After serenading the entertainment industry with songs like ‘You Know It’ which features Eldee and ‘Jawo Jawo’ featuring Jaywon, the stage was set again on Monday, as Susan Harvey, better known as Goldie, released a new single, ‘Don’t Touch (Celebration) Remix’. She later took out time to speak with Reporter, Wale Onifade, on her new record label and work.

How did you come about the name Goldie?

Goldie was a nickname given to me when I was in UK because I’m not quite fair or quite dark. I’m what you call a ginger albino like a red person. My skin glows whether I’m in the sun or not, so my friends gave me the name Goldie.

How did this all start?

I’m a hip-hop artiste from Ikole-Ekiti in Ekiti State. Music has always been part of me since I was little. I was always involved in social activities while in school. I was in the children choir because as the first child of my parents; I had to be active in Church. Music, for me, is a passion. I love singing and it has formed a part of me and when I was in the UK I formed an informal group of five girls and we sang for friends, families and at school events. That was all well and cool until I returned to Nigeria and I got hooked up with a couple of producers and that was how I started.

Has your degree in business management helped you in any way as an artiste?

Any degree helps one’s focus. It is said that if you can go through school as an adult and remain focused for three to four years of study, it helps build your resilience and prepare you for a life and growth in the corporate world. So, I’d say it helped in my focus and determination to succeed, and obviously my level of intelligence can’t be the same after studying this hard.

What was your parents’ reaction towards your chosen career?

My dad knew while I was growing up that I loved music but because I come from a family of people who are highly educated, he said no matter what I want to do I must get my education. When I got back he wasn’t very impressed but he was happy that at least I’ve gotten my degree and that was like a stepping stone and that I could have something to fall back on if music doesn’t pay again.

You have evolved over the years since you debuted, what has the transformation been like?

Life itself grows and it’s a constant learning process and as an artiste, you learn every day. The more you work, the more you do things, the more you change and get more into your sound, know who you are and what you really want to sound like. As an artiste, that process of growth and learning has shown as you have noticed in my development and I think it’s because of the passion I have for music.

You seem to be bolder and more expressive on stage with your act in recent times. Where did you get the inspiration?

I’ve always had the flair for the drama and theatrical excerpts that should come with live stage performances. The only reasons I’m more comfortable expressing it now, is because, one, I’ve grown as an individual and as an artiste and two, the CEO of my record company, Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe encourages me to do so. Before I was skeptical in pushing myself because some people felt my videos and costuming were flamboyant, and I remember thinking, if they can’t handle/accept the theatre on TV, how can they accept it live on stage? Now it seems people expect me to keep pushing the boundaries, which is a good thing.

How would you compare your tunes before with what you have now?

First of all, I would like to state that what I did before wasn’t an album but a compilation of tracks that was never released for sale. It was something to create a buzz about me and obviously there are lots of differences because you can’t compare the sounds of then to now just like in terms of personal growth, production and message, you can’t compare them. Obviously, my new management, Kennis Music has also been of immense help because they have encouraged me to be more creative and that has helped a great deal.

Can you take us into some of your achievements as a female artiste fighting the cause of women in the society?

I recorded a documentary titled Evolution where I was speaking with women from all walks of life, who have been able to achieve success in their own environment, those who have broken from trials and oppressing environment to make it in life and I wanted to do this not only because I was picked but to show that women who have been abused and less privileged can also be great. My research into meeting different women led me to the founder of Project Alert and I was made one of the ambassadors alongside Stella Damasus, Kate Henshaw and others. The NGO has zero tolerance for all forms of violence and abuse on women.

Are you looking at doing more of that?

Certainly, I’m looking at doing more of empowering women. I’ve gone to schools and talked to young girls about sexual behaviour, how to relate with people, how to be great without losing focus, I’ve gone to primary schools, secondary schools and social welfare homes because I enjoy and love empowering girls, ladies and women generally because if you train a female, you build a nation.

What determines your kind of songs as regards their lyrics?

I’m a playful person, I think life is serious but I think we can think and talk about serious issues in a playful manner and also laugh about them as well. That is where my music comes from, not forgetting that I’m a confident lady, and that is what stirs me and informs my sound. Basically, my songs and sounds are regular things that we all know or sometimes do but everyone is afraid to talk about them. I just talk about it in a playful manner.

What are your plans for the year?

We are working on promoting my album and we would soon be embarking on tours that would cut across 11 states. We would have concerts and road shows, to make the fans get more familiar with the brand and my record company is also doing stuff with a Kennis Music Allstar world tour. We would also be visiting secondary schools and universities as our main target.

What was growing up like?

I was mocked a lot for what I look like as a golden lady, I was the odd one out every time and in my days in school, there was no one like me and my dad was so strict that I had low cut throughout secondary school while all my mates had long hair. So, I was always odd but it made me believe in myself and made me more confident.

It is said that you were so close to your mum before her demise, how much do you miss her?

So much, you know it’s funny but my sisters talk about her so often as if she is still around. We would talk about how she would look now, if she were still with us, what she would say of our success and careers, the sort of advice she would give out to us in moments of extreme pressure and lots more! What wouldn’t I give just to see her again? But I believe God knows best.