D'Jewels Star Quest Winner with their Debut Album on Westside Music Imprint

PROFILE OF D’JEWELS
WESTSIDE MUSIC INC

EKUMA OBIANUJU EMMANUEL (Drums)
Born in Afikpo in Ebonyi State, ”O B J” as he is fondly called, first got his musical stints in his Church where he used to join in Dancing ,clapping, Singing and playing Conga Drums in the Choir. However, as providence will have it, there was a wedding ceremony in his church and the Church Drummer refused to show up. After what seemed like Eons of time,’ UNCLE AMADI” coaxed him to go ahed and play the drums. Said he……” no bi band all of dem bi? Oya play dis tin……” and before you knew it, the Calypso rhythms began to roll out. The rest is History…..From then on; it has been forward ever on the drum Venoms and Sticks for him.
Uju has a notorious reputation of clowning when synchopating and playing off beat licks on the Drums. Indeed, he doesn’t talk much; his sticks do most of the Talking for him. He has played Studio and stage sessions prior to His Star Quest Experience

STATE OF ORIGIN: Ebonyi
ZODIAC: Aquarius
BIRTH DAY: Jan 23rd
MAJOR INFLUENCES (Artiste) Fred Hammond, Marvin Sap, John Picky
(Genre) Reggae, Church, Funk.
TURN ON: Sincerity
CULLINARY DELIGHT: Beans and Bread, Africana.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: Anything worth doing, is worth doing well
MARITAL STATUS: Single
FAVOURITE COLOUR: Black and White
ON THE MARBLE:”……… it’s not all about reading books and scoring Tapes, always listen to those ahead of you…”
TURN OFF: Chatterboxes
HOBBIES: Gymning, Tennis, watching films
FASHION AND FADS: Corporate
TO THE FANS: Keep to God and Focus on your dreams-your dream will ultimately take you far

EGHAGHE IKPONWOSA FESTUS (Guitars)
Born in the Northern part of Nigeria-Kaduna, Festus had always had a passion for music. In the late 80s, Bishop Fred Addo, who used to have his choristers rehearse near their home and young Festus will climb the fence watching them sing by the poolside. Luckily for him however, they had a small keyboards which he will later doodle with by acting out the patterns he thought he heard them sin g and play. Unknown to him, Pastor Goody had been observing his eavesdropping moves for quite some time and he was surprised and exited the day he was challenged to come forward and join the choir rehearsals
Due to his very hot passion for music and the Guitar in particular, Festus built his first guitar when he was in junior secondary school comprising Automobile brake cables loosed up to serve as Strings. He was later compelled He was later compelled to learn the Rhythm /Lead Guitars in his church when his church bought a Yamaha Guitar ,and no one could play it. Eventually, he went to KALE VISIONS music school to make his Musical experience formal.

STATE OF ORIGIN: Edo
ZODIAC : Aquarius
BIRTH DAY: Jan 21st
MAJOR INFLUENCES (Artiste) Donnie Macluckin, Paul Jackson jnr. Earl Klugh George Benson
(Genre) Gospel, Jazz, Soul.
TURN ON: Sincerity
CULLINARY DELIGHT: Beans and Fried Plantain
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: As much as you expect the best from everybody, always expect the worst as well …………….that way you will never be disappointed
MARITAL STATUS: Single
FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue
ON THE MARBLE:”………keep working, what’s yours, is yours…”
TURN OFF: Dishonesty
HOBBIES: Tennis, watching films
FASHION AND FADS: Blinks, Casuals
TO THE FANS: We love and will continue to do you proud.

MMERIFE EJINKONYEKACHUKWU PALMIRA
Born also in Nothern Nigeria-Kano, the representative of the female constituency is indeed the Jewel of the Jewels. Her family moved out of Kano to Aba, where unknowingly to her she was to start her musical Journey at the tender age of 7.Little Palmira had the confidence in Joining CPC church choir section Where she was nurtured by Pastor Amos Obasohan..She later moved on to Christ Chapel and Victory Christian church where she had classical and pot pourri training respectively. Due to her very high Ideals and quest for Standards, palmira joined the “PETER KING COLLEGE of MUSIC in 2006, to make her music experience more sophisticated and Formal. It can be seen that this paid off, because the manner at which her irresistible voice glides effortlessly on Chord progressions like hot knife on Butter, is worth listening to any time. Prior to Star Quest , she was in the Peter king Academy and did Radio Jingles ….

STATE OF ORIGIN: Abia
ZODIAC : Virgo
BIRTH DAY: Sept 3rd
MAJOR INFLUENCES: (Artiste) Yolanda Adams, Whitney Huston, Luther Vandros, Nat king Cole and his daughter Natalie.
(Genre) Ballads, Gospel Jazz, Soul.
TURN ON: Proactiveness, sincerity
CULLINARY DELIGHT: Garri and groundnuts with Chilled water
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: with God, all things are possible life is not a cage,
MARITAL STATUS: Single
FAVOURITE COLOURs: White, Blue, Black and Red
ON THE MARBLE life is not a cage, love is not a game, do your best and leaves the rest.
TURN OFF: know it alls (oversabi) pretence
HOBBIES: Traveling, watching films, looking for the bandleaders (odia) trouble
FASHION AND FADS: Corporate
TO THE FANS: :………love you all and will continue to make you proud……..love your neighbors as yourself, not more than yourself .

EGBAYILO VASCO OLUWABNMI (Vocals)
Born in the City of Lagos, Vasco G as he is fondly called by fans had always been around Music since childhood. Influenced by his mum when he was a toddler, he recalls with glee “………….whenever I could not get what I wanted, I brooded and cried and my Mum will start singing for me …….before you know it , I ll gradually smile out of the gloomy mood …….”. He was quite popular in Primary school due to his Improvising skills on Nursery rhymes like pussycat,pussycat, where have you been?. His technique on freestyle and improvisation has grown and remains evident till date. He has indeed been paying his dues in the music industry – doing voicing overs, backup vocals and the likes. All these put together has built his confidence and charisma for music. In 2007 he got a grapevine gist on Star quest and sent in his entry……………the rest is history.
Besides Singing, it is interesting to know that Vasco also is into prose and drama.

STATE OF ORIGIN: Ondo
ZODIAC : Geminie
BIRTH DAY: June 13th
MAJOR INFLUENCES: (Artiste) Marley, Tupac, The Kuti family and his mum.
(Genre) Hiphop, Hiplife R’n’B, Dancehall, Reggae,
TURN ON: Sincerity
CULLINARY DELIGHT: Any good food prepared with love.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: Simplicity and Humility is Greatness.
MARITAL STATUS: Single
FAVOURITE COLOUR: White
ON THE MARBLE: Always believe in yourself
TURN OFF: Insincerity
HOBBIES: Meeting people, Tennis, watching films,gisting
FASHION AND FADS: Jackets, Snickers, Jeans Shirts, Blinks
TO THE FANS: I love and appreciate you ……and will always do you proud.

ITEMISAN EROMOSELEGREGORY :( keyboards)
A citizen of Delta State, “G bop” as he is fondly called amongst the Jewels, is another fire cracker in the group. Born and brought up in the ancient city of Benin, he has been on the Ivory Keys in St. Paul’s Catholic Church for a while, before he was encouraged to come for Star Quest by a friend. From a musical family, he practically took advantage of all the help he could get from his elder brother Lawrence, his parents (who were music co-coordinators and choir masters respectively). He has a stint for Band music and his been in Star quest is a real big dream come true. It is pertinent to note that just like his parent’s G -bop has choir mastered in the past also. A fun loving person, Gregory Itemisan is can be seen in his free moments putting smiles on peoples faces.

STATE OF ORIGIN: Delta
ZODIAC : Taurus
BIRTH DAY: May 9th
MAJOR INFLUENCES (Artiste) Lagbaja, Rev fr. Chima, and his family.
(Genre) Sacred, classicals, R’n’B, highlife, Reggae,
TURN ON: creativity
CULLINARY DELIGHT: Beans and Dodo.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: Do unto others what you want them to do unto you (because that’s what eventually be done to you)
MARITAL STATUS: Single
FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue
ON THE MARBLE: Always believe in yourself
TURN OFF: lies
HOBBIES: Tennis, watching films, computer games,
FASHION AND FADS: coporate/casuals
TO THE FANS: notin dey happen, just keep on keeping on till you make it.

ODIA ETIN-OSA JULIUS
Also born in the Ancient City of Benin, the Multi talented bandleader of the Jewels has always been around music, but never really took it serious even though his family members are philharmonic. His father, a music Director and Radio man, hosting UNA GOOD MORNING SHOW (a talk show with so much music intermissions) ,used to select and pre-play the tracks he was to use next day for his show and little Julius will just sit back and listen to them all ………..Unknown to him, this was to form the foundation of his vast musical appreciation later in life. However, during one of his holidays from school, eventful day he left his unmusical comfort zone when he watched the Late Veteran Pipe organist MACANDERSON IGUNBOR perform J.S. Bach’s Cantata on the organ……was so moved and suddenly found himself in deep attunement with the piece that he was in a pool of his own tears….and so , the musical journey started.
On resumption the next term, he instantly joined the choir and the Atilogwu dancers led by (Rev. Fr.Adolphus Umechukwu) of his secondary school, he learnt the Flute (which remains his favorite instrument till date) and later challenged himself to learn the Electronic Keyboardssynths (through self-help), when the ONLY school pianist graduated and the seat was vacant. Befor star Quest, he was the Resident Organist of Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City. A very inquisitive and relentless person , Julius can be seen reading or playing any thing in prints during his spare time.

STATE OF ORIGIN: Edo
ZODIAC : Cancer
BIRTH DAY: July9th
MAJOR INFLUENCES (Artiste) Majek fashek, , Earl Klugh, Louis Armstrong, Sony Rollins and his family Members
(Genre) Rock, Raggae, R n B,World, Jazz, church music.
TURN ON: Hardwork and Creativity
CULLINARY DELIGHT: plantain and Owo Soup
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: you reap whatever you sow through your actions and inactions as Reward or punishment
MARITAL STATUS: Single
FAVOURITE COLOUR: white, red and black
ON THE MARBLE:…man is usually a critic of the same system he hopes to benefit from”
TURN OFF: Empty vessels, Hypocrites.
HOBBIES: Reading, Acrobatics and surfing the net.
FASHION AND FADS: Anything Creative
TO THE FANS: we remain committed in our duty to live up to your expectations