Actor and singer Ray Emodi has clarified that he did not abandon acting because of traumatic experiences or family pressure, contrary to earlier reports.
Speaking during an interview on Television Continental, the actor and singer explained that he simply shifted his focus to music, which he believes is his true calling.
“You said that I cited traumatic experiences and family pressures. But that’s not the reason I quit acting.
“I never quit acting. I stopped acting to focus on what my calling is, which is music. You get me?”
Emodi revealed that his passion for music dates back to his childhood, noting that he had already been writing and recording songs long before he began acting.
“When I started acting, I already made music for about 10 years.
“I started writing music in my primary school years. This is a fact. I went to international Nursery and primary school, Enugu. I went to LA for school, and every single place I went, I was recording music.”
He also disclosed that his decision to study acting in Los Angeles was partly a strategic move that helped him secure a visa to pursue a music career in the United States.
“I came back to Nigeria in 2015, I went to LA to learn how to act, but that was a trick, actually. I probably shouldn’t say this on air. I had to get a visa to get into America to try to get a record deal.
“And you can’t get a visa to enter America for music school, but you can for acting school. So I got a visa to go study in New York Film Academy in Los Angeles campus, so I could try and get a record deal. That’s a fact.
“So that didn’t work out. I came back to Nigeria. I was still making music.”
According to him, he continued acting after returning to Nigeria because his music career was not yet generating income.
“I dropped songs and stuff, but it wasn’t giving me money immediately. You know how it goes, right? So I had to use what I have to get some money, to pay studio time, pay producers, pay engineers, pay for videos, and I was acting.”
Emodi added that although acting brought him fame, his primary goal is to make an impact through his music rather than chase popularity.
“But people know me from acting first. Yeah, that’s what gave me the fame.
“But the fame it gave me, music is going to give me more. And I don’t really care. I don’t really care about the fame. I don’t. I care about the impact. There’s a difference.
“Because with the impact comes the fame and the money and all that. You know, that’s not the main thing. The main thing is impacting the people’s lives.”