Dite Kamelli: The World Project. [ Exclusive Interview]

Music, they say, is one thing that does not need any permission to influence you. In many conversations I have held with brooding superstars, one theme that has been ever present in their story is how much the music served as warmth for them as a kid or how they took listening to music as a mandatory exercise.

Music actually draws one to itself and inspires you. It’s not any different for the World Star Dite Kamelli, as he likes to refer to himself as. Born, David Segun Makanjuola, Dite Kamelli is one who is keen to share his art with the whole world.

Earlier this week, we caught up with the vibrant and versatile act who had a lot to say, and as is the usual fashion, we discussed and charted the journey in his music career till date.

[LISTEN]: Best Believe by Dite Kamelli.

ALBUM TALKS: Take us back into the earliest stages of how you began to morph into Dite Kamelli.

DITE KAMELLI: The whole music thing started for me after my secondary school but before then it had just been me growing up and observing everything. Growing up alone at the time just had me listening to everything I could lay my ears on. My dad was a very good music lover, I mean he had ears for good music. Talk about the likes of Michael Jackson, 50 Cent, Eminem and other amazing acts that were lighting up the scene during those years. After some tragic incidents that happened when I was young, I just kept things to myself a lot. I was just calm and cool and not really deep into music making but I enjoyed listening to music.

Q: You listened to music a lot as a kid, which artist(s) inspired you?

DITE KAMELLI: Eminem is one of my idols, but I would not say it’s just him. I listened to different sounds. Michael Jackson, 50 Cent, they are a bunch. In terms of those that really inspired music for me, it would be Bob Marley, Ray Charles and many other classic artists. My favorite song at that time was ‘I’m not Afraid’ by Eminem. It was a song I listened to back to back because I really wanted to know all the lyrics to it. I would calm down to write every lyrics to learn it. I feel it still lives with me till now because it keeps me going. I was just having fun with myself with nothing too much centered on making music. In fact, while in secondary school, I did not showcase my talents at all and when they all found out later that I actually do music, they were so surprised.

READ: Dite Kamelli releases new single “Best Believe”

ALBUM TALKS: Describe how your first studio session went.

DITE KAMELLI: After secondary school, I was just at home that year and very bored too, you know that gap year while waiting for entry into university. I was just thinking about life and what could happen and how to get better. So my friend invited me to a studio he visits often, I jumped on it excitedly because I have never been there. Immediately, we got in, the whole aura and feeling was just different. The whole setting was nice to me, I mean seeing people trying to record and make a sound was exciting for me. I was fascinated and curious by the whole process. My friends even left me there because it was not far from my home. So, later that evening, there was a guy recording, he was a rapper and was trying to make an EDM record. It was so new to me and a crazy sound, I think Africans should start taking that sound serious. We were there trying to create something, but the singer supposed to be on the track was not taking the part right and they had to keep trying. I was just there bopping my head to the sound. I did not even have a stage name at the time. So, someone in the studio suggested I do something, but I was new to the whole thing and I told them, but they were insistent. I stepped into the booth for the first time and created what the artist wanted and everybody was just vibing at the final result. It was a really crazy day.

ALBUM TALKS: Wow. How then did the stage name come into play?

DITE KAMELLI: The name Dite Kamelli, how I actually derived it was subtle. I mentioned earlier that it all started as a surprise when I recorded my first song and I did not even have a stage name. Although, my nickname at that time was David Dite. So, when I was recording with my producer and he asked me what was my stage name, I told him David Dite. Then he insisted I change it because its too long. Actually the ITE stands for Inborn Talent Established and being merged with my real name David, was abbreviated to DITE. I was bearing the name DITE at that time for nearly a year and everyone around me addressed me by the name. So, with the way I made my music, the freestyle, the versatility and not wanting to stay on one sound but to remain flexible because it’s always important, my friends suggested Chameleon. Once again, Chameleon would have been too long, so we shortened it to Kamelli, arriving at Dite Kamelli.

[LISTEN]: Best Believe by Dite Kamelli.

ALBUM TALKS: Cool. I’m a big fan of the name. When did music begin to take shape for you as the way to go?

DITE KAMELLI: Well, music started for me professionally in 2019 when I dropped my first song, ‘New scene’. Although, I did not do any major promotions on it. Some things were not just right because of the team I was with back then. All I did was just a viral video with my friends where we were vibing to the song.

ALBUM TALKS: One thing still bothers me, on your music channel across all platforms, you only got just two songs available. What’s the story behind that, did you take a break?

DITE KAMELLI: I won’t call it a break. It was just a transformation process. After I dropped New Scene, my life became a new scene entirely (smiles). Ever since I dropped that song, I have been trying to record and put stuffs out there, but I had to get it right first. During those periods, I was invited to some shows where I got to perform the track and in one of those shows I met my current team. I would say ‘New Scene’ brought me into the light and made me go further to understand myself. Since I met my team, we have just been making music back to back, and trust me when I say there is a whole lot of music you all have not heard. I have just been making music and trying to grow and evolve too.

READ: Dite Kamelli releases new single “Best Believe”

ALBUM TALKS: So, you got a new single out a couple of days ago, what was the recording session like? What did you have in mind before it commenced ?

DITE KAMELLI: This is a very good question. Actually ‘Best Believe’ was the first song I recorded immediately I joined my team and management. At that time, we were looking for new producers because the previous ones were busy with some other things, facing life in their own way. I had to call a producer who once worked with a close friend and he showed up. He had different tunes available and in this particular session, he was just playing all he had. Then he played the beat and he tried to flip it in some way, but I told him to play the original one which he said he had made a long time ago. I’m very intentional with the music I make and once I heard the beginning, I was hooked already. I had the first three words in my head already, because I move with how I feel about the sound. I feel the sound alone has a message and it gives me a feeling. I spilled out the first lines and immediately I told the guy to let me record on that beat instantly because recording on the go is my thing. I took the headset and recorded the hook and chorus and later on added my verses to it. I recorded more songs that day. But this one was just special because I poured out my mind on everything I was facing.

ALBUM TALKS: Is that pretty much how most of all your recording process goes?

DITE KAMELLI: Most of my sessions are always on the go. Once I get interested in the sound, I always like to say something or freestyle on it instantly. I want to express that first feeling it catches me on. I want the whole mood during the session to transcend to the listener too.

[LISTEN]: Best Believe by Dite Kamelli.

ALBUM TALKS: As short as it might seem, what are the highs and lows in your music career so far?

DITE KAMELLI: The highs and lows for me. I’ll start with the lows because those are the sad parts you would feel like breaking or running away. So the lows were not having the right material, the right people around me when I was trying to discover myself properly and make a good decision for my music career. It was bit hard for me not having all of those available. The highs, however, is having the right team. It was something I always deemed so important because having good people around you is rare and very exciting. I’ll say I have more highs than lows, God has always been grateful to me. More highs would include the top personalities I have worked with, top music producers like Ozedikus, Willis, Zaki Amujei and so on that I still don’t want to talk about now. Working with these people have changed the way I see things and how I see myself. You know, it all started from being in the studio with someone and just vibing till now where I’m in a very serious state; my music is out and I’m trying to connect with more people who love me. So no more lows please, it is high from now, we are always stepping up.

ALBUM TALKS: What is the Dite Kamelli plan?

DITE KAMELLI: Well, Dite Kamelli is not just an artiste or an entertainer, it is more like a project. I call myself a world project because I’m supposed to be out there preaching love and connect souls in one piece. Music is spiritual, when you make good music, you make people connect to your story and feel what you feel. I’m here to express the hidden truths which people don’t want to talk about and what people still want to talk about. I want to talk about every single feeling people feel. I’m here to lay that out and let people understand every thing about life. From my point of view, I’m just a messenger coming here to preach and let them know what I have learned from my own path and I am sure you will all enjoy every story I’m going to tell. My team and I have had time to think about how well to tell the story that would fascinate you all.

READ: Dite Kamelli releases new single “Best Believe”

ALBUM TALKS: You said your team are your backbone and have been very instrumental in the parts they have played. What plans do you all have towards pushing Dite Kamelli to the world stage?

DITE KAMELLI: Basically, my team and I, we’re focusing on the growth. The first step is always important and it is one reasons this is the first song off my EP. Like my manager would say, once you have taken the first step, you need to make sure you stand strong after it, so when you take another step, you will move well and fast. So, we are optimistic for greatness and we are willing to put in every single work to get there because we are all new, including the label. So, you guys don’t know what’s coming. Just stay connected and expect what will happen.

ALBUM TALKS: What important message will you leave for your fans and music lover?

DITE KAMELLI: I’m an happy person. My fans have really been so heartwarming to me. These past few days that I dropped Best Believe, their reactions have been so immense and sweet, I must say. I want to say a very big thank you to every single person listening to my song and also passing the message around. It’s been over three years and they haven’t heard anything for me, it’s like I quitted but I never really left. I was always here just building my foundations and making it strong. Even the ones who are yet to know me, I love you, please listen to me. Also, shout to AlbumTalks for the consistent love, you all are the best.

[LISTEN]: Best Believe by Dite Kamelli.

Bolu Adebayo