uch has been in the rumour mill about one of The Gambia’s finest younger musicians Freaky Joe AKA Singhateh; ranging from his musical career to his personal life. And in Joe’s own words, "It’s too complicated to know me…" Follow this interview to know who really, Freaky Joe is

When did you start music?

I started music in 2002 when I was in [Gambia] High School.

I was going to school and at the same time singing.

It is a very long way because when I started in 2002, I was just releasing singles. Luckily, my first song, "Re-conciliation" was appreciated by many people because it talks about the problem between Gambia High School and Saint Augustine High School … the rivalry between the two in terms academic and extra-curricular activities. Even the two heads were not in good terms. But "Reconciliation" plays a very crucial role because since then the two schools came to terms. After the ‘Reconciliation’ song, I released another song called "More Message". This was bigger and it was the song that gave me the platform. I then started my own shows with only two songs. That is how I started. And in 2005, I released my first album featuring the Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh and Sambou Suso.

Is it your first Album that hit the market or the second?

It was my first Album, "FOR THE GAMBIA" in 2005. And in April 2006 I travelled to the United State. I got my first contract from the song ‘True Friends’ in which I featured Sambou Susso.

By then I was a solo artist.

When you went abroad for six months and you were unheard of all that time there were rumors that you cannot make it any further and others say you are not coming back to The Gambia. What were you doing then?

Actually, when I released the 2005 album - like I do every two years, the second was November 11, 2007 - I when back to the US where I spend almost nine months. I did no single, no radio or newspaper interview because I just wanted to keep low profile. So, people started talking; saying all sorts of comments; that I was involved in drugs and got locked-up. After which I came back to studio and released the song "Rejoice". I believe it was good to go silent for some time.

It was released in 2007 and it was part of my promotional songs which I re-mix and add some African flavors like the "Sabarr" and "Kora".

Which money…? Laughs. Some of the songs I link-up with promoters and tell them that I have this stuff. So we collaborate and do the programme together. I was invited by one Association in Oslo, Norway who wanted me to perform in their Cultural Week festival, which was a good experience for me. That was the best I can say because I travelled to the UK and I also attended July 4th festival in America.

People do music for so many reasons. For some, they love it. Others want to do it because they want to become fame. And for others, they want to travel to Europe. As for me if there was no support for me in The Gambia, believe me I will not come back simply because I will say they do not like what I am doing. But I Freaky Joe will not do that because of the support I got from my fans and the hope they have in me. When I travelled to America people were saying that I will not come back, but I came and the day I arrived at the airport, I got a very big welcome from my fans. We should set a good example for the young ones who take-up music as a career so that they also can do better than what we are doing because one day or the other, we will get old.

Actually, the programs I attended were "mbokanised". You find people you know and join them to do something. But I met some artists like Akon, Fabulous and many others. I also shared stage with Busy Signal. I did my last Album with many producers and still the link is there.

Yes I met Vivian in 2007 in Atlanta.

That is very true. Even last week that was what we were talking about on the radio. But you know we cannot force them to like us or love what we are doing. I was even telling Wagan [a music promoter] that it is Gambian music that they are promoting. We are not going to be here forever. We are just paving way for the young ones coming-up. I may be a promoter or do something else later, but I love to be in the music industry. I believe with time, everything… everything will change. One thing I believe is the reason why Gambians do not support their artists is because of the foreign music they are used to listening. If you see I know most of these Senegalese artists is because of Lama because he plays lots of their music. If you see Busy Signal and others are fame in The Gambia today, is because of DJ Spices simply because he plays lots of their music. If they start featuring our own artists too, I think the Gambian people will get to know them and start to love what they do.

Like I said earlier, we need more support because some artists will organise a show and the turn-out would be good whilst for others is very poor. Gambian Artist never had their own show, but this time we are having one at the Independence Stadium. Most of the time when Singhateh performs at the Stadium it is because a foreign artist is performing. And the Stadium is our own. If you go to Freetown many of their artists, I wrote a song for them and they used it to perform at their own shows. Those artists are not better than us. This is a challenge. But this show we are organising December 24, will tell. If we see people turn-out in their numbers, then, we will have no doubt that we have the full support of them. But if the turn-out is poor, we will decide what next. This is just like a trial. If they don’t come, Singhateh will just pack and go and stay out … say yeah is not me alone.

I wrote it myself. The song has been in my mind for a long time but I had to wait because people sing and all their singles will be on development of President Jammeh’s regime. My first time to meet the president was last year December 19, 2009 and I told him I had this song but have not recorded it yet. He asked me when will I want it to be out? I said maybe end of year - that was December 19 2009. He made a promise and the song was out and he was the first to like it. The song was a very popular one which everyone appreciates.

Freaky- Like I always say, we should stop the egos between us and work together as one for the betterment of our tomorrow because we want to see Gambian music well-known to the outside world. The male side is cool, but there is a lot of misunderstanding in the female side.

What is on the horizon for your fans?

Freaky: I have a new album coming by next week, I will release a single but the album will be out by January Insallah. That is what I’m planning to do.

I heard people saying Freaky Joe likes to big-up too much. That he has so many girlfriends and sometimes when he is in the traffic, he don’t wear shirt. Some would say "denga barree aferr". Is that really you?

Like I always say, it is too complicated to know me. Gambia is not easy. Sometimes you pass someone and your mind is on something else, he or she will say ‘look at him… he is waiting for me to call or greet’ him. They would say "kee hamutbopan". But if you get close to me, you will know the kind of person I am. If you are far, you will never know me. For Gambians, as long as you are famous, they will say everything about you. But you just have to do what you are doing.

Are you married?

No but very soon Insha’Allah

Freaky: Durango or domoda

Freaky: That was in 2007 in Atlanta. My friend Pa Ous and me organised a show and spend a lot of money and no one turn-out because it was not well planned. We just take the risk to do it. But after that, I when to Seattle and put up a very successful one.

Apart from music, what else do you do?

Freaky: Just eat and sleep… laughs.

Freaky: Actually, I have a mentor not a role model. If you copy somebody, you cannot be like him. So you have to be creative. My mentor is Akon.