SEXY SINGER, RITA EDMOND: "I WAS NEVER PREGNANT FOR PHYNO"!

Rita Onyekachi Edmond popularly known as Rita Edmond is a recording artist who shook the music industry when she released her first two singles, TicToc and Crazy About You, in 2013, produced by Kukbeat. Rita has a sweet and powerful vocal delivery with a very energetic and hypnotic charisma on stage. In this Interview, she opens up on her career, and her relationship with wave-making rapper, Phyno.

Tell us about the story making the rounds that you were pregnant for Phyno.
Really I don’t know how the story came about in the first place, I just woke up one day, and I discovered I was everywhere on the social media, the story went viral on social media, at the snap of a finger.

What was your reaction to the story then?
Initially, I said this must be a Joke, but the next minute people started calling me to confirm the story, from everywhere, it was then it dawned on me it was not a Joke anymore, at some point I got confused, It really made me cry many times, but much later I let go of It because it is true, we are in an industry where stories fly around.

What was Phyno’s reaction too?
He kept on saying he has not made Rita Edmond or anyone for that matter, pregnant, even on his interviews on TV and Radio, he kept on saying the same thing.

How has the story affected the two of you?
While lately, Phyno has been very busy, I am equally busy with a lot I am working on at the moment, well the story kind of brought us closer a bit, my management and his are talking, we hope to do a collabo in the near future.

Are you in any relationship at the moment?
Yes

With Phyno?
No! I know Phyno as an artiste, and a friend we meet once in a while at events, but there is nothing going on between us.

How can you describe him?
Phyno is adorable, I like him a lot, he is really a fantastic guy, I am almost going gaga talking about him, I love his kind of music, the fact that he raps in Igbo language and infuses. It with English and even Yoruba language makes his music a great song, I admire him a lot, and that is just where it ends.

Tell us about your journey into music, your inspirations to write songs.
My genre of music? Rita Edmond is very versatile, I am into RnB, Sensational Pop, Sensational Hip-Pop, Afro pop, High-Life, Just like the latest song, I have a bit of high life in it, I am very versatile with pop music, basically you can’t pin me down with a particular kind of music, as a singer you should be able to blend into any kind of music that comes your way, so I am versatile when it comes to music, for me I draw inspirations to write my songs from what is happening around me, things happening.

In my own life and the society at large. I also have some songs that are based on Inspirational matters talking about the country and things around us, I just observe the Environment, I go to a quiet place sometimes like the beach to get fresh air, relax and write my songs, I also have a song written by Clems, he contributes a lot in my writing of songs, we go to the studio and write songs based on the inspirations I have already or we can develop it some more.

How can you describe your experience in the last two years?
My experience so far in two years is as If It Is ten years already, (giggles) my experience has been fantastic and challenging as well, it has been a mixture of everything. You know the good. And the crazy sometimes you feel yes oh my God, what am I going to do, sometimes It feels like just going to hide somewhere and all that.

My experience has been in the midst of everything, I have had a good share but I am even expecting to see better things from the industry, so far it has been good.

How did music start for you?
Music started for me at a young age I know It Is now a normal thing for anybody to say, but for me it is the way it is. I started singing at the age of 8, then my mother will always say that whenever I am doing house chores I will always find a reason to sing. Professionally, I started in 2011 and 2012 and so far It has been good.

What is the message you usually pass with your songs?
Rita Edmond Is all about Love, I am known for love songs, my songs are all about love, some people might say It Is a boring subject matter, but the truth Is Love makes the world go round.

The music industry is dominated by men, what are the challenges you go through trying to make your mark?
Shockingly It has really not been easy, the music industry Is dominated by the guys, one day I was watching a television programme, Seyi Shey a female artiste was on air and when she was asked this same question she said, we are In the Industry for the same purpose and I don’t understand why more Attention should be given to the men, more than the ladies, It feels like it is the men’s world but we the ladies are also working hard to contribute to the industry. It has not really been easy as a female artiste in a men’s world. It is really not easy, you see in most events. You have more male artistes performing like 18 and 2 female out of every 20. Artistes in an event. I believe with time, it will gradually change because the industry is big enough to accommodate all of us.

What keeps you going in the industry?
Wow a whole lot of things like when I perform on stage, people are like who is this sexy artiste and they rush backstage to take pictures and make contacts with me, in fact the reception I get In most events is usually awesome, people listen to my CD and buzz me on Twitter, Facebook and other social media, the responses have always been good.

Who are the artistes you have shared stage with?
I have shared stage with a lot of artistes including 9ice, Chidinma, Seyi Shay, and several others. I perform also at the Calabar Cultural Carnival where I was also a contestant In 2010.

Aside from music what else do you do?
I work with the British School In Ikoyi, but music for me Is a passion, music is my life, I can’t seem to do anything 100 per cent without thinking of music. I studied Industrial Chemistry at the Olabisi Onabanjo. University.

Did your parents support your doing music?
My father never liked the idea, he was like why will choose music of all things, but my mother was in support of my music career from day one, she can do anything to support me, may her soul rest in peace, so I am keeping the dream alive to make her proud where ever she Is but my dad is now in support of my music career.