By Chinonso Ihekire
Seated at the front-row of the rising rock resurgence in Nigeria is Clayrocksu, the young musician spreading the rock music gospel across Afrobeats.
Born Bianca Okorocha, Clayrocksu, also known as Clay, became active in the African Rock music scene following her 2017 debut album, Road Less Travelled, which spotlighted her unique alternative rock sound. Her underground hustle kept her active in conversations around African Rock music for several years, until her 2022 opus, “Amin”, pushed her further up the ranks, even earning her the award for the Best Rock category at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), that same year.
Now, with her sophomore compilation release, an eight tracker extended play titled, Hate It Here, as well as her Afro Rock Stars collective, the fusion-driven rockstar continues to expand her fanbase, as well as shape the survival of the rock scene in Nigeria.
She sits with Femme Focus on NetNG to share her story, from singing in a high school choir to thriving as a female rockstar in Nigeria, and her plans to restore the genre’s lost glory in the country.
Tell us how you found yourself in music
I’ve always sang in choir since I was 8 years old. I danced and sang in the school choir and became the female lead. After high school , a friend, Tosan, invited me to come to an actual studio. I wrote a verse for Protek and Rez, they heard my voice and were blown away . They actually encouraged me to start doing my own music and the rest is history. All happened in Lagos.
What were your earliest music influences?
Avril Lavigne, Creed, Alanis Morissette, The corrs, Dolores of cranberries.
Tell us about your last project. What inspired it?
My last project ‘Hate it Here ‘ is my second studio Ep. ‘Hate It Here’ is more than just my second studio EP, it’s a reflection on the harsh realities of growing up too fast and the crushing disappointment of discovering that adulthood is not the dream we earlier imagined. It’s an emotional journey through a world stamped by hatred, pain, conflict, deception, and heartbreak. This Ep ‘Hate It Here’ captures the torture of being a Nigerian millennial, grappling with the struggles of inadequate infrastructure, continuous corrupt governance, systemic multi dimensional poverty, religious captivity, the slow erosion of the middle class, and the sad emigration of brilliant minds from our homeland. It’s a raw expression of my inner child’s sincere plea for peace, love, and genuine humanity.
What’s your typical creative process?
I draw inspiration from several things that happened to me and around me. Sometimes I’m in the studio with my band and we come up with stuff, many other times I think of a thing and create around that. We don’t do ‘producer send me beat’ lol, nope. We create everything from my head or with my band.
How’s life as a female rockstar in Nigeria?
Living your dreams isn’t easy, it requires a lot of sacrifice. There are nights when you second-guess yourself, and other times you feel like a warrior, unstoppable. Performing with my band always brings a lasting euphoria, while studio recording is my least favourite part of the creative process. Handling the business side and managing every detail on my own is the hardest part of the journey. I look forward to the day I have a team to help carry the load. But overall, I’m enjoying the process, and seeing my growth is amazing. I can’t wait for more people to witness it.
What’s your vision for your career?
To tour the world with my band. To be the biggest Afro Rock musician. To be successful and happy by your own measures.
