No More Delay for Mola

Vanessa Obioha

After pausing her music career to focus on her studies and motherhood, Dr. Omolade Akpata Kasali, a Nigerian singer and businesswoman, is now ready to reignite her musical ambitions. Performing under the stage name Mola, she released her single ‘Idaduro’ from her upcoming EP ‘Irin Ajo’ (meaning ‘The Beauty of My Journey’) on February 15. The following day, Mola hosted a listening party at Crossroads Café, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, a venue dear to her heart as it was where she honed her skills in live performance, frequently watching other artists perform there.

Earlier that evening, I caught up with Mola in her hotel room, where a makeup artist was prepping her for the night. Despite juggling media runs and photo shoots, she remained energized and ready for her performance. Mola revealed she shuttles between Lagos, Dubai, and Los Angeles every three weeks, managing Oyato Restaurant and Mola Cafeteria in Los Angeles and Lagos respectively. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business, a PhD in Strategic Business Management, and a certificate in music performance. Her husband, Prince Abimbola Kasali, played a supportive role, ensuring the event went smoothly. Below are excerpts from the interview:

How has the feedback been with the release of your debut single ‘Idaduro?’

Feedback has been good. People love it, you know, just cool vibes and I’m just happy that finally, it’s out.

Idaduro means no delay right?

Yes

Is it a kind of confirmation of no more delay in your music career considering you went on a hiatus?

It’s pretty much my confirmation because I started singing when I was young, but I kind of pushed it off because I focused on school, focused on doing business, and then later on when I wanted to come back into doing music. I got married, I had kids, and I just felt like giving up. So there was a voice inside of me that kept saying, “Mola, you can do it, don’t delay yourself again. This is the time.”  That was just it for me.

What were those thoughts that made you doubt yourself?

Can I really do it? Should I not just focus on my children? I just wanted to raise my kids. I had this doubt in my mind that maybe I couldn’t really do this. But then again, I thought, why not? My husband was there to push me; my mother was behind me, and my family was there like we can do it. They all encouraged me to just do it. “This is what you always dreamed of and what you always wanted. So why not chase it? Your kids are there. You’re a good mother. Just do it.”

Doing music now, is it more of fulfilling a lifelong passion or trying to make a name for yourself in the music industry?

I think it’s my purpose. It’s just fulfilling that lifelong passion. I’ve always had a passion for music. I joined the choir when I was nine years old. I used to watch my mother and sister go to rehearsals, and I’d just be there with them because I was young, so I’d just sit in the crowd. And one day, the choir director was just like, well, you’re always sitting down here. Come here. You are a small girl but I want you to sing this song for me. And ever since then, I never looked back on music. It was just my passion.

Is your music boxed into one genre or would you call yourself a versatile musician?

I’m a versatile musician. Sometimes, if I’m feeling like doing afrobeats, I’ll do that. If I want to do hip hop, if I want to be a punk girl, I’ll do that. I don’t box myself up and say that this is just me.

What are the recurring themes in your EP?

Success, inspiration and cool vibes.

You seem to like live performances.

I love performing. I love the stage. I love singing like life without my track playing in the background. I just love live performances which is why we are performing with a live band at the listening party. I really want to get my music out there and show people that music is all about the instruments and the vibes. It’s not just going into the studio to record. But how good are you as a performer?

Who are some of the musicians that have inspired you so far?

I love Celine Dion, Asa, and Beyoncé. I also love D’banj because he is an entertainer. I love musicians who entertain with their performances and also with their lyrics. I can’t listen to songs that don’t make sense. I listen to meaningful songs.

It seems as if we are in the female era, with most of our female music stars dominating charts and gaining international acclaim; what are your thoughts on that?

I think it’s good. Females are stepping up in the industry. It’s been mostly the men who have been pushing the game back then, but now you see a lot of female entertainers, and I love it. For instance, Yemi Alade, she’s doing a beautiful job pushing the African culture out there. Ayra Starr is doing an amazing job for the young girls out there. It’s diverse now.

How did you come about the stage name Mola?

Mola has been my nickname ever since I was young. My full name is Omolade, and living in the US, people could not really pronounce my name, so Mola just stuck.