Salle is an emerging talented singer, songwriter and a fashion artist from the eastern part of Nigeria. Her music was consciously made to surpass peripheries and resonates with imperishable themes. Captivating the listeners soul with her low mellifluous voice and sympathetic melodies leaving a lasting legacy through her art.
Her single “Icon” serves as a raw and ruminative revelation of her expedition through doubt and persistence in the face of distress.
You said you’re from the east; what’s your real name?
Kosisochukwu Gospel Peters.
When did you start creating music and what inspired you to start creating music?
I did music just for the fun of it. I did music then, like you know I used to sing in the choir, I do backup for my friends who were real artists just because I could sing, so I never took music seriously.
So when did you start taking music seriously?
I started taking it seriously after my video went viral in 2021.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Yeah, sort of, I needed a name that would define and wouldn’t limit my art or my creativity. I needed a name that would give room for everything I can do as an artist and a creative. ‘Salle’ is the French definition of a hall or an empty room. Then I am the Art, and I’m going to fill the room up with my creativity. So that’s the meaning of ‘Salle.’
How would you typically describe the music that you make? Do you have your own perception of what style it is, or do you just consider it Afrobeat as well?
I have never been a fan of genre because I feel like it’s a limitation to what every artist or creative can do. So I just make conscious music, music that will be forever. When I’m old and about to die and I still listen to it, I’m very much proud of the craft I put out to the world. So now I have no genre; I just sing for consciousness.
How would you say your upbringing influenced your music style?
Mostly the way I was brought up, you know the morals and the principles that my parents made me believe in. I grew up listening to a whole lot of ancient artists like Asa, Michael Jackson, Sia, John Legend, and the rest of them. Listening to their songs back then when I was a kid, growing up, I used to sing along to ‘Jailer’ by Asa. Listening to it now that I’m an adult and how new and refreshing it sounds is definitely the kind of music I want to pull out and how I want people to feel when listening to my songs 20 years from now and 30 years from now. So yes, definitely, they did have a big influence on me because that’s where I’m seeing myself.
What do you think about the recent evolution and huge global success of Afro beats and Nigerian music in general?
It’s such a beautiful thing that the world has finally evolved to the extent of recognizing Nigerian music and even gotten to the extent of comparing Afrobeat and other genres in the world. It’s a very inspiring thing, and I feel like we deserve it, and the world has really been missing out, but now I feel like everything is equal and balanced. So like the attention, the recognition we deserve it, and I’m glad it’s like giving every single artist in Nigeria the opportunity to prove and to show what else they have.
So far, what would you say are some of the challenges you faced with the music and how did you overcome them?
Challenges I faced as an artist, I’ll say they are very natural. It’s more like the bad experiences because, of course, if they’re not bad experiences, we wouldn’t know which one is good. Actually, when my video went viral, I had bad people on my side. I had people who really did not have my interest at heart. I made a whole lot of mistakes, and I lost a whole lot of opportunities. Since then, I’ve been trying to create a new space for myself and work my way back up, trying not to dwell on the opportunities I’ve lost and just create better ones for myself. So far, I think that’s been my biggest challenge, trying to come back and trying to convince people that I’m actually good.
If you had the chance or the opportunity to collaborate with any artist in the world, who would that be?
There are so many artists I’d love to collaborate with.
Could you give a list?
I’d love to work with Asa, Rema, and Tiwa Savage.
Why would you love to work with Rema?
There is this magical thing about his sound; you know his melodies are just out of this world, special to me.
So far, if you had to pick one of your performances as your favorite, which one of your performances would it be?
I’ve not had a lot of stage performances, but I think so far my best would be when I performed in FUTO, Federal University of Technology back in the east and Commissioner Djwysei festival in Awka. Those are my two favorite performances so far; I mean the love and support were crazy, and I felt loved.
Could you share the inspiration behind the lyrics of your song ‘Icon’ and how it reflects your personal experiences or beliefs?
I think ‘Icon’ is a little tensional; the challenges I’ve faced, struggling with the whole self-doubt and battling with what I’ve lost. Every line of ‘Icon’ was basically how I was feeling at the moment because there was a stage in my career when I thought I’d lost every opportunity of growing as an artist. Remembering the ones I’ve lost, they were too big to even let go, so I thought my time is actually gone, my opportunity has passed, I don’t know if I’m going to make it from here. I was just very doubtful of everything, I was very doubtful of the process, I was very doubtful of my sound; nothing was satisfying at that moment, and that was what inspired ‘Icon.’
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the music industry in the next five to ten years?
I honestly like to dwell in the present than in the future or the past, but in five to ten years from now, I just want to see myself growing more than I have now. So as long as I’m not going backward, ten years from now, five years from now, I’m very glad and proud of myself. I just see myself growing, getting better in whatever I do, and doing well for myself.
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would you change?
If I could change one thing, it would be the genre classification. I don’t think there should be something like Afrozone, Afropop. I think I’ll just let everyone express themselves and let all just listen to it and feel good about it.
Have you ever been treated wrongly because of your gender as a woman in the music industry?
I’ve never taken this gender thing seriously because I do not like to classify anything as male-dominated or female-dominated. I feel like all human beings are equal, and because men are doing it more than women are doing it more does not make it a male-dominated industry. Maybe things like that have happened to me, but because I’m not a believer of gender inequality or women can do this or cannot do this, maybe I won’t really take note that probably I should I’ve gotten this or not. I believe I go where I feel like I belong, I do my thing and I win. I don’t care if I got it because I was a woman or I didn’t get it because I’m not a woman. I don’t look into those things so I don’t take notes of them, so I don’t even know when things like that are happening.
What do you think about creating more spaces specifically for women, like a recording camp for just female artists where they can connect and build a community? Do you feel like those kinds of spaces and opportunities specific for women are needed in the music industry for them to be able to do as much as their male counterparts?
I feel like we put so much effort into classifying men and women because when we start doing things like that, that’s also proving that there is a difference between a man and a woman. But when everybody just does their thing and no one is treating women differently or softer than they treat men, I think there wouldn’t be anything like women this, men that. Everyone can do it (men and women). Sometimes you’re a creative, let everyone just grow on their own.
Are you working on any new music that you’re excited about?
I do, it’s going to be announced soon. It is exciting because it’s an EP that expresses myself not just as a creative but as a child, as a teenager I was, and as the adult I am now.
Can you give us any juice about the EP or any interesting collaborations?
None yet I can give just to be sure to give certain information, but we are hoping for the best. Trust me, it’s one of its kind.
Do you have other hidden talents aside from making music and fashion designing?
It’s usually just music and fashion.
Is there anything else you’d like your fans to know or any message you’d like to share with them?
I think it’s like for some because I feel like most fans don’t understand how the music process works. They expect music all the time; they expect you to be where they think you should be and everything, but I just want to give them the guarantee of growth and consistency. Even if I’m not in the top 10, top 3, top whatever, I am giving them my best, and that’s the best they can get. Anything relating to my kind of sound, I’m the best, and whatever I give them, whether it is fashion-related or music-related, it’s actually the best, and I’m promising and assuring them of my growth and consistency in the industry, and I think that’s all that matters.