In this interview singer Daniel AppyDay takes us through his journey in just concluded Norway Got Talent where he got to the semi finals.
The Anambra state singer who represented Nigeria in Norske Talenter (Norway Got Talent) talked about his plan for the future and how he is able to take Nigerian sound to Norway where he was among the contestants that contested for the grand prize but lucky he got to the semi-finals he was also thankful to those who voted to keep him in the competition.Read his Interview below..
Congratulations on your outing at the Norway's Got Talent. How do you feel getting to the semi-final stage?
Yeah I feel happy really. There was more than 1000 contestants in the beginning, but it was only 20 of us left at the last semifinal stage. And besides I actually came very close to making it to the Finals, and being the only contestant that sings Nigerian dance-hall and afrobeats, I also feel good that I was able to introduce our indigenous music style to the Norwegian society and the accepted it all the way to the Semi finals of Norske Talenter. I think that is a laudable feat.
What would you say denied you the opportunity to make it to the finals?
It was very simple, A foreigner with a foreign style and foreign music. And also not being born here you know.Nigerian musicians that travel round the world to perform know that its not easy to appeal to the white community. Most times when they come to Europe , It's the black community that they usually perform for. So I feel proud that I was able to engage the whole Nation(Norway) with my Nigerian music style through the many stages in the contest up till the Semi finals.
How many people auditioned for the hunt and what were the categories or was it streamlined to music alone?
There were over 1000 contestants that passed the screening and attented the auditions. There were different categories including Dance, Magic, Acrobats, singing etc.
What are your plans now that your quest for $60,000 ultimate prize of the show has ended?
I want to publish all the songs I performed in Norway's Got Talent online so my fans can access them. They will be available on Itunes, Deezer, Cdbaby, Spotify etc from next week. Then I am going back to the studio to make more hit music and great videos. I will be dropping something new soon.
Where you the only Nigerian and African in the contest?
Yeah I think I was the only Nigerian but not the only African.
What is the experience like being on such international platform, and what have taken away from the show?
It was really great. A dream come through. I pushed myself and developed more creative muscles. I worked with a team of professionals and earned their respect. I saw myself in an entirely new level. It was sweet and bitter, Fantastic and terrible, pain and gain and altogether a great experience. Today The name APPYDAY is reverberating across the whole Norway. It can only get better not worse.
Any plan coming back to Nigerian soon?
My life dream is to invest in the lives of poor and homeless children in Nigeria. I will come home at the right time.
Meanwhile, all my fans can follow me on Instagram, twitter and facebook @iamappyday
You can also download Appyday's "Okro soup" on MTN ring tone, simply text 1768182 to 4100. Costs just N20 for one week or 0768182 to 4100, costs N50 for 1 month.
Finally, I want to say a very big THANK YOU to all my friends and fans that voted for me from Nigeria. I really appreciate your support. You guys rock!
Here is appyday's performance at the semifinals video below.