Adam Srae is one of the top seven finalists to emerge from the MBA Talent Project. He is a sensational vocal powerhouse from Benin, Nigeria. An embodiment of soul, art, and talent. He is here in Lagos to chase his dreams, currently signed to Eche N’ Echo under the MBA for Africa program.
We got a chance to sit with him like the other talent project finalists and have a little chat.
Adam discussed with us the motivation behind his recently completed #100 days songwriting challenge. He explained that before the MBA talent project, he lost the money he had set aside to promote an EP he had planned on releasing just before he got called by MBA for Africa team. He then challenged his followers to a #100 days songwriting challenge as a way to gain media traction. Adam told Soot Africa so many people knew he was a huge procrastinator and didn’t think he was going to go through with it, his brother included. So he also did it to prove to them wrong.
This is a lot of innovative energy! What is he bringing to the Talent Project? Do you wonder what Adam’s music was like before the talent project? What goes on in his head and what his creative process is like? Let’s take a look at who Adam Srae is…
Who is Adam Srae?
I am a singer and songwriter from Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria, West Africa.
I know you are wondering where Adam’s name came from, we were too! Adam told Soot Africa he was originally known as A.D.A.M, (Another day, another memory). Clever right? But for branding, he tweaked his tribal name to become Srae (pronounced ‘shray’) and is now called Adam Srae. Some of the MBA 2022 cohort immediately noted that Srae spelled out ‘ears’ backward. Coincidence maybe? Maybe not, since Adam is in the business of making magic for our ears.
So what else does Adam Srae do asides from music?
I am a content writer, I am trying to dive into product marketing and I’m also a graduate of Mechanical Engineering.
When did you begin your music career, how’s it been so far and what are your motivations and influences?
I can say I learned how to sing from listening to Westlife at a young age. In primary 3, I remember my dad buying their album then… I knew I could sing, but I didn’t know I wanted to do music as a career for the longest time. For a long part of my life, I wanted to do engineering.
Ever since he recorded a couple of songs in 2015 and 2016 after following a friend to the studio in his early university days, Adam Srae explains that he faced a constant battle between doing music full-time and chasing his other dreams. As the gods of good music would have it, Adam made his final decision in 2020- to pursue music full-time. The higher the risk, the higher the reward right?
However, it is nice to see him have a multi-dimensional approach to life.
What will you say your creative process is like? What inspires you?
My writing. I write about things that have happened in my life and the lives of people around me. I try to be as simplistic as possible in my writing. This is because I feel like I’m writing for people who will relate to what I sing.
He also describes his sound as… “music for the soul”. And truly, the best way to connect with your audience is to walk them through your experiences through melodies and sounds.
How has your experience been so far in the MBA Talent Project?
It has been awesome! I have been around creatives in the same space but the honest truth is I am the kind of person who avoids this kind of scenario, but being around other creatives and watching other people do music, the same thing that I love has been inspiring. It has also helped me as Adam Srae to understand their own creative processes, and you know, just generate friendships in the process.
That sounds like the only way to describe the wonderful rollercoaster this MBA Talent Project has been. In the past, he’s used to hanging around for a maximum of two hours before running back to his safe space. But at the MBA Talent Project Bootcamp, he has been forced to be around other people, watch them work, and work with them. And he has loved every bit of it, from the vocal training to every other new experience that just keeps popping up. He didn’t lie, with MBA, it’s always one exciting thing or another.
As for what’s next for Adam Srae, well, you’re just going to have to stick around to find out. I’ve already heard snippets from the upcoming EP from all of the top seven artists and let’s just say… you need to brace yourself.
Fun fact: Adam likes to eat anything and everything that has plantain in it. In his own words… “Make plantain just dey”
Listen to Adam’s fire song called “Fire“. If you loved the heat he brought on that, then you need to brace yourself for what is coming next with the Talent Project.
Stay tuned to Soot Africa and MBA for Africa to hear more exciting news about Adam Srae.