hustle, there was an unlocking and I unlocked something with that drive, because I didn’t want to go back home saying I didn’t get the chance or I didn’t get the opportunity to lock in. My sound just evolved over time. I listened to whatever my sister or my brother was playing, from D’Banj to Victor Uwaifo to Fela [Kuti] to Wizkid to Davido and Burna Boy. My brother played a lot of Burna Boy. I listened to a lot of hip-hop, gospel hip-hop too. I listened to rock… I listened to everything! But yeah, over time, everything gravitated towards this person everybody knows right now. I listen to a lot of calm music now, music that soothes my soul. All in all, though, my personality, my state of mind, that’s what bred this sound more than any musical influence. It’s tied to my personality and my spirit, not just my ears and music taste.

What do you think of Rema's sound and what Rema had to say about the influences on his music? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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