Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Nissi Ogulu

Photo Courtesy Of Nissi Ogulu

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED THERE?
I am currently in London but haven’t always lived here. I moved here just over 10 years ago prior to which I was living and schooling between Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
I was born and raised in Port Harcourt Nigeria until I was just over 10 years old when I went to boarding secondary school in Lagos. 

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR PRESENT CITY OR HOMETOWN?
I would have to say the serenity it provides and being close to friends/family. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?
There are so many! Off the top of my head at this present time, I think it’ll be performing at kids parties with my two friends as part of our made up Destiny’s Child group.  

WHY MUSIC?
Interestingly, I have always found that question to feel like being asked why I am who I am. Music is genuinely a part of me, I didn’t seek it, it was always there and all I did was embrace it which felt like the most natural thing in the world.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND AND GENRE?
I would describe my music as Afro-rooted, contemporarily driven and globally positioned. 

IS THERE A SONG OR MUSICAL PASSAGE THAT NEVER FAILS TO MOVE YOU?
Tough question because I have a few but just off the cuff I’ll go with one of my favourites; "Déjà Vu" by Beyonce ft Jay-Z. 

WHY ART?
This for me will be the same exact answer that I gave to "Why music?" because they go hand in hand.
 
HOW DID YOU ACQUIRE THE SKILL?
Funnily enough, I don’t think education was the trick for me in terms of skill acquisition. I seem to have always had the ability to create art which drove me to take it as a class in primary and secondary school. However, because I was doing art professionally with exhibits by my  second year of A-levels, I had to drop it as a subject because the workload of my professional art life was too much. Somehow, I had the most supportive teachers who still provided the studio sanctuary for me to use in school even though I wasn’t officially taking the subject. 

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED MEDIUM?
Hmnn, if we are talking strictly fine art, this would be acrylic on canvas. 

WHAT'S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
It varies depending on what I’m working on but I always just plug into my inner self and let that come alive whether that be with a paintbrush, in storytelling, music, directing etc.

WHO OR WHAT HAS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?
In life generally, my family.

WHAT'S YOUR PERSONAL AESTHETIC?
I’m a fanatic when it comes to design and aesthetics. In fashion I like a bit of an artistically edgy yet classy look, love a picturesque setting, I am very into motorbikes and cars, I’m quite open when it comes to literature as I find that I can enjoy various genres just the same but in different ways.

WHAT BEAUTY ROUTINE DO YOU SWEAR BY?
Much to most people’s surprise, I can’t say that I have any fancy routine. I wash my face twice a day and moisturise. Occasionally (more for relaxation or socially) I enjoy a good natural face mask. 

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING?
These days, going to the cinema really makes me happy. I also enjoy vacationing when I can, jet skiing, swimming, hanging out with friends. 

HOW DO YOU UNWIND? 
A glass of vin rouge and a jazz playlist usually does the trick.

No comments:

Post a Comment