SGaWD on The Aftermath of #EndSARS, Competition Among Women in Music and That Steve Lacy Feature
For SGaWD (or Seddy, as she is fondly referred to by those close to her) protest demands a place in music. At the height of #EndSARS in Nigeria last month, the 23 year old artist was intent on providing information and resources to anyone who needed it.
She put her music on pause to throw herself into activism, because she believes it is something that everyone should care about-especially those with a platform.
“As an artist, you have been given this platform and you need to use it. People downplay the juxtaposition between politics and music. You should be ashamed if you don’t care enough to speak out about this.” She shares candidly.
Having put out her first single in February this year, Seddy quickly followed this up with a number of well-paired features, collaborating with a range of different artists while simultaneously exploring what would become her signature sound.
For more on how Seddy’s legal education infers her activism, why lifting other women up is so important to her and what she’s working on in the months to come, see our full interview below.
This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.
Jade Kelly: Take me to the beginning of your love affair with music
SGaWD: Music has always been a big part of my life in some shape or form. For a long time, it was just a hobby and not something I had intended to pursue as seriously as I now am. I spent the bulk of the last few years studying law-so this is a nice little break from that.
That must have been an interesting conversation to have with your family-that you wanted to go jump from law to music.
Oh my God, it nearly killed my dad. I get it though. In the beginning I was very hurt, because I took it as a sign that they were not being supportive, but really they only want a safe bet out of love-they want me to be able to have a financially secure life-and there are no guarantees in music.
So you've definitely put law on ice then-and are gonna ride this music wave for as long as you can?
I think anyone who has studied law will tell you that it is never something you can abandon-but rather that it is something you carry with you forever-legal education infers my activism. As for music, it has all my attention at this moment. I dropped my first single in February. Music is very jealous-its very time consuming.
How would you describe your sound?
Very free-everyone is so eager to tell you how and what to do. When I make music, it’s the one moment in my life no one can tell me how and what to do.Thats why music is the safest space for me.
What do you think sets you apart from everyone else putting out music right now?
I have so much fun with me. I'm this weird chick doing things my own way and on my own terms. I hope my music finds its way all over the world. I'm making music that talks about how I feel and I kinda just hope it resonates with others.
I've witnessed how involved you were at the height of the #EndSARS protests-from distributing information to engaging with others on the best way to move forward. Do you feel there needs to be room for politics in the music industry?
Celebrities get like that (about politics)-so I think artists get lost and become selfish. But life is bigger than you. As an artist, you have been given that platform and you need to use it. People downplay the juxtaposition between politics and music. Why not push for an independent platform pushing for political information? They need to be a bit more intentional. You should be ashamed if you don’t care enough to speak out about this.
Has all this been heavy for you-In terms of your overall wellbeing and particularly the effect it has on your ability to create, what has it been like?
Last week was hard for me. I put music on pause to do activism. As someone who is very empathetic, I am in a place that’s emotionally draining for me. I keep in mind that life is bigger than me, and to always devote myself to my purpose.
Now that the protests have simmered down, what do you think is a good way to keep the momentum going to effect lasting change for the people of Nigeria?
Protest is one part of the revolution. I hate that people tie the act of protest with the revolution. People cannot protest because they have watched our brothers and sisters do that and lose their life. We need to refocus our energy on doing other things as well, that will change the systems and policies that allowed this to happen in the first place. We need forward thinking youths everywhere.
For young creatives in Nigeria, do you think they have enough support in being able to have longevity in their careers?
The real support is access. No amount of information can give you access. I will say that Gen Z has been the most capable generation when it comes to making sh*t happen for themselves.
For women in music, the age old thing has been promoting the kind of competition where coexistence is not possible-or preferred. What has your experience been with this?
I don’t really have anyone I can look to for guidance or advice because there definitely is a culture of gatekeeping in this industry. At the same time, I can understand why by the time women have made it to a certain position in music-it is more the exhaustion of having to get there than the unwillingness to help other women that results in the continuation of this cycle. I will also say that as much as we keep saying “we need more women in music” we need more women everywhere. More women behind the scenes, as music writers, managers everything-only then I think can we even begin to talk about working from a place of equality.
You’ve put out some significant features over the last few months, from collaborating with Jess ETA to teasing a Steve Lacy feature just a couple of weeks ago- have you set your sights on putting out a full length project anytime soon?
I’ve spent the better part of the last year experimenting with my sound and theres no better way to do that than to collaborate with different artists. The Steve Lacy thing-I’m not even sure if its gonna come out but I feel so honored that he woul want to put his voice on the same track as mine.
As for a full length project- I got you [laughs]. Ive started [the process of] compiling tracks for my EP which is set to be released next year.
What’s next for you?
Next is solidifying my place in the industry-fame would be nice but I'm not hung up on it-Im more focused on making music and living off it-More importantly, honing in on the ability to lift other women up.
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