Stanley Enow is a Cameroonian musician who started his career as a dancer in school, impressing girls with his moves. He then studied communication in university and wanted to become a journalist before pursuing his passion for music. Enow sees music as a way to communicate and spread positive messages, and he wants to be the voice of the people. Recently, he worked with Grammy-winning producer Scott Storch in Los Angeles and won African Artist of the Year at the Urban Music Awards. Enow’s latest single, “Take Over,” encourages Africans to rise up, take pride in their heritage, and be responsible for their future. He plans to celebrate his tenth anniversary as an artist with a big media show in Cameroon on November 18, which is World Children’s Day. So, the National Post caught up with him whilst he was in London to talk past, present and future.
So Stanley now first of all I would like to know what got you into the music industry and what inspired you to make music from a young age?
Basically, I was the kind of person to communicate, to spread good energy right back when I was at school. From elementary school I was doing the school shows and all of that just being that kid that’s very outgoing I was super forward you know and just being there for everyone, so I was definitely trying as much as possible to communicate in a way that I could just express my ideas as a person and Just let them know what’s up. And back in school, I did dancing in the era of the jimmy wines the ushers. It’s very interesting to just become that guy with the people. And I did the dancing because I wanted to impress the girls you know what I mean. To be that person that can inspire and speak to a larger audience. That’s why I went to university and studied communication because I wanted to be a journalist as well. I am a journalist by the way. But I just had to follow my passion which is music and do my thing.
We heard you did breakdancing, what got you into breakdancing?
I wanted to be cool for the girls in school. That’s what I am talking about man.
And what exactly about making music and being a part of the music industry is enticing for you?
I just want to be able to communicate my ideas and ideologies, or not even my ideologies but to be able to speak the language that my fans know what they go through daily, the kind of issues that they face and how we can help. I tried as much as possible to be the voice of the people. Right now I try as much as possible to navigate life and people I know like what their worries are, what are the stories they want to hear, and what they encounter on a day-to-day basis. And yeah to be the voices of the people. Also, it’s great to travel on the job.
You were in LA recently and met some big producers, what was that like and who did you meet?
I was in LA for the past 8 months and I worked with an award-winning Grammy producer called Scott Storch legendary producer I was introduced to him by a great friend of mine called David. Scott loved one of my songs so he reached out to my friend and said ‘I would love to introduce you to him, I would love you guys to work together’ So once I found out I was like oh wow. The boys were ready for the boy, and I was definitely inspired by people like him.
That’s really exciting and you also won African artist of the year at the Urban Music Awards. How did it feel to win that category?
Oh man, I can’t lie I wasn’t expecting that at all you know what I mean. But you know when life happens it happens. When God speaks you follow. So I was like oh my god let me pop to the urban music awards and the contestants in that category are heavyweights like you know for me to come in and win that’s crazy, that’s amazing that that’s possible.
Now Stanley You have a new single coming out and it’s called ‘take ova’. Can you tell me a bit about the single and why it is called ‘TakeOVA’.
You know I’m just expressing my current state of mind to show Africanness in me and just believe this our time to get our stories out there and told by the modern Africans, not like the old depiction that Africa has for the past decade you know right now it’s a new Africa an Africa that owns resources and wants to transform into resources. And Africa wants to keep going and help each other and be responsible for their future. And Africa respects their people and African men respect African women, you know like all those inequalities. and I want to just say you guys it’s time to rise up and shine’ and take over and make sure that your people have a voice of their own and be proud of where they are. So if you see me on the way say ‘hey’.
That’s really honourable, it’s great to see an artist who uses their platform to spread such a positive message. And really connect with their fans. What’s next in the pipeline for Stanley?
It’s going to be my tenth anniversary as well you know as an artist I have been around for a while. And I really want to have a big media show in Cameroon of like 50 thousand people in one room on November 18 for international world children’s day. It’s very important to empower.
Take Ova by Stanley Enow is out later this month
