‘Calm Down’ singer Rema: Mumbai feels homely because we are big on culture too
Updated On: 13 May, 2023 10:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto
In an exclusive interview with Mid-day Online, the Nigerian singer-songwriter delves into his Indian connection, collaborating with Selena Gomez, seeing his songs on Barack Obama’s playlist and a part of FIFA 21. He also talks about the rise of African music, christening ‘Afrorave’ and his meteoric rise to fame
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`Calm Down` singer Rema will be performing in Mumbai on May 13 this weekend at the NSCI Dome
"Any time I make music, I believe it is for the world. I don`t make it for one set of people. I don`t think it is only for my people," says Divine Ikubor, better known by his stage name, Rema. It is an emotion that holds true because when this writer went to meet the artist, every person around was humming `Calm Down`, just as they got to know the Nigerian singer-songwriter was arriving in Mumbai for a performance as part of his ‘Rema Calm Down Tour’ on May 13. Interestingly, like many others, they didn’t know the lyrics of the song, but just felt good saying, “Calm Down, Calm Down”. Only proving Rema, who adds, “When I create music, I see it as something that can universally speak to anyone even though it is not in all languages, even though it is in a particular language. I believe that my music and frequency will tap into every culture and every territory.”
If you are on Instagram, you have witnessed how the groovy song went viral over two years ago. Ever since, the song ‘Calm Down’ has become an earworm for many because of the many reels made with it and actually opened the floodgates of African music to a wider audience. Through it all, Rema, as he likes to be called, is having a whirlwind romance with his music because he is loving every moment.
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