Salle moved from being a momentarily viral internet sensation who broke ISPs because there was a video of her singing in voice like gold, while hawking petty stuff on the street, to being a properly-bred and an uber-talented music artist in just three years.
In 2021, afrobeats had only just started to explore all the changes that came with the COVID. TikTok and streaming platforms were picking up at a rapid rate and the labels who knew had to tap into the changes had their acts on the top of the charts. But on the flip, the dance challenges and hashtags were becoming a lot.
The market sought after a talent that would remind them of the realities it was used to, but show them the endless possibilities of the internet while doing so. And that’s where Salle came in. The entire Nigeria was curious to know who the hawking songbird was.
“I want to make evergreen music.
Fast forward to 2024, Kosisochukwu Peters, otherwise known as Salle, who just released her second single titled ‘Countdown’, sits with DigiMillennials to discuss her love for music, career and her journey thus far.
In this moment, what are you most grateful for?
I’m grateful for where I am at, the mistakes I’ve made, the people I’ve met, and the knowledge I have.
How would you describe all the events that have led to you being in the spotlight today?
I’ll describe them as stepping stones because they led me to where I am at this point and if it wasn’t for the viral video where people recognised how talented I am, I wouldn’t have met the people I have met. I wouldn’t have a team, I wouldn’t be who I believe I am now. So, I feel very grateful that the video came out, even though it was overwhelming. I didn’t let it stop or distract me from the fact that I’m talented and I can do this thing called music.
Do you consider social media influence on Nigeria’s music industry a blessing or a curse?
A hundred percent blessing. My belief is – social media will only deceive those who want to be deceived and distract those who want to be distracted. Having a social media platform is a big tool and I believe it’s up to every artist to use their tool very well.
If you decide to use social media to feed yourself, put your work out there and be consistent, it will work for you. However the case may be, all I need to do is keep using social media the right way, and it will definitely work for me.
“Everyone listens to everything right now. It’s just a matter of how you put it out there and how people receive it. Anything can blow up.
Why do you make music?
When I was growing up, there was this feeling I had whenever I listened to people like Asa, Jon Bellion, Michael Jackson and Nonso Amadi. That’s what I want to give to the world whenever they listen to me ten or twenty years from now. I want to make evergreen music.
Your name, “Salle” means “art”. How do you manage to keep the consciousness of art in your music?
I don’t let myself get distracted by the business aspect of it. Yes, I have to make a living, but I don’t think there’s joy in the money if I don’t feel how I want to feel or make people feel when they listen to me. I make sure I don’t go off or displease myself to please the business side. I still want to stay true and be intentional.
There’s word around that Nigerians don’t pay attention to conscious artistes. Do you think that is true?
Yes, it is, but if I could listen to Asa when I was 16, I’m sure there are children who will listen to me and they will be more than 10. And a thousand. Maybe twenty thousand. Even though I want more, I believe that’s enough for me and I think Nigerians are beginning to evolve and become flexible when it comes to music. Everyone listens to everything right now. It’s just a matter of how you put it out there and how people receive it. Anything can blow up.
Tell us about ‘Countdown’.
It’s a realization of how I’ve spent so much time dwelling and beating myself up over things that I haven’t seen or things in the past. So, I just came to the realization that instead of killing myself over these things, I’ll be satisfied with what I have now, enjoy it and be grateful for it instead of worrying. It’s a ‘living-in-the-present’ song. That’s the story because two to three years ago, there was a lot of pressure I put myself under because I was trying to meet the expectations of people. The fact I’m better than where I was three years ago is enough to keep me going.
Two singles into the year, are we to expect a project?
Yes! I have a project coming up soon. An EP precisely. Don’t worry when that time comes, all the details are going to be straight out of the oven.
You’re in a phase of growth popular for being quite exhausting and demanding. When these demands get to you, how do you stay sane and keep pushing?
Like I said earlier, I’ve decided to keep myself against myself. In the sense of yes, there’s pressure to grow, but I can’t kill myself. I’ll do my best and be consistent, as long as I’m fine. When there’s consistency and hard work, there will definitely be growth. It’s overwhelming, but I just want to be a good artist. Not necessarily the best, my best. That’s what’s in my head. You aren’t competing with anyone. Keep doing your thing, making your money and putting good music out there.
At the end of the day, what will be that benchmark of fulfillment for you generally?
I don’t know if I have a definite answer to that, but it’ll probably come from seeing people still sing my music in ten, twenty years from now – just like Bob Marley, Fela, Asa etc. That sense of foreverness. I feel like wherever my career stops, I believe it’s enough because it’s by quality and not quantity and I’m not scared of letting it go.