Nigerian singer Simi is one of the few artistes in the music industry who actually used her real name as her stage name.
But that was almost not the case. During an interview with Sheen Magazine, Simi revealed how she initially started off using a completely different name, and explains why she stopped.
She also talked about when she realized she wanted to do music for real, how she built her following on social media, and the goals she still has for herself as an artiste even at this point in her career.
Here’s what Simi said.
“Was there a turning point when you realized you could do this music thing forreal? “
Simi: I knew since I was a teenager, since I was a kid that I wanted to do music, because I always had a deep, intense, innate love for music. I knew that’s where my heart was going to lead me to. Whatever else I was doing, at whatever time in my life. I knew that’s where I was going to end up because of how I felt about music. I’m the kind of person who puts the most energy into the things that I love. I started in the choir, I started with gospel music, so I’ve been doing this for quite a while.
“Is Simi your real name?”
Yeah. My full name is Simisola but everybody calls me Simi.
“Did you ever consider another artist name? “
Yeah! That’s funny, no one’s ever asked me that. But starting out, I used to call myself Keisha. I don’t remember why now, but I used to call myself Keisha. [laughs] I think one of my friends gave it to me, but it didn’t sit right, so I went back to my name.
“You have millions of followers. How did your first build your following?”
That’s an interesting question. One of things my fans like the most about me is my personality, I’m very authentic, if I can say so myself. My personality usually shines through in whatever I’m doing, and that’s exactly what I display on social media. People can connect to that. Sometimes people assume people in the limelight or public figures, that their lives behind-the-scenes are all glam and glitter. I show people that really, we’re all the same at the end of the day. People resonate with that, that played a really huge part in building my following on social media.
“What goals do you have for yourself as an artist at this point of your career?”
Yeah, I want to see all the things I can be. As a singer, as a mom, as a wife, as a woman, as a person, just all the things I can be. I want to be content in the things that I am. Because no matter all the things you’re able to give, there’s always more. The concept of being content and happy in the space that I am per time, I just want to be happy. But I also want to do the things that make me happy.