Interview: S-Dee
S-Dee, born Segun Daramola, has released a single titled 'Love You More'. Louder Than The Music spent some time getting to know this creative artist to find out what inspires his music, his plans to record an album, and his passion to convey the 'simple message' of God.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
I was born in Nigeria and I relocated to the United States in 2001. My music life started back home as a keyboardist in our church choir and from there the passion to sing started to rise. When I got the US, I joined the choir of a church in Baltimore and at some point, I became the music director and it was there I really started to develop myself as a christian artist. I am married and blessed with two girls.
Tell us about your new single 'Love You More' and what the inspiration behind it was?
This song was birthed while meditating on 1st John 3:1, scriptures like that make me sit and think of what I need to do to respond to the love that God has lavished on me without merit. I also realize that trying to make a list of things to do to prove one’s love for God always ends up in frustration as we can’t match God’s love by simply doing stuff. So for me, it’s the commitment that we make on a daily basis to grow deeper in love with God and move closer him that really makes the difference, that’s why the song says love you more, it’s realizing that there is always an opportunity for you to be more passionate about God than you are currently.
Do you have any plans to release further music in the near future?
Yes, right now I am working on an acoustic album, the songs bring together the reality of pain and struggle with the hope in the power of God that never disappoints.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
I know we can’t fully comprehend God and his ways but God also does not over complicate himself to us and we need to learn to see him in the simplest of things sometimes. I have the privilege of co-ordinating bible study and teaching sessions, and I always tell my listeners that you don’t need to have a seminary degree to know God and be close to him and I think that also applies to music, sometimes the power is in the simple message about God that we can pass across and that is what I strive to do with my music
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
I grew up listening to a lot of Rnb and pop from artists like Boyz II Men, Usher and Michael Jackson and then that got infused with styles from artists like Fred Hammond and Marvin Snapp. When I started moving towards christian music, Matthew West was that artist I leaned on to shape the way I delivered my music.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
I think I would like to work with Lauren Daigle, I am a big fan of her music. I am not sure if she writes all her songs herself but the authenticity in her delivery is very appealing.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
In life generally, success is not what you get back for your efforts, it’s really finding fulfillment in the things you create and as long as I am creating music, I am fulfilled. Now as a christian artist, success for me is that whatever I create and release creates opportunities for people to come to knowledge of Jesus Christ and see hope, beauty, joy and love in everything around them. I promised myself that I would never write a song that will add to the dysfunction that the world is already deep in.
What is your favorite album of all time?
Pages of life by Fred Hammond
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
The words I would say
What does the next year hold for you?
I am working on an album at the moment and I just released a devotional Book “Make room” available on amazon and I’ll be spending the next couple months promoting the book while I am finishing up my songwriting and whatever God will bring my way, I am open, expectant and excited!
