Life is a journey filled with ups and downs, and for artists, those lows can sometimes lead to prolonged absences from the music scene. In an industry that’s constantly evolving, stepping away can feel like losing ground in a race where catching up is no easy feat.
For EMO Grae, this reality hit home. After taking a significant break due to personal reasons, he’s back in the spotlight, determined to reclaim his place. With two releases under his belt this year, he is ready to make waves once again.
Remember 0903 featuring Buju? That track was a moment that put EMO Grae in our faces. Now, as he steps forward after his hiatus, we look into the reasons behind his absence, his experiences with label dynamics, and his exciting plans for the future.
TUE: Looking at the year, how has it been for you?
EMO GRAE: On a personal level, it’s been good. With time, you learn a lot, and I feel like this year opened my eyes to so many things I wasn’t seeing before. I’ve got supportive friends and overall, the year has been great, thank God.
TUE: From a music perspective, how’s it been?
EMO GRAE: It’s been going good, too. I have a new single out and it doing good. Like I said, I can’t complain, but I’m praying for better things still.
TUE: The music scene is competitive right now. How are you navigating that?
EMO GRAE: The music scene is tough, no doubt. It’s tough and competitive, but you just have to stay true to yourself and keep pushing.
TUE: Regarding your absence, can you share the reason behind it?
EMO GRAE: Early in 2021, after COVID, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. That threw me off the music scene for a minute. I was here and there, trying to make sure she was okay, and that went on for three years until she passed away in 2023.
TUE: That must have been incredibly tough. How have you been handling such a huge loss while still moving forward?
EMO GRAE: To be honest, it hasn’t been easy. Losing your mom isn’t something you just get over; it’s not like a breakup or a fight with a friend. It’s someone so close to you. Handling it is a daily effort. I’m trying, and each day gets a bit better, but it’s a mental struggle.
EMO GRAE: My mom left me with two younger sisters to care for. Balancing that responsibility with music and trying to provide for everyone has been hard. It’s a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day, I decided to step up and keep moving.
TUE: You’ve started the year with new music. How’s the reception been?
EMO GRAE: The reception has been incredible. Even during my absence, I had fans reaching out, saying they needed my music and couldn’t wait for my return. Knowing I wasn’t forgotten gave me the energy to come back. The love and support I’ve received since dropping new tracks have been beyond my expectations.
My latest single If is an inspiration from a person I fancied and was trying to get to, and being the type of person I am who is shy and was just right after the Covid lockdown, I just got in the studio and poured my heart out to play to her and see her reaction.. which worked
TUE: Last year you released two songs, Youth and Be There. What inspired Youth?
EMO GRAE: Youth was different for me. I usually make love songs because that’s what comes naturally to me—it’s my vibe. But Youth came from a darker place. It was inspired by real-life events, especially losing my mom. It put me in a crazy mood. I had lost my Grandma in 2016 and that affected me too. That song captured my pain and how I was feeling at the time.I could have said so much more but at the end of the day, it’s not a book. It’s a song
and I’m trying to make it as easy and as relatable as possible and to make people understand where I’m also coming from.
TUE: And Be There?
EMO GRAE: Be There reflects where I am now, happier and in a better place. It’s about love and life, pulling from my experiences and abstract feelings. No matter how dreamy it sounds, it’s always rooted in my reality.
TUE: Your music really tells your reality.
EMO GRAE: Exactly. It’s my reality in melody.
TUE: You’ve mentioned that love is a key element in your music. How would you describe its role?
EMO GRAE: Love is important, but I sing about everything in general. It all depends on my mindset or the space I’m in at a particular time. Whatever I’m experiencing or feeling finds its way into my music.
TUE: That makes sense. From our conversation, it’s clear that your life experiences heavily influence your work. Is there any philosophy or belief that keeps you motivated daily?
EMO GRAE: I don’t know if there’s a code I live by but i thing i live by is God’s will and God’s word. First of all, I’m a Christian, and my belief in God keeps me going. Just God being God is enough reason for me to push forward. My sisters also play a huge role in my life, and my mom’s passing gave me a clearer sense of purpose. I wake up every day knowing there are responsibilities and people relying on me. That’s the fuel that drives me.
TUE: Let’s talk about your music style. How would you define it?
EMO GRAE: Honestly, I wouldn’t box myself into one genre. I’m not just an Afrobeats artist—I’m an artist, period. I make all sorts of music. But being in Nigeria, I focus on what clicks here to build my foundation. Once you’re up there, you can drop any kind of song, and people will embrace it. That’s the goal for now.
TUE: That’s a smart approach. On another note, there’s been some curiosity about your label situation. Are you still with Marlian Music?
EMO GRAE: No, I’m not. We ended our partnership last year, around June. It was a mutual agreement, no bad blood at all. They’ll always be family, but I’m independent now.
TUE: Was it your choice to leave?
EMO GRAE: Yes, it was. It felt like the right move for me at this stage in my career. My contract ended, everything was in order, and we all agreed it was time to move on.
TUE: Do you plan to stay independent, or are you open to getting signed again?
EMO GRAE: Right now, I’m just focused on being myself and putting out as much music as I can. If a deal comes along that makes sense and is beneficial, I’ll consider it. But for now, I’m enjoying the freedom of being independent.
TUE: Since you’ve been in the industry, you’ve obviously grown a lot. What are some lessons you’ve learned along the way?
EMO GRAE: One of the biggest lessons is patience. I’ve learned to be more patient and self-aware. Knowing yourself and what you want is crucial. There’s a lot of noise and distractions in this industry, but if you stay true to yourself and your goals, you’ll find your way.
TUE: How do you connect with your fans? You mentioned earlier that their support has been immense. How do you intentionally build and maintain that connection?
EMO GRAE: To be honest, I wasn’t really intentional about it at first. It’s just people who genuinely vibe with me. Recently, though, I’ve been more deliberate, especially with tools like Instagram channels. They’ve made it easier to connect with fans on a more personal level. I also hosted a single listening session recently and invited some of my fans. The turnout was great, and it felt good to interact with them directly.
TUE: Looking ahead, what are some of your goals for the future, both personally and as an artist?
EMO GRAE: Personally, I want to be one of the best artists to come out of Africa—or even the world. As an artist, I want my music to be heard globally and to impact
people in meaningful ways.
TUE: That’s inspiring. Speaking of music, you’ve worked with artists like Buju and Zinoleesky. Are there others, locally or internationally, you’re hoping to collaborate with?
EMO GRAE: Definitely! Internationally, there are so many artists I’d love to work with—Drake, Bryson Tiller, and others, even some underground names who aren’t as big but make great music. In Nigeria, I mostly collaborate with my friends, but I’m open to working with more people if it makes sense creatively.
TUE: Outside of music, how do you unwind or relax? What are your hobbies?
EMO GRAE: I play football. That was actually what I thought I’d be doing before music came into the picture. I play football well and spend time at home with my guys playing FIFA. Even when I’m relaxing, music is always close by,it’s just become a part of me.
TUE: Football? How serious were you about it before music?
EMO GRAE: Very serious! Like every Nigerian youth at some point, I dreamed of playing football. I played for my school team during university, but things changed after my grandma passed. School became tough, and I started losing focus. That’s when music came into my life.
TUE: So you didn’t start music from an early age?
EMO GRAE: Not at all. I’ve always loved music but never saw myself making it until later. My first studio session with Niphkeys changed everything. He believed in me, sent me beats, and that’s how it all started. Looking back, I guess God had bigger plans for me.
TUE: So, for this year, your first single IF is out already, is there a project in the works? Anything we should be looking forward to?
EMO GRAE: This year by God’s grace, my EP is dropping. I’m keeping things lowkey for now, but I promise there’s more to come.
TUE: That’s exciting. Now, do you have any message for your fans? They’ve been such a big part of your journey so far.
EMO GRAE: First and foremost, I want to thank every single person supporting me, whether I know you personally or not. Thank you for listening to my music and sticking with me. The support means everything to me, and I don’t take it for granted. I promise the music is great, and it’ll only get better. As long as the support keeps coming, we’ll keep growing, by God’s grace.
