Today, I am hosting this lovely lady quietly doing her thing in Ireland. She is a gospel artiste, Songwriter, an OAP -Host of "Love Language Show" Wife, Mum and new Ambassador to Yappingo-a VOIP Communication based in Ireland. What makes today special is her official release of her new beautiful single- UNCHANGEABLEfeat Ace Producer and Award Winner -Wole Oni.
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Priscilla: Congrats on your new position as an Ambassador to Yappingo. Tell me, how this position aid you as an artist and OAP.
YJ: Thank you Priscilla. Yappingo is a VOIP Telecommunication Company and as an Ambassador of Yappingo, It is my obligation to represent and create awareness about the company's products and services. In return the Company supports their ambassador(s). We leverage on the company’s coverage to expand our brands, therefore, we complement each other.
Priscilla: Can you remember your first experience on Radio? What was it like?
YJ: I was not nervous on my first day but as a perfectionist by nature, I was conscious of not making mistake. It started with Loving and Affectionate Couple Organisation (LAC), an organisation which I am privileged to be the founder with about 13,000 members today. So I diligently post some write ups on relationships, sex education, society, parenting, enterprise, networking and relevant topics and the feedbacks were always outstanding.
I started my career as a Radio Host with TNI Radio New York in 2014. Although it was short lived, I cherished the experience and then moved on with my dream of hosting a show and impacting lives.
Presently I am an On Air Personality with Kabiesi Radio the award winning station (Nigeria and Dublin). I get my listeners attention on the 'Language of Love Show' where I provide a healthy dose of information, help and inspiration. On Kabiesi Radio, I also host "Bombastic Thursday" which helps to broadcast outstanding genre of music.
The Language of Love Show is also aired on the popular award winning Praiseworld Radio. So that is how the whole radio thing began and the good news is that I am famous with trending topics.
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Priscilla: Wow! So tell me how do you combine being an OAP, Singer, Wife and Mum?
YJ: Hummn! Ability to prioritise workload is very important to achieve these roles. But I must say the family unit is more important because once the foundation is wrong, it takes a lot of effort and hard work to prevent things from collapsing. I simply learnt when to stop working and be with my family of 14years because I am married with three wonderful children.
On the other hand I have been able to convince or persuade my family to understand Yetunde Joyce is a go getter so they understand when I have to work.
Finally as a singer and OAP you have to be very creative. Sometimes I try very hard to isolate myself so as to devote time in getting new ideas.
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Priscilla: What are the common challenges faced by artistes in diaspora and how have you been able to penetrate the "brick walls"?
YJ: Opposition without and within, money or funding and the tendency to quit. There is a saying in Yoruba Language "Ema wo ago alaogo sare" meaning "there is time and season for everything". Successful artistes have a story before the glory appears. In my case, I started with no support but my focus was not on me been successful because I was busy with raising hopeless and forsaken people to achieve their vision musically and I cannot express how surprised I am when my name comes out before the pure and purposeful generations I raised were mentioned. As a matter of fact matured people refer to me as "YJ that likes to hide behind the scene".
Every time my producer visits me in Ireland his comment is always "these your adopted children are very loyal to you". And the only reason was that they saw my heart and it was all about them. The first time I had the opportunity to record with Wole Oni, I made sure my daughter in the Lord Tosin recorded and paid for it because I believe in the law of sowing and reaping.
So I have penetrated the so called “brick walls” with prayer and fasting, relying on God's grace, doing good in kind and cash and by not giving in to opposition or hostility.
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Priscilla: About typical Nigerian gospel and Irish gospel Music?
YJ: I am going to digress a bit on this one. I have seen and watched a lot of African gospel singers trying to be like Cece Winans or Tamela Mann and it is practically not working!
Everyone that has worked with me musically especially Seed of Life Team, my producer and my vocal coach will tell you Yetunde Joyce always wants to be herself.
I personally do not see much difference between a typical Nigerian gospel song and an Irish song because music itself irrespective of the Language is beautiful in the ears of a music lover when delivered professionally. I have watched Irish gospel singers such as Glór Gospel Choir sing beautifully and I got carried away. I have watched Irish gospel bands such as St George's band delivered a wow music performance. I've seen Irish citizen blown away with the beauty of African folk gospel song and my Producer always says "music all by itself has the power to shape our emotions".
In my case, I do not feel complete without worshipping God in my dialect. I sing in gospel and community event and in most cases I start my song in English but I must sing an African song and my audience just love it!
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Priscilla: Let me ask you this-How can one make money from your passion?
YJ: To make money you need to create a niche and try to be different. This is called branding. It is important to solve people's problem bearing in mind that "money is the root of all evil", we have to remember to make people happy so in return we can get a good reward.
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Priscilla: Please tell us about how God saved you from the sickness that almost took you away. What was running through your mind all through those times of challenges?
YJ: It was a horrible experience but I never gave in to that affliction. I was so strong and shifted my focus to God who healed and delivered me. The good news was the sickness did not stop me from doing what God has called me to do. My song titled 'Lift Him High' was inspired by God Almighty as I recovered from the sudden sickness August 2013.
The sickness started on the 23rd of July 2013, exactly two days after the release of 'Find God'. Honestly at some point I thought I would die as I could not sit or stand without a dreadful pain from my head to lower back, but God showed His power. As if that was not enough, not more than 5 months from the sickness, there was a fire accident that consumed the whole house on the 26th of December 2013 and I was in a temporary accommodation for a long time.
So I always sing the song "if not for God where will I be" during my quiet time. I put my trust in God but never imagined the test would give birth to great victory and I am glad I can sing to you about someone that never changes. I'd like to remind everyone my new release "Unchangeable" is a declaration of assurance in the never changing character of the Most High God.
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Priscilla: As the host of Love Language, What is Loving and Affectionate Couple all about?
YJ: Loving and Affectionate Couple Organisation promotes healthy relationships. For more information readers should visit our website www.
We are also on twitter @LacTips and we tweet the time of Language of Love Show on different radio stations.
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Priscilla: I am quite sure this has happened to you. What do you do when your vocals are not there and there is an invitation?
It happened recently in June 2015. In that situation I shifted my focus to how God wanted me to be a blessing to my audience. I prepared to minister some words of encouragement with the music or instruments. Trust me, God is a miracle worker. The minute I do not rely on how perfect my vocals are, God steps in powerfully and I start to SING. Surprisingly that is when I receive more testimonies from God's people.
Thanks so much YJ for sharing. God bless your work.
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Priscilla
@Priscillasingz
