One of the biggest names in the music industry when it comes to artiste management, Sunday Are, has disclosed how special Sensational Singers, Wizkid and Omawumi, are to him. He is the CEO of List Entertainment.
Sunday Are, who just signed recently as Wizkid’s new manager, has worked with so many artiste in the industry. The likes of D’banj, Omawummi, Wande coal, Asa, to mention a few.
In an interview with SaharaWeekly, he opened up on his favourite artistes so far.
Excerpts Below:
Q – Can we meet you sir?
R – My name is Sunday Are
Q – Congratulations on your signing as Wizkid’s manager
R – Thanks
Q – so tell us what is that special attraction and interest that made Wizkid appoint your company as his artiste manager?
R – I think he picked my company to work with him regarding management and most especially to have me as a father figure in whatever business he is doing
Q- You’ve worked with these top celebrities, how were you able to do it successfully on your company?
R – I think I’m just doing my job. I’m doing what I do best and I think they believe in me. My experience too and they believe in who they want to work with and that’s why they are around me.
Q – Not just one or two. I mean the big names in the music industry Can’t be mentioned without mentioning Sunday Are, do you approach them or they approach you?
R – I don’t think I’ve ever approached any of them. I wasn’t trained like that. These things come on merit.
Q – You’ve worked with a lot of artiste for instance D’banj, at the moment, what is your working relationship with them?
R – I love all of them. We are good.
Q – Do you still do any form of business with them?
R – I do business with every artiste in this country and oversea
Q – Do you have the same relationship with Don Jazzy and Asha?
R – Yes
Q – In recent times, it is believed that Tunde and Wunmi Obe have found their own company; do you still have any business with them?
R – These are families; most people you are talking about are people that I’ve been around. You know about the industry; its entertainment. If I have a job for T.W.O, I’ll call them. Anytime we see, we are always happy with each other.
Q – It is believed that any of the artiste you touch even if they are upcoming, eventually gets to the top. How exactly do you achieve this?
R – That’s not me. It’s God. It’s not my power, its God
Q – Currently, who are you working with in terms of a new act you just discovered?
R – I’ve ‘Remikiss’; a very talented artiste, I’ve ‘White man’ so watch out. He is a fantastic boy, the boy is ‘sick’
Q – In this showbiz, it is believed that Sunday Are has the roar and the command of ‘who-is-who’ in this industry is that true or false?
R – I don’t know what you are talking about. I can’t be in this industry and not have relationship with people in the industry. It’s just relationship I have and somehow, I try to respect myself
Q – Some said when it comes to music production and artiste management, you are one of those that set the pace. Is that true? And if it’s true, how would you say you’ve gotten some people coming behind you to learn about the business
R – The truth is you also know that the job has changed unlike when I started 30years ago. If anyone comes to me and wants to learn that person will surely have the touch of what I learnt over 30years ago.
Q – It is believed that hard work comes with a good reward. Would you say Sunday Are has had it good in terms of getting rewards from any of those top artiste you have managed?
R – Firstly, I’ve been collecting reward from God Almighty. All my rewards comes from God not man
Q – Are you saying personally, none of them have given you personal reward?
R – Reward like how? Like an artiste will just call you and say come and take 20million or come and take the house. It has never happened before. I’m still waiting (laughs)
Q – How much do you worth sir?
R – My brother, I don’t know. I don’t know what I worth. I’m comfortable and happy with myself
Q – Who among this artiste is your favorite among the once you have worked with and those you haven’t worked with in Nigeria?
R – I love all of them
Q – Which one of the artistes in Nigeria can wake you up at 2am and you will still attend to him?
R – ‘Omawunmi’, I’ll attend to Omawunmi and my son, Wizkid. Wizkid is not just an artiste to me; he is like a son right now so if Wizkid calls me 2a.m, just like he did few days ago. He called me about 12; 30am. I had to talk to him because I don’t know why he is calling
Q – You have a feeling for Omawunmi and Wizkid….(cuts in)
R – Yes! Cos they are like son and daughter to me. Omawunmi actually adopted me to be her father, so somebody like that, you’ll have a soft spot for her.
Q – Will it be right to say you are an adopted father to Omawunmi?
R – (Laughs) I don’t think that is the right word but I just know she chose me to be a father to her. Most artistes do that too but their own case is just special.
Q – In the nearest future, do you have any dream of uniting Don Jazzy and D’banj having brought them to lime light?
R – I didn’t bring them to limelight. It’s God. If they give me the chance to unite them, I’m going to do that and if God says they will come back together, I can only try. God is the one that can do everything
Q – In a recently held event, both of them came on stage to perform, was that a publicity staunt or it was just a casual…..(cuts in)
R – It was just a casual thing. These people are friends oo. I was there at Eko hotel when they performed. The celebrant invited all of them for his party. Music is a spiritual thing. Dbanj was on stage performing, Wande coal was on stage performing, Don Jazzy too as a matured person climbed the stage and did his part. It’s just a family thing. When they need to do something together, they will do it. It was God
Q – While you are on stage or managing your artiste, do you find any special fulfillment doing that?
R – Yes. I’m happy doing the job. I’m always happy. If you are not happy doing the job, go and jump into the river o.
Q – Would you prefer any other job to this entertainment job?
R – Not at all
Q – Has it paid your bills very well?
R – Yes
Q – Tell us a little bit about your family.
R – I think we are good. We are okay. I thank God for everything……