Interview with the MIDNIGHT CREW by the Publisher, OPAL MAGAZINE

Interview with MIDNIGHT CREW
By the Publisher of OPAL

I have listened to a few Nigerian praise and worship songs but there is an exceptional style with the midnight Crew. Their latest music album is best described as exciting, uncontrived and uniquely inspiring. I personally sought an interview with the band and a member, Pat - Uwaje King spoke on behalf of the band; she and Mike Abdul composed IGWE and the track is a hit track. She was great, throwing lights on all about the Midnight Crew. I was too fascinated at them and was not too surprised that this lady did the jingle on one of our local Televisions. Available at the time of the interview was Ojuola, another sweet toned singer that gave me some great expectations from the Band very soon. Pat also spoke on the behind the scene scoop. Pat is a lady in her late 20s, married, well mannered, spoke eloquent and I consider her focused and set for the mission embarked upon; cultured, gifted and there is this apparent leadership quality in her; that is humility and team spirit. She carries along her team members along this interview. She spoke acknowledging every member’s skill and talent. I admire her for this. I miss other members but I promise to get them at a future time. From the way their music is composed and recorded the sound of the music isn’t exclusive to youths alone. What amazes me most is the fact that they are on a mission and not just singing to make money; the mission that must be accomplished in ten years time. I truly wish them an accomplished Mission.

Excerpts:

Tell me about the MIDNIGHT CREW members.

“I am Patricia Uwaje King and we have also in the band other members namely Gbenga Oyebola, Michael Abdul, Ojuola Ayo-Oamide”

OPAL: How did you come about the name of the Band ‘MIDNIGHT CREW?’

“It’s like a concept. It’s metaphoric. It’s just like an idea… [Cuts in]

What idea please?

“We are fashioned after the operational style of Gideon set to tear down the altars of Baal; he gathered men at Night. It was from here that we concluded that there is something peculiar about the Night. Strange things happen at nights and that form the basis of our band name ‘MIDNIGHT CREW’. The name was derived from our activities from school; it was while we were on the campus at Yaba College of Technology. That was when we all met. we were like these very young people passionate about our vision and goals; we just wanted to express our vision and passion even when exams are taking place next day. We were invited here and there then and also readily available. Then we had the MASSCHOIR and it comprised then of about 80-100 members. At any given point we realised that about 10 -11 members must just be present. We believe that we are instrument of change and Music is our tool of reaching out”.

You have used the native language from the eastern part of Nigeria to describe your album. You title it IGWE. Why is that?

We are excited about IGWE. We really wanted to lift the name of God; we wanted to praise the majesty! We just wanted to express how BIG He is! By the time we begin to talk about our style of music, you will see the reasons why we chose that title IGWE and its effects on individual says PAT.

Tell me all about it.

“In MIDNIGHT CREW what we do is, while this person is leading, we have three others backing up; and while this person leads these other three forms the backup singers. We have about three four styles of music because of the individual members and difference in talents”.

Great! Does that mean you fashioned the title IGWE as an acknowledgement of these talents… [Cuts in]

“Exactly! We are praising God for bring us together amidst our differences and still we’re able to unite and form a band. We represent UNITY and TOGETHERNESS. When we unite great things happen.

And what impact has IGWE on people?

I think everywhere God just wants to be praised; God Himself love praise! His best meal is Praise You would have heard also in the song OMALICHA which means beauty. God is beautiful and he deserves our praise all the time… [Cuts in]

Genuine praise...

Oh yes ma!

I agree with you entirely Pat

Thank you ma

What motivated the combination of three languages in IGWE?

First, it is because we want it to be a National song and secondly, it’s a praise song. Like I said earlier on we are a group divinely formed; we have different dialects and Ojuola can even speak French. Our next song will comprise of French and Hausa languages. I am convinced we are on assignment to make it a wholly Nigerian song. Also we were motivated to do it that way because we want true understanding of the songs. For the purpose of true inspiration, we chose to sing in Yoruba, Igbo and English now.

Is this your first album?

That was the second album. The first album was FUSION (YIN BABA). It came out long time ago, 2002/2003.

What mode is your kind of Music?

Ours is a combination of any music can ever think of, Apala, Fuji, Jazz, Blues etc

May I ask what extent this music has taken you?

It wasn’t IGWE that took us to UK. Yin Baba took us to UK. Perhaps because in that part of the world are conservative by nature, they love FUSION; but Nigerians want IGWE because we are happy people. Right now we don’t know how they got the materials both in the UK and USA. I guess perhaps people who bought it here took it down to relatives and families over there. The response has been great. It encourages us and makes us feel real good.

Any challenges?

Just as it’s common to most projects but some people were just exceptional in their supports to us; they were good mentors. It was not easy but we thank God for we are.

I understand you perfectly Pat. What do you think that Nigerians need to move forward?

As far as MIDNIGHT CREW band is concerned, we want to move out and reach out to the needy. We are trying. We have visited the KOMMA HILLS. We need to support one another. The privileged should help and aid the needy. We need more charitable gestures etc.

That is true; we have singers like BEYONCE taking bold charitable steps, OPRAH too etc... I love OPRAH for her godly virtues.

Oh yea ma! She is good! We have a project at hand now that we are working on. It is an outfit titled and called ZERA. ZERA is the seed of time. ZERA is a Greek word and it means “the seed of our time”. We want young people in music to come out together, so we can help improve upon lives of the needy people. Whatever our talents it’s time to use it to edify God. We want to encourage and inspire ourselves. We want to help ourselves out of the challenges of setting up projects etc, to meet people’s desired projects and to sow seed into people’s lives. We will accomplish this by the grace of God.....................