What a heading huh? Yeah I know! But after listening to Dare Art-Alade’s “Carry Dey Go” featuring 2Face Idibia, I am convinced that he will finally get out of the dangerous purgatory zone, where brilliant artists continue to release good singles but are never able to generate the right buzz that reflects their talent. After Dare’s impressive showing at Project Fame (Africa’s version of the UK hit reality series, Fame Academy), Africa was literally under his feet for the taking.

In spite of placing third in the contest, winning a recording contract with Sony BMG, and worming his way into the hearts of several viewers across the continent, Dare has so far failed to use the Project Fame platform for cross border success in Africa. He is, however, a household name in his home country Nigeria, where he is touted as one of the best soul and R&B vocalists around. Dare whose full name is Oluwadamilare Dare Art Alade was born to a famous Nigerian entertainer Olapeju Art Alade and so grew up surrounded by all types of music and was heavily influenced by it. He sang soprano and bass in church choirs as well. He has also been exposed to jazz, classical music, hip hop, among others.

Dare studied music and theatre in school and sang in jazz clubs as a teenager. He joined the National Troupe of Nigeria and performed with them. He enjoyed playing jazz and reciting folklore, and although he liked pop and R&B his heart belonged to Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. One night after a show he was approached by Chris Ubosi a disc jockey on of Nigeria’s hottest radio stations, Cool FM. Chris invited Dare to try out at Cool FM and, less than two years later, he had his own show on radio. While still a DJ at Cool FM, Dare was also studying full time at the University of Lagos, doing live gigs, travelling and discovering other cultures. Mostly, he was learning about music. “I learned by listening, just using my ear and taking everything in. I learned the roots of music and also kept up with the ties, so I can do classic and contemporary. I can vibe in the studio or perform opera on stage. Being versatile is my forte.”

Dare got his big break as a musician through his participation in Project Fame, which landed him a recording contract with Sony BMG Africa. He shows off his versatility and years of musical training on his debut album, “From Me 2 U”. The album is tangy mix of contemporary jazz, soul, hip-hop R&B, Afro-swingers and a dash of dancehall. Although some of the songs were written and/or recorded before 2001, the album is a gift that took him10 years to package, hence the title. It includes songs like ‘With This Woman’, ‘Brown Eyed Angel’, ‘Original Naija’, ‘Only Whun’, ‘Tire Ni Mo Je’, ‘Dear Lord’, ‘Mowo Bale’, ‘Sijioni’, ‘Young man,’ and of course my personal favourite, the Afro-Rock ‘Carry Dey Go”.

Like the saying goes ‘to whom a lot is given, a lot is expected’. I am very certain that Dare Art-Alade will rise to the occasion and make his family name proud or else he wouldn’t be called Oluwadamilare which means ‘The Lord has vindicated me’. LOL!