South Africa-based Nigerian cinematographer turned musician Jackson Irorere, otherwise known as 8figurez, has expressed himself in music, something he says everyone around him knew was long overdue.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, 8figurez said he feels free to be himself in the space and to make music that “actually says something worthwhile”. “I love music, so when I listen I would be nit-picking, you know, saying the beat is good but the lyrics can be better. So that’s what I wanted to bring to the table. Songs that sound great, say something and go straight to the point.”featuring Gemini Major is about living a liberated life and knowing that in life one doesn’t need to force anything.“The song I have with Gemini says ‘it no be by force’ which speaks to the individual’s ability to say yes or no and to own their decisions.
“I’ve always loved numbers, even as a child ... I was always the one saving money and finding ways to multiply it. But [the] arts have always been a part of my life, even later with my degree in mathematics. I’m a person who pushes the envelope and I decided a while ago that just because I am good at one thing, like maths, doesn’t mean the door is closed for me to things like cinematography or music.