{"id":3829,"date":"2021-11-26T02:04:46","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T02:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/?p=3829"},"modified":"2021-11-26T02:07:58","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T02:07:58","slug":"blog-interview-james-numbere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/2021\/11\/26\/blog-interview-james-numbere\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog interview: James Numbere"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"James Numbere - Tamuno Bo ft. Sensational Bamidele\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nhta-hYCXJQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"706\" height=\"741\" src=\"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_BC9F34563901-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_BC9F34563901-1.jpeg 706w, https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_BC9F34563901-1-286x300.jpeg 286w, https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_BC9F34563901-1-57x60.jpeg 57w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><strong>Hello James how are you?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">I\u2019m doing great Del, thank you so much.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Congratulations on the release of \u201cA Tale Of Two Cities\u201d how does it feel?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">It feels really great. I feel satisfied on the reception it\u2019s getting. Makes it all worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p1\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">It\u2019s a five track EP of praise and worship songs how did it come about?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">It started with me just wanting to do a collaboration with music friends from my city of PortHarcourt and London. I\u2019m still pleasantly surprised at how well it all came together as there was a lot of remote recording. For example you have my background vocalists in London learning how to sing in Nigerian languages through voice notes I sent over to them from PortHarcourt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">The EP is a proper fusion of so many styles of music I love and have been influenced by.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">What\u2019s your favourite track from it?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">It all depends on my mood to be honest. Sometimes I want to dance and other times I just want to meditate so it all depends on how I feel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Tamuno Bo, my favourite track has been massive, what are your thoughts on its reception?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Are you gonna break out in a dance now? lol<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Frankly speaking I knew people would love it but I had no idea they would love it this much. You even have \u201cWhatsapp Aunties\u201d in both Nigeria and the diaspora sharing the track to their friends and family. It\u2019s crazy. Then of course there was the \u201cTamuno Bo challenge\u201d on social media which people embraced wholeheartedly and were showing off their \u201cseki\u201d dance skills.<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">You are a singer songwriter bandleader originally from Port Harcourt living in London,<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>how did it all begin for you?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">It started in church choir as a kid and my Mum encouraging my siblings and I (5 of us) to sing. She\u2019s a Pastor so she took us with her to wherever she was ministering and we always sang before she preached. That nurtured my love for music and years down the line I came to London to study songwriting and the rest they say is history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">What did you listen to growing up?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Gospel and our traditional Christian music. And that was it. I only got introduced to other styles of music as I got older as we were not allowed to listen to \u201cdisco\u201d (that\u2019s what we called secular music) growing up. Haha<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">You released a single, Smile that you recorded with London Community Gospel Choir what was it like working with them?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">That is still one of my favourite songs as I wrote if for the charity \u201cOperation Smile\u201d and the choir were so enthusiastic about lending their voices to a worthy cause. I had the privilege of actually performing it at Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019 backed up by the choir and the Royal Philharmonic orchestra. Surreal moment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">What was the biggest lesson you learned from those sessions?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">To be professional but also have fun while doing what you love.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\"><strong>You\u2019ve worked with some big artists, and even performed for the Royal Family what\u2019s been a real pinch me moment?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Every single one of them has been a pinch me moment as I always dreamed of doing this as a child back in my home city of PortHarcourt. So I treasure them and remind the little boy in me \u201cJames you\u2019re doing it\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">COVID impacted the creative industry in a big way what kept you motivated?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">The fact that it would pass. A song I love says \u201ctroubles don\u2019t last always\u201d and I tried to have that at the back of my mind even though I had moments were I was just tired of it all.<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">But that\u2019s the life of a creative. We always have those moments where we\u2019re just tired and want to stop but somehow find a way to keep moving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\"><strong>2020 was a time to reflect what did learn about yourself?<\/strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">That I am stronger than I know. I wrote, recorded and released my debut EP in 2020. It was done from my living room. I had never recorded myself properly but I had to learn. I got my friends involved who all recorded their parts remotely. I look back at all of it now and I\u2019m surprised at how I was able to adapt.<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">What are you listening to at the moment?<span class=\"ydp7f916540Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">30 by Adele and some Christmas tunes. lol<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><strong><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">What are you looking forward to most in 2021?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ydp7f916540p2\"><span class=\"ydp7f916540s1\">Performing songs from my EP before a live audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Spotify Embed: A Tale of 2 Cities\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/2SxYKWf4KIPoK7iVfaici9?si=rSJ7d9IoQwOXPi5yoczDBA&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello James how are you?&nbsp; I\u2019m doing great Del, thank you so much. Congratulations on the release of \u201cA Tale Of Two Cities\u201d how does it feel?&nbsp; It feels really great. I feel satisfied on the reception it\u2019s getting. Makes it all worth it. It\u2019s a five track EP of praise and worship songs how &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3830,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[143,30,215,73,150,126],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-london","category-music","category-nigeria","category-singer-songwriter","category-songwriter","category-vocals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3829"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3838,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3829\/revisions\/3838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}