By Guitar Gabby, Jennale Adams and Fayola White
As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Guitar Girl Magazine Special Edition – I Belong – July 2023
Bianca “ClayRocksU” Okorocha is a singer-songwriter from Lagos, Nigeria. She is known for her fusion of alternative and Afrobeat styles of music, giving her a unique sound that sets her apart from other rock musicians. On the heels of winning Best African Rock in the 2023 Afrima Awards, ClayRocksU uses her voice and is unafraid to break barriers against Black women in rock. She continues to explore how to elevate her sound and bring something new to the genre. In this interview, ClayRocksU shares more about her gospel and blues influence, the origins of rock music, and the inspiration behind her new EP, Bother Nobody.
Who is ClayRocksU?
Clayrocksu (Clay for short) is a non-conformist—an award-winning singer-songwriter based in Lagos, Nigeria. I play alternative rock and Afro Rock music.
What was your vision for starting an Afro-Rock Band? How does it feel to be the frontwoman of a rock band?
Well, it’s not easy to do what we do; it’s not easy for any indie musician anywhere. It’s tough existing in a genre that isn’t widespread where I am from and then being a woman. But I love the journey; it’s been slow but beautiful. I love doing my hobby for work and jamming with my bandmates; I love experimenting and fusing Afro beats and sounds with rock music and seeing where it ends. When I started my band, it was just to get musicians playing with me as I sang, but it’s evolved into more than that over the years.
Let’s break down your rig: what are the essential tools you use to achieve your unique sound? How does your live rig compare to your studio setup?
I use various guitar picks, amps, pedals, drums, bass, acoustic guitars, and gangangan (Yoruba traditional talking drums) for live performances. For the studio, sometimes it’s produced digitally; sometimes live production or half and half. Lol.
Let’s talk about your band, The Misfits; what elements did you look for in your bandmates when putting the band together?
Loyalty is loyalty, which can be hard to find. Outside of that, I look for credibility and integrity. Talent, skill, and understanding of rock music are essential. I like open-minded people who are not afraid to experiment and find the fusion intersections of multiple genres. Loyalty and integrity are both critical to me.
You recently Covered a Guns N’ Roses classic, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” with an Afro-Rock spin to it, and the fusion of those two styles of music sounds seamless. How do you make African rhythms and rock music work so well together?
We know rock and roll started with African Americans, with its history deeply rooted in Black gospel and blues, which have roots in African musical traditions. Though the general sound of rock music has evolved, a lot of that was created by fusions of various styles; and that’s simply what we did with this song. We fused the roots with the fruit to grow a new variation. Hehe!
Who are the influences that inspired you to get into the alternative rock and pop genres?
I listened to a lot of Dolores of the Cranberries, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, and others growing up. As a child, my dad listened to rock oldies, so that probably provided an additional influence on my tastes.
Take us through your songwriting process for your songs “AMIN” and “Ogadisinma”; what was the inspiration behind these songs, and what message do you want your music to convey to your listeners?
Many of my songs talk about hope, being yourself, not changing for anyone, and just doing you—generally, a feel-good theme. Then I have the songs (my favorites, lol), where I talk about depression, death, journey through life, etc. My writing process is pretty straightforward. I mostly start with a melody I like, add lyrics or have a theme I want to discuss, and then write that into a song.
What’s next for ClayRocksU?
I recently dropped a new single titled “Bother Nobody.” My EP will be out sometime this month, so I am gearing up to host concerts, touring, and performances until the year ends.
What do you hope your legacy to be?
Beyond all the awards, fame, and music that’ll live for a long time, I hope that most people who encountered me can say that I was kind, empathetic, and good to them in some form or another. I was able to help them in one way or another, and I helped lessen a burden at some point. This will be my legacy.
What advice can you give those who aspire to branch into the Afro-Rock genre?
It’s going to take a lot of work. But honey, just do you; the world will adjust or not; regardless, be true to yourself and keep rocking!