Fast-Rising Nigerian Meteor Syemca Talks About His Experience In The Music, Acting, And Future Projects

He is a force to be reckoned with and the star to watch. With two EPs under his belt, experience on reality shows, and a desire to take over, Syemca is undoubtedly one of the young people on the block to keep an eye on. 

The singer gave The Sauce all the details when they sat down with her.

1: What inspired you to use Syemca as your stage name?

All I needed was a name that consistently conveys the desire of all artists to be seen and heard. In addition to wanting something unique, I created Syemca from See Emeka to serve as a reminder of my location, as Emeka is the abbreviation of my given name, Chukwuemeka.

2: You have a Theatre Arts degree. How has your education influenced the music you create?

My development as an artist has been greatly aided by my study of theater arts. For instance, taking playwriting classes improved my writing abilities and gave me the ability to visualize and see what I want to discuss before I do.

3: You participated in The Voice Nigeria’s 2017 season. What impact did your time on the reality show have on the beginning of your musical career?

I learned how to be competitive and accept losses because I learned from being on the show that I’m not the only one striving to win. For instance, I became a better performer because I knew that no one was going to help me when I took the stage; I had to kill it or do poorly or go home. Every time I advanced to the next stage of the program, I was able to prove that my fear was the only thing preventing me from succeeding. 

4: What was it like to collaborate with Afrobeats pioneer and renowned Nigerian artist 2Baba?

In fact, that was a coincidence. Larry Gaga told me that 2baba would be visiting the studio as we were wrapping up a few tracks. While he was recording, I chose to stay. Fortunately, he overheard me humming tunes and requested that I record my actions on the microphone. I did, and he left my vocals on it because he loved it. That was the origin of the duet.

5: In terms of music, how does your second EP, Bipolar, compare to your first EP, Crave?

I would sum it up in one word: GROWTH. Crave, my debut piece of work, was an attempt to persuade myself that I could compose quality music. I was no longer a novice experimenter when I quit Bipolar; instead, I was already bold and completely committed to my work.

6: What motivates your songwriting and creative process?

My immediate surroundings, I would say; in order to remain current, I allow life experiences to influence my music. I want you to be able to relate to any of my songs after listening to them. Ultimately, there must be a sense of realism to it.

7: You mentioned legendary musicians like Michael Jackson and Fela Kuti as influences. Which contemporary celebrities now motivate you?

No matter how well-known the artist is, I’m always motivated by their excellent music.

8: What do you hope the new EP, Bipolar, will teach fans?

Beyond the songs, I want them to pay attention to what I have to say. I approached each song in a different way because I wanted to appeal to everyone. You can find it in the attitude if it’s not in the lyrics. With each final listen, it gets better.

9: Speaking of bipolar disorder, how did the title come to be?

It draws inspiration from actual events. Everyone’s moods change throughout life, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s best to let listeners interpret my songs anyway they see fit because most of the time, they contain some element of ambiguity. For instance, the project’s “Room 104” isn’t a love ballad; I was merely playing around with words. The majority of listeners I’ve encountered praise it as a fantastic love song, despite the chorus’s suggestion that I’m not quite there: “suddenly I’m learning to love.”

10: A lot of artists have discussed experiencing periods of creative stagnation. If you have creative slumps, how do you handle them?

When I reach that stage, I just let it be since forcing it results in a loss of individuality. Because I wasn’t getting the correct vibe, I took three months to write some songs instead of three days. I trust and follow my gut as an artist. I always decide to exercise patience and return till I get it properly. 

11: What is Syemca’s outlook for the remainder of 2025?

More songs, some joint ventures, and just putting myself out there and expressing my ideas in all forms.

12: Having worked on movie soundtracks, has your closeness to the performing arts encouraged you to pursue acting as well?

I genuinely want people to see Syemca as an actor. Acting is something I’m also interested in because I’m a theatrical at heart.

13: What do you have on your playlist right now?

Burnaboy’s song “Love” has been playing nonstop lately.

14: In three words, describe your unique sound.

Igbotic, bold, and vintage.