“Providing Better Contents Would Help The Nigerian Music Industry Attain A Higher Feat In Global Music”- Blerisa Discloses In Exclusive Interview With Pricherman116 Blog

Good evening y'all! Welcome to another episode of MIT ME. Today, we have a talented and young Gospel minstrel who is about to take Nigerian Gospel Music to the world! Join us in the quest to know our guest more... 

A beautiful evening to you and welcome to 'Mit Me'; Pricherman116 Blog's Exclusive interview session. My name is Boluwaji, your interviewer. Let's meet you...

Blerisa: Good evening. My name is Blessing Aderiyike Manafa. I go more by the name 'Blerisa'  which happens to be my act name. I am an indigene of Anambra State, Nigeria. I am a Gospel singer and songwriter.

Welcome on here once again. Blerisa sounds great. How did you come out with the name?

Blerisa: My other English name is Theresa. So I merged the name 'Blessing'  and 'Theresa'  which formed 'Blerisa'.  That was how I came about my act name.

Wow. Great one then. Blerisa is a native of Anambra. Was she born and bred there? Did she grow up there? 

Blerisa: Oh no.  I was born in Lagos state. Grew up in Lagos as well. I grew up in Jakande Estate Isolo and attended Foursquare Gospel Church.

I remember growing up singing in the choir and leading quite a number of songs and I must confess that this was indeed the starting point for my desire to pursue music.  I started singing meaningful sounds at 5.

This so because my parents were music lovers.  I remember waking up every morning to a Celine dion track, a Darlene zschech, a Cecelia Winans and sometimes hip hop sounds like R. Kelly,  Akon and Micheal Jackson.

My dad is the major fan of the artists I mentioned earlier while my mum sings and was part of the choir in her youth days.  So she'd listen to my compositions and help me correct them, would watch me 'perform'  songs in the living room while she judged me.

Can you share with us your childhood and educational background?

Blerisa: For my nursery and primary school education,  I schooled at Glory land Nursery and Primary School,  Ejigbo,  Lagos.
And started off my Junior Secondary School in De Horaois Academy,  Ejigbo,  Lagos.
Finally,  my senior secondary school education was in Queens College,  Yaba,  Lagos.

Then my parents relocated to Sango Ota while I was in the boarding house. After finishing secondary school in 2011, I then studied Statistics in Yaba College of Technology (2012). Concluded my diploma program in 2015. I am furthering my education by obtaining a BSc,  which is in the works at the moment.

Obviously, music for you is not by accident 😀 No wonder you were one of the winners of Tehila Records's music contest the other day. 😀 How did you feel winning such contest?

Blerisa: It was an amazing experience.  As it was also a songwriting contest called 'Greenhunt' organized by Greenland Music Production that started my music career in 2014. It led to the production and release of my first track ever titled 'Praise the Lord'.

So indeed, winning the Alabanza challenge was an amazing experience and eye opener.

How has the journey been since the win it the Alabanza concert? Have there been endorsements here and there, invitation to ministrations, just tell us about em 😀.

Blerisa: I won a Tecno Camon 9 android phone,  was not able to minister at the concert itself but all u he same an amazing experience.

Starting out a music career like any other career, there are usually challenges. What challenges have you faced some far since the music ministry kick started?

Blerisa: First off,  I must say is funds. Truth is, sometimes even the people you thought or assumed believed in your talent, just might not believe in it enough to invest in it. This was the first that hit me.. It took time and persistence to prove to my family and people in general,  that I wanted to build a music career. There was a lot of discouragement as I expected there would but consistency and my apparent growth/ improvement made it possible for people to invest in my talent in more ways than just funds.

Secondly,  I discovered I needed platforms to get people to know or hear what I had to share. The music industry as its called,  doesn't have / have very few initiatives in place to help upcoming artists to showcase their gifts on noteworthy platforms.

It's not easy to do that, to be realistic,  because almost every guy or girl who can sing a few notes believes he or she is a 'star' in their own right. Truth be told,  a whole lot need training/mentoring in order to be that star but that doesn't undermine the fact that they still deserve to be heard. So yes, a challenge is lack of initiatives in place to help create platforms for upcoming artists.

Wow... That seemed to be a lot of troubled flight coming into the music family. It seems you got a platform that finally amplified your voice after so much consistency. I mean, Blerisa is gradually becoming a household name. What was that one thing that changed the 'permit me to say GAME' for you? 😀

Blerisa: Honestly,  I can't say it was only one major platform that helped in getting my content out there. But first,  I would totally give the credit to and appreciate Mr Tola Omoniyi of Praiseworld Radio, the entire team inclusive. They helped tremendously by airing my songs almost everyday and eventually other blogs got a hold of my songs. Before I knew it,  people who today have helped create platforms for me to showcase my gift.. Heard it through such means.

So really,  I can't say it was just one major thing but maybe combination of things.

How many songs have you officially released since you ventured into music?

Blerisa: Three songs in all

Which of them did well the most?

Blerisa: I give my heart. That's the title of my second song. And so far has been quite the most talked about

Great. Growing up and choosing the path of a music career, who and who did you look up to as role models?

Blerisa: Well growing up,  my dad who was and still is a music lover,  would play songs by Celine Dion,  Michael Jackson,  Cece Winans,  Darlene Zschech.. As I grew older, I found other acts like Beyonce,  Jordin Sparks, Brandy and Christina Aguilera but when I realized that I wanted to be a Gospel minister, I began to pick my mentors right. So growing up,  my mentor was and still is Darlene Zschech and few others like Jamie Grace Harper, Sinach, Isabella melodies and Onos Ariyo. These people have really helped in inspiring me and yes! I do look up to them a whole lot.

What do you engage in you're leisure time?

Blerisa: I write, sing, write songs, study God's word and watch movies.

Where do you draw inspiration to write songs?

Blerisa: The more I find out just how much God loves me.. And has proven his love over and over.. Through my personal experiences and that of others. This is where I draw inspiration from.

You are a student and you already do professional music. How do you manage school and music?

Blerisa: Well,  as long as you put your mind to it.. There's really nothing you can't achieve. Besides,  whatever you actually have passion for, you'll create time for no matter what. So for me,  music has and will always have time created for it out of my academic schedule. So let's just say,  I somehow put it all together and ensure I am not falling behind on either side.

How do you think the current Nigerian economy is affecting the music industry?

Blerisa: Well the current Nigerian economy has indeed affected and is affecting a whole lot and music of course is one of. But personally, I feel this period in Nigeria should make Nigerian artists buckle up or work harder by providing better content.

Yes, the Nigerian economy is indeed affecting the music industry but it should only make Nigerian artists work harder.

How would providing better contents help the music industry and the artistes?

Blerisa: Providing better contents would help the music industry,  the Nigerian music industry attain a higher feat in global music thereby making our Nigerian artists even better recognized in the world market of music.  So when artists provide better content they are actually branding themselves and music on a global scale and in return putting the Nigerian music industry on global charts as well

Hmm True talk. Where do you see the Nigerian Gospel music industry in a few years time? Let's say 10?

Blerisa: With the rate at which it's going well... I see it actually making serious waves and gaining more recognition,  even more than the secular music. Because Gospel music is the kind of music whose content never gets old.  It might sound cliché but the honest truth is, a Gospel song that was released ten years ago and a secular song released just two or three years back can never be on the same grounds. This is so because the message Gospel music ought to project is one that's over 2,000years old and it's a consistent storyline.. Jesus,  God's love,  etc. But secular dances around moods you are not consistently in.. It's not everyday a dance hall song will work for you or a love song.

Well my point is, Gospel music in the next ten years will be on more of a global scale than it is now and will also have attained more influence on people.. On youths.

Are you signed to a record label yet?

Blerisa: No. I am not currently signed to any label.

What should your fans expect from you any time soon?

Blerisa: I am currently working on a new single which will be due for soon. So basically,  that's one thing I want them to look forward to.

Okay ma'am. What has been your greatest joy doing music?

Blerisa: Receiving testimonies of lives that were changed by God's unconditional love through my songs.. Getting to hear from people who I somehow inspired to do good. This to me is priceless..

Who's your favorite gospel artiste at the moment?

Blerisa: Lol... I think I am in a dilemma. There are so many amazing Gospel artistes. Okay,  let me settle for Jamie Grace and Hillsong. And in Nigeria, Sinach and Onos Ariyo.

What's your favorite gospel track at the moment?

Blerisa: What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong.

If you're to be contacted for ministrations right now, do people contact your personally or your management?

Blerisa: My management. I encourage them to forward a mail to my management

Before you leave, what's your advise to artists who are younger than you in the ministry and those who are looking up to you right now?

Blerisa: For those that are 'younger' than myself in the music ministry,  my advice to them would be to try their possible best to get better. Don't stop at any point in improving yourself.. Because growth never ends. So keep seeking constructive criticism on your materials and try to get better with ever new content you put out next.

For those who are 'looking' up to me, please don't just see a girl with a good voice.. Or can write and sing nice songs. Please look up to the part that reflects hardwork and determination behind each song I have out. That really is what should be inspiring.. Not the girl or voice or face. Please learn from those parts of me (that I am still learning) and apply to your daily routine and longterm vision or goals.

Great word there. Thanks for your time here ma'am. God bless you abundantly. In case our readers have more questions or want to follow you up, how do they connect?

Blerisa: Oh yes.  I am definitely active on prominent social media platforms like
Facebook - Blerisa
Twitter-  its_blerisa
Instagram - its_blerisa
Reverbnation -  Blerisa
Soundcloud - Officialblerisa
YouTube - Officialblerisa

Thanks

God bless you Blerisa. We look forward to seeing more of you. Go and spread! 😀

That's our time on this episode of MIT ME. See you next time  Bye for now.