ONAH
Dallas, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | INDIE | AFM
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Music Interview: Francis Onah – Iripia, Or A Song Of Survival
JULY 20, 2020
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By BRUCE DENNILL
Francis Onah is a jazz musician, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and singer. He originally began playing the trumpet at age 16, then picked up the saxophone and learned the rudiments in only five days at the age of 24.
Onah’s new single, Iripia, leans more into his African roots. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria and the song was inspired by his cultural heritage with sounds that tells stories of the region.
Iripia is only the first single to be released from his new album, Ogoja City. The full album will be released on August 31.
“Influence” is a loaded, often misunderstood concept. An artist may sound similar to another but have no knowledge of them, or be a super-fan of someone whose output is completely different to their own. Who or what was the artist, album, song, era or scene that initially mapped out the road to you becoming a musician?
I grew up listening to Manu Dibango, Hugh Masekela, Angelique Kidjo and others, but Manu Dibango’s – the song Douala Serenade from the album Waka Juju, particularly – style of music gave me the road map to my musicianship, and I still love his music.
Has that changed over the years? If so, how and why, and what are you currently exploring?
No, that hasn’t changed, and I don’t see it changing in the near future. But that has not stopped me from exploring other music genres, as always.
Name one song you wish you’d written or one you’d like to be known as the definitive interpreter of. What makes that song so important?
One Day Someday by Femi Kuti. It resonates to me in a lot of senses, and it’s so important, not just because of its Afro-beat groove, but because of the message behind the song, talking about the struggle of Africa and the belief that Africa will “one day someday” unite and be the envy of the world.
In production and arrangement terms, what are facets of your music and the music you love most by others that you feel are crucially important in terms of creating the mood you’re after or supporting the message of your song?
For me, I usually catch the mood of my music and music I like from the bass groove, backed up by some rhythmic chords from the keys. Then I start to think of the horn arrangement, percussion, guitar, and so on…
Which aspects of your music do you prioritise? For you, would you rather have that your lyrics, your melodies, or your vocals or instrumental work are the are the most memorable parts of your songs?
I prioritise the instrumental aspect of my music. And I prefer for the melody to be the most memorable part of my song.
What’s your favourite piece of gear?
My saxophone.
What is the story behind Iripia – the genesis of the song, the people involved, the muse behind its creation?
The music was inspired by a survival story. I started writing this music at time in my life when I was faced with some adversities. I had just touched down at the Detroit airport on this day, on my way to Lansing, Michigan, and the thought of giving thanks struck me, even when there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. A few minutes later, the melody came, and I decided to record the sound on my phone. - BRUCE DENNILL
BUZZFrancis Onah Takes Listeners on an Exciting Journey Through His African Roots in a Newly Released SinglePublished 4 years ago on May 21, 2020 By VJ Scaro
Francis Onah is a renowned jazz musician, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and singer. He has an impressive portfolio, playing with many bands at various jazz festivals around the world. Onah originally began playing the trumpet at only 16, then picked up the saxophone and learned the rudiment in only five days at the age of 24. His musical style can be described as Jazz, Highlife, and Contemporary World Music.
Onah’s new single, however, leans more into his African roots. Francis Onah was born in the city of Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. The single titled “Iripia” was inspired by his cultural heritage with sounds that tells stories of the region, with a global resonance. The album still follows his musical philosophy that ‘less is more’ as a soul-winner with his melody.
“Iripia” is only the first single to be released from his new album, Ogoja City. A second single, titled “Alamu”, will release on the last weekend of June. The remainder of the album will release later this summer, on August 31st, 2020.
The album takes listeners on an exciting journey through Onah’s African roots. The entire album is full of meaning, primarily of the appreciation that Onah has for his home and cultural heritage. He wanted the album to showcase Ogoja City to the world. The song “Iripia” was specifically inspired by a survival story, while “Alamu” was inspired by the story of a kid who was bullied/ oppressed, but now doing well for himself, and yet still humble and down to earth.
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Onah says, “I am obsessed to introduce Africa to the world from a metaphysical stance.” He adds, “Music melody heals my soul in a spiritual way. Don’t naturalize spiritual things and spiritualize natural things, music is spiritual.”
Francis Onah
Francis Onah-Adie is a renowned jazz musician, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and singer. He was born in the city of Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. Francis Onah’s musical journey started at the early age of 16, and he bought his first trumpet at the age of 19. Onah later picked up the saxophone at the age of 24, learned the rudiment in five days, and performed with the saxophone on the sixth day at a concert organized by Alliance Française de Lagos.
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Onah has performed with a lot of bands and had the opportunity to tour on a global stage with Femi Kuti and the Positive Force Band, and performed at various Jazz Festivals around the world. As a result of all these experiences, Onah began to develop his style, leaning towards his African root and the result we see in his debut single, released in April 2020, and was titled “Iripia”. The single is now available on all streaming platforms. Stay tuned as Onah is working on getting his album out soon.
Follow Francis Onah on Instagram at @onahofficial
Watch Francis Onah on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/franciseonah
“Like” Francis Onah on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/francis.ogoja - VJ Scaro
Discography
Debut Single: Debut Album: Upcoming Album:Onah's Discography and Musical Releases
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Bio
Francis ONAH is a renowned jazz artist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist whose roots in Lagos, Nigeria, and Ogoja-Bekwara, Cross River State, are the lifeblood of his vibrant music. Deeply connected to his African heritage, ONAH weaves the rich cultural tapestry of Africa into every note, creating an unforgettable sound that combines tradition with modern jazz elements.
ONAH began his musical journey at sixteen, initially drawn to the expressive power of the trumpet. After years of honing his craft, he transitioned to the saxophone at the age of 24, showcasing his natural talent and passion for woodwind instruments. Within days, his remarkable skill caught the attention of audiences and fellow musicians alike. This led to his first major performance with the "Black Face Band," led by Seyi Solagbade, at a concert organized by Alliance Française in Lagos. This pivotal performance marked the beginning of an extraordinary career.
Since those early days, Francis ONAH has performed at countless jazz festivals and shared the stage with numerous acclaimed artists. He has played with bands like 5&6 Squad, led by Yinka Davies, and Ayetoro Band, under the direction of Funsho Ogundipe. Notably, ONAH also toured internationally with Femi Kuti and the Positive Force Band, bringing his unique sound to audiences across the globe. These experiences shaped ONAH's purpose: to share the beauty of African culture through the language of jazz.
Driven by a passion for cultural advocacy, ONAH released his debut album, "Ogoja City," a tribute to his homeland that resonates with the rich heritage of Africa. His music captures the essence of African life, blending traditional rhythms with jazz improvisation to create a compelling sound that is both authentic and universally appealing.
Francis ONAH is more than a musician; he is a cultural ambassador, using his art to ignite a global appreciation for the richness of African heritage. With each performance, he invites audiences to embark on a journey that celebrates Africa's vibrant history, cultural diversity, and timeless beauty—one melody at a time.
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