Introducing the smooth jazz, blues, world fusions of Ade Fabola
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
I’m Ade Fabola. I’m a Nigerian-born, UK-based singer-songwriter. My music is folk-based with sprinklings of Blues, Jazz and World music. I write predominantly upbeat music, often characterised by intricate guitar fingerpicking and melodic lines that produce feel-good vibes.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
Something Good is about yearning for hope and positivity in the wake of disaster and isolation. I feel like this resonates with a lot of people at the moment given the state of the world – the pandemic, the political unrest and everything that appears to be upside down. The song is for everyone and anyone who yearns for that little bit of light at the end of this long dark tunnel we find ourselves travelling through.
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
I wrote this at the start of the first lockdown last year, and somehow almost a year later it still rings as true for me as the day I wrote it. Basically, shortly after the first nationwide lockdown in the UK, I remember being out on my daily permitted walk and I was thinking about what had been on the news and social media leading up to that moment, and I was overwhelmed by just how different everything was – business places out of work, social outlets closed, people panic-buying in the shops – and on top of all these, the isolation blues got to me a little bit. All I could think was “man, we could use some good news right about now”, which eventually turned into the line “I could do with something good ”
CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?
It is folk-based music, melancholic and uplifting in equal measure, to provide a quantum of solace in these troubling times.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
There have been several pivotal records and artists that have influenced me over the years. I came across Bob Marley when I was quite young, and although Reggae doesn’t really feature in my style, that music left an impression on me. Then there’s Bob Dylan’s music; Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright might just be the most influential for me. Everything from the storytelling to the instrumentation left a mark, I often say that’s probably where my interest in fingerpicking came from. Passenger’s music has also heavily influenced my musical journey, largely due to his lyricism and fingerstyle technique.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER ARTIST?
I like the music video we’ve made for the latest single – Something Good. It’s incredibly simple, and I think that’s where its beauty lies. We wanted to do something to capture the song’s vibes, something that’ll pair nicely with the track and accurately depict the context and emotional themes running through the song. From the feedback I’ve received, I think we did a good job :)
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
I read, chill and walk/run a lot. It’s all valuable thinking time for me. Sometimes I pair my walk with a podcast or audiobook, or obviously music :). I also enjoy writing a lot. Some of the things I write tend to make it into my music and other online posts, but sometimes I like the idea of writing just for the sake of it. It helps me process my emotions and figure out where I stand on political or philosophical issues. Pre-covid, I played a lot of Table Tennis (I actively played leagues/tournaments/competitions before covid, and played BUCS back in my Uni days).
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
Yeah, I definitely feel something, I just tell myself that it’s my body’s way of preparing me for the important thing I’m about to do. In essence, I try to reframe it as excitement rather than anxiety. It doesn’t always work though, so some performances are shakier than others, and that’s okay, that’s life. I’d be more concerned if I didn’t feel anything before/during my performances; at that point, I’ll have to question what I’m doing on stage.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
For the most part, my band is just me, I’m mostly a solo act. I do have a few friends that I get together to jam with, record demos etc. As for my recently released record, and the ones to come in 2021, the instrumentation features myself and the folks at the Animal Farm Label
HOW DO YOU WRITE?
Music is all around us, we live and breathe it everyday. I’m always writing, sometimes writing for writing sake (to process my thoughts), and other times writing purposefully with a view to share it with the wider world. I try to immerse myself in a headspace that’ll allow me to put lyrics and melodies together. Sometimes I start a song by noodling around with melodies on a guitar, and then I come up with lyrics based on what’s burning in my heart. Other times I take some words I’ve written and come up with suitable sounding melodies based on the vibes the song is headed in. Sometimes everything comes rushing altogether, all at once. When that happens, I have no choice but to drop everything and give in to the music.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
The thing is I don’t usually wait for inspiration. As I said earlier, I’m always writing; sometimes what I write will turn into music, other times not. That said, inspiration often strikes when I’m overwhelmed by an emotion or a thought, for instance, love, heartbreak or socio-political injustice. It also strikes when I come across good music (maybe a live performance or a new record) that moves me so much.
WHAT IS NEXT?
To make and release more music, build my following, and have fun in the process. I wrote a lot in 2020 and was fortunate to record a bunch of songs which will be coming out this year. Something Good is just the start, the first of those songs, so there’s a lot more coming later in the year. I’ve been writing away in lockdown and I’m looking forward to when we can get back in the studio to record more. When things get better, it would be nice to go out and play these songs live, maybe even go on tour when the logistics allow, but for now I’m focused on making music and building my online following.
PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drfabola
Twitter: www.twitter.com/drfabola
Facebook: www.facebook.com/drfabola
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXCNELeZjfGJ0oe9t3JBpg
Website: www.adefabola.com
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