“HOW I FOUND FAME AND FORTUNE”
Nigeria - Iyanya came into national attention during the first edition of MTN Project Fame West Africa where he was announced winner on October 24, 2008. And now, nearly two years after, he has finally dished out his first body of work to eagerly- waiting fans
He summons some of his older colleagues MI, DJ Zeez, Faze and fast rising act Buckwyilla on songs that are gradually becoming hits and steadily climbing charts all over the country.
With production inputs from TY Mix, Cobhams, ID Cabasa, OJB and Wazz Beats, Iyanya’s fifteen tracker is themed around his life story, the usual party theme, love and of course the ladies. “I intentionally used different producers because I wanted songs in the album to vary’ he says.
‘Some of the songs off the album are from my experience; some are things that I see around while the rest are fictional accounts’ Iyanya says.
Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk discovered his talent for singing during his childhood while singing in Anglican Church Calabar. He later started singing at weddings and then got an offer to perform regularly at Channel view Hotel Calabar. He came into national attention during the first edition of MTN Project Fame West Africa where he was announced winner on October 24, 2008
Dressed in a pink shirt, Grey suit and black shoes, Iyanya rendered Westlife’s “Flying without wings” and beat Annette, Praise and Nii to the grand price of 2.5 million Naira, a jeep and a recording deal.
Iyanya, is a graduate of Business Management from the University of Calabar.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT IYANYA’S “MY STORY”
1. “My story” is Iyanya’s debut album.
2. It is a 14 tracker
3. The first body of works is being marketed by CN. Media
4. The album features MI, Faze, DJ Zeez, Ugly and Buckywilla
5. ID Cabasa, OJB, Tee Y Mix, K Solo, and Wazz Beatz were producers that worked on the album.
6. The album was released on Monday December 7, 2009
7. On Sunday October 4, he hosted select guests at the Ultima Studio, in Omole, Lagos for an album listening and video preview session
8. The album direction was influenced by Iyanya’s memoirs, fictions, ladies and love.
9. The diverse nature of the album was an intentional effort by Iyanya to reach the average Nigerian.
10. Three videos off the album “Wise up”, “Love Truly” and “My Story” are presently enjoying massive airplay inside and outside the country.