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Barr. Ugochukwu Kelvin Uneabunso (ESQ) is an Enugu born legal practitioner and a highlife musician known better by his stage name, Une 50. Une 50 believes in using Highlife music to entertain and pass vital messages to the public in a unique way and style. Our correspondents had a short chat with him about his journey to music, inspiration, and many other aspects of his career. Excerpts:

Tell us about your first experience with Music and the journey so far 

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My first experience in music started with the Boys Brigade and choir, all in Emmanuel Anglican Church, Achara Layout, Enugu.

Who or what inspires you to make music? Why the highlife genre and what influences your lyrics?

Music itself is an inspiration that falls on you just like anointing and I always loved to be a lead vocalist. So many people are surprised that I sing because I have been a highlife trumpeter in all the bands I played with where I don’t even get to sing. I did my first ever recorded song in 2018 when I won an international pageant in Lagos as the “Duke of World Africa”. It was from there I started getting inspiration to do my original songs.

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Why highlife? Well, I do some other songs like classical and gospel, but there’s this message that goes with Highlife, and besides all the bands I have played in the past were Highlife band or highlife/gospel band. My lyrics are always influenced by circumstances and things happening around us that is always what I use in making my music.

Are there any particular themes or messages you aim to convey through your music, and if so, why are they important to you?

I realized that most times it’s easier to convey a message through music. Someone who finds it difficult to read for hours could play and listen to music for hours. Music theme comes through occurrences of events, discussions, circumstances, etc. it just comes. It’s important because I know I can engage so many people through music.

What is it like building your music career in Abuja?

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Well, everything you know is always a plus advantage to you. As a lawyer and in the process of rendering some legal services, I also found myself in a place where my musical gift was also needed, that’s “BLAKE RESORT ABUJA”. I gained popularity there and “Abuja Famous Celebrity Barrister” was accorded to me because of my performance. 

What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far and how have you surmounted them?

It’s always resources and connections which is naturally overtaken by time. Life is always a process; however, consistency is a bigger key. So, I surmounted them by consistently following the process.

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Let’s look at your new release ‘Igbagokwa boyi’? What’s it about?

The song IGBAGOKWA BOYI? The song is a deep message, just like in law, “Nemo nacitor artifex”, meaning, no man is born a craft man, igba boyi has that, too.

IGBA BOYI is not limited to those in the market who probably never went to school. I went for an endowment program organized by Igbo Lawyers Association (Otu Oka Iwu) Abuja branch, where a Professor, Sam Amadi, of Harvard told us the Harvard teaches Igba boyi (Igbo’s successful transfer of wealth). I am sure that people will not read the article as much as they will listen to the song. Igba boyi is just a reality that you must go through the process in everything and every area of growth you find yourself.

Let’s talk about collaborations with other artists. Are there specific artists you hope to collaborate with in the future? 

Of course. I would like to do a song with those who has passed the stage I am now and those in my stage, and those whose stage I have crossed. I would like to do songs with Flavour, Umuobiligbo, Phyno, Anyi Dons Burns Boy, and other artists whose style would blend with mine.

Where can fans get your songs?

My songs are on Audiomack and YouTube for now.

What other interests do you have besides music? 

Legal practice and public speaking are other areas I also find interesting.