Fast-rising afro-pop singer, Akinyede Maria Tope, whose stage name is MaryTop shared her Music career story with Temitope Adetunji.
In an interview with WuzupNigeria, the afro-pop artiste said that despite being a UNILAG graduate, she is really gifted spiritually, and its God’s Grace.
Tell us about yourself: My name is Miss Akinyede Maria Tope, Mary Top is my stage name, I am an afro-pop artist.
I am from Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state.
Born and bred in Lagos
What inspired you to choose music as a career?
ANS: Music to me is my normal way of life. I think Music, I chew Music, I drink Music, I eat Music 247, even my normal conversation with people most time is through a melodious Music.
So, when what I enjoyed doing most with ease now turned a point of reference to my personality, I then see it as a career and went to acquire more skills to my natural Talent now turned career.
What kind of music are you into?
ANS: I’m into Inspirational Music and I have ways of passing my messages through known genres of music depending on my Audience and their yearnings.
Why did you choose afro-pop songs?
ANS: To every Music, there is an audience, so doing Inspirational Music is my calling and I have been fulfilling it gradually through my genre of Music.
Calls and encouraging messages from my fans in the past inspires me to continue in this Inspirational Music despite it’s my calling, so ministering to my fans in a particular genre of music they like makes the difference and that’s the niche I have carved for myself. I can flow in Blues, R&B, Reggae, Afro, Funk, etc. and yet still deliver my Inspirational songs.
Have you ever had stage fright?
ANS: (smiles) Just once and in all honesty, I had never seen such an Intelligent Lightings and a Big Stage before, but my Manager (then) was also one of my backup singers, when she noticed my sluggish starting, she then quickly moved towards me and stylishly changed my Microphone and used the little opportunity to charged me and said to my ears ”MaryTop this is your long-awaited chance, you’re Live on TV and there are about 3 Governors here in this Christmas Concert” I then immediately received an unusual Strength and Grace to end up by wowing the crowd, in fact, it turned out to be my Best outing that Year.
Tell us about your favorite performance venues
ANS: I perform every Thursday at Isaac John Ikeja GRA, Fridays at Oba Akran Ikeja, Saturdays at The Biggies Lounge Lekki, while my Sundays are always at the Churches upon Invitation until Lockdown.
Despite the Lockdown in the last 5 months, COVID has taught me creative lessons, so I still perform LIVE online to keep my fans and as my own little way of appreciating them since all these Years of supporting my Music.
What are your unique skills as an Afro Pop Singer?
ANS: Despite being a UNILAG Graduate, I am really endowed and its God’s Grace.
I compose music with ease, I write for other Artistes and even help them out to do some voicing during Studio Session (but not for Free Ooo… Smiles) I am also a Music Arranger because Music runs in my family background.
My Strength is the ability to pass my message and sing along in any genre of Music demanded aside my Afro-Pop with ease. I sing on all the Keys without struggle and my voice texture is the Magic (smile)
Which musician (foreign/local) do you admire as a role model? Why
ANS: I would say, Simi, Tope Alabi, Teni, Mike Abdul, and Whitney Houston.
The reason is that these Trio has got an ART and ACT, they are full of energy and creativity. I have learned a lot from them and been applying it to my Music Career.
Have you ever done a music collaboration with other artists?
ANS: Yes, while in South Africa, 1. The Menders – (I was the only female in that group) . 2. Saxokay. 3. D’Vine and few others. I have also done several collaboration with so many known and unknown Artistes in Nigeria, the likes of Kunle Ayo, Ayodele, King Salem, Hossana Voices, and several others, most especially studio sessions.
Which artists are you looking forward to collaborating with?
ANS: I’m seriously looking forward to a collaboration sometime soon with these Gracious Artistes because they carry Grace, the likes of Simi, Tope Alabi, Teni, Mike Abdul, and few others.
What are your best career memories so far?
ANS: My weekly performance in a particular Resort Centre in Sun City while I was still living in South Africa, it was a great height for me because I was the only Female Nigerian Artistes allowed to be performing there on weekends to a lot of Tourists from all over the World. Also, my performance at 2018 BIG BROTHER NAIJA Live and my monthly performance to a particular 1st Lady of a State at their State House before their tenure got expired in May 2019.
Why Afro Gospel and not the common Gospel we are used to?
ANS: My kind of Afro Gospel is a blend of normal conventional Ballard Music with an infusion of Afro and my ability to up the beat tempo to a danceable Music with my traditional percussion makes the unusual difference.
What is the uniqueness of your style of music that distinguishes you from others?
ANS: My Voice My Strength! My style of Composition is a Key factor and my ability to blend and simplify any genres of Music into a lovable, danceable and Inspirational Afro Pop distinguished me.
Do you do other things aside from music?
ANS: 1st Choice Music. 2nd Choice Music. 3rd Choice Music.
Everything I do is around Music and nothing but Music.
I compose and sell songs for Artistes. I do Studio Session. I do Voice over for Jingles. I do Sound Tracks for Nigeria Movie Producers. I perform at Events and Functions including Religious Crusades and Concerts. So for now with me- MaryTop it would always be MUSIC MUSIC and MUSIC.
How do you balance your music career with other responsibilities?
ANS: MaryTop, for now, is a daughter to her parents, a Lover to someone, and someday would be a Mother to some Children, (Laughs) so for now, I am responsible for making my Brand a Universally acceptable and also been working with a particular company to shoot my Singles that I just dropped titled ”GBAMIGBO” – Believe Me.
COVID-19 has helped my creative composition and I can’t wait to hit Venues again for my performances.
