Aninooritsewarami Alero Oritsesan, AKA Kold AF is one of the rising stars in Nigeria’s music scene. Formerly known as Koel, the artist of Itsekiri origin studied Law at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, before delving into music professionally in 2020. So far she’s released two compelling projects: her two-song EP “Kold Szn” in 2022 and her 2023 EP in collaboration with French producer BGRZ, “Kollided.”
Kold AF’s journey into the limelight was meticulously crafted, marked by a transformative artist’s development phase which displayed confidence and self-assuredness in her sound. She combines her individual creativity with a dynamic infusion of musical genres, held up by an adeptness in songwriting.
Outside of music, Kold AF is a fervent advocate for equity in human rights and politics, showcasing a multifaceted view on artistry and a strong sense of moral responsibility. All of which is reflected within her raw and honest lyrics.
In our interview, we discuss her journey into music, the challenges she faced and continues to face, her influences and plans for the future.
How did you start your music journey?
Kold AF: I started music professionally in 2020 but before then I have always been a lover of music since I was a child. The issue for me was, I knew a lot of people who were very talented but they were yet to go mainstream so going into music full time was a risk for me. There is more uncertainty in these types of fields so in a pursuit for stability, I studied Law but 2 years in, I knew being a lawyer was not my passion even though I was good at it.
I met my friend, I told him about my fears and he encouraged me by opening my eyes to the opportunities my passion for music presents and I should let go of the uncertainty I had about going for music. 2018/2019 was a time to finally decide what path I was going for because I knew if I chose music, there is no turning back.
How do you source inspiration when writing your songs?
I took a course in songwriting though that wasn’t how I got all my skills but I learnt about the industry, I also learnt from great songwriters to sharpen my skills and what I picked up from there was everything is an inspiration even as the rain is falling right now, it is an inspiration. You just have to open your heart and mind so that you can get inspired by anything, by being observant, taking notes of things happening around me, watching movies, people’s stories, I get my inspirations.
How would you define your sound?
My sound is a fusion of genres. I am not fixated on the beat because I’m a versatile person so I like exploring new sounds, sticking to one sound won’t be satisfying for me. I think this also comes from my childhood. When growing up, I listened to a lot of music from R&B, Soul, Rap, Dancehall, just a wide variety of genres.
What is something you have learnt and unlearned this year
That would be getting comfortable with the pressure, anxiety and criticism I’m faced with. Sometimes this pressure comes from myself wanting to go over and beyond so this year, I have learnt to be comfortable with the fact that there will always be pressure, criticism and anxiety but what I can control is how I react to them. Something I have unlearned this year would have to be self criticism because I tend to be hard on myself and that’s not a productive thing to do.
What was the first song you ever wrote and what inspired you?
Thinking about it now, the first song I ever wrote was with my brother. It was my mum’s birthday, it was a funny song which my mum loved and made her shed tears but of course, mothers love every intentional gift made by their children.
The first actual song I wrote was “Shimmer” I went by the stage name, Koel and the song was placed in an American drama TV series, “The L Word” on Showtime and I was really excited when I found out.
Let’s talk about your EP KOLLIDE, how would you describe the entire process of making that project
To be honest, it wasn’t an easy one but making it was amazing. We didn’t have the time to make several songs to choose from because there were some inconveniences so we made 6 songs and that was what we put out. Amazingly, the 6 songs came out great and the audience loved it.
What’s one thing you are not getting credit for that you absolutely should?
My view about this is that you must first put yourself out there before you get credited and this involves learning something that will set you apart from others. For me, I feel I’m getting the recognition I need and it keeps getting better. For myself, I put myself out to learn more like production, graphic design etc. I have participated in the treatment of my video, I style myself and I write all my songs. Writing your songs may seem casual but there are still some people who don’t write their songs so taking myself on that creative journey, is a confirmation that I’m an all round creative.
What social issues are you most passionate about?
Equity in human rights. Men do have rights but I tend to gear towards women’s rights but considering the social atmosphere especially on social media, the idea of feminism has been given a different dynamic hence, a lot of things we see on social media branded as feminism are actually not. The idea of feminism is for women to have equal chances as the men, and for their voices to be heard in places they are termed not to be “qualified for.” I’m also passionate about Nigerian politics, it’s actually something I can spend hours talking about but with current conditions of the country, it’s become more difficult to talk about a way forward because it seems like we have little or no say in our government which is sad.
What are your plans for the New Year?
I’m going to release something next year. What it will be first I’m not sure but if it works out, I will be releasing it early next year.
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