In this episode of Testimony: A Musician’s Story, presented by Sound Seekers, we speak to rapper-singer-songwriter Wande. Wande shares her testimony; which includes giving her life to Christ as a teenager despite her father being Muslim. Wande explains the hurdles of being the first woman signed to Lecrae’s Reach Records. We also discuss her music being played on ESPN. Additionally, Wande breaks down  "Happy", "Be Yourself", "Been up", and "Iconic" in the 4 Song Break Down.

*The transcription of any lyrics and some of the interview content may not be entirely accurate. *

[00:00:00.030] - Gaelika

In this episode, Wande, shares her testimony, which includes giving her life to Christ as a teenager, despite her father being Muslim. She explains the hurdles of being the first woman signed to Lecrae's Reach Records. And we also discuss her music being played on ESPN. Additionally, Wande breaks down "Happy", "Be Yourself", "Been Up" and "Iconic" in the four-song Breakdown. I'm Gaelika Brown and this is Sound Seekers presents Testimony: A Musician's Story.

[00:00:33.750] - Gaelika

So I know that you're originally born in Nigeria and your parents moved to Texas when you were, what, like one?

[00:00:44.010] - Wande

Yeah, basically I was a little baby out here.

[00:00:47.850] - Gaelika

So how do you get from Nigeria to Texas? What city did you guys move to?

[00:00:53.040] - Wande

Yeah. So first we pulled up to Houston and then from there we came to Austin. But yeah, like essentially my parents were just searching for a better life. Like they just wanted to progress further than the opportunities presented themselves in Nigeria. That's why a lot of people actually immigrant to the United States just for the opportunity to grow. And so that's why they came here. So we ended up in the United States.

[00:01:18.090] - Gaelika

So I went to college at Texas Southern University, historically black college, and there was a large population of Nigerians in Houston and then also who attended my school.

[00:01:30.200] - Wande

Yeah, it's intense.

[00:01:31.920] - Gaelika

So it actually was kind of like really, I guess my first experience being around Nigerians and now my brother, actually, my sister-in-law is Nigerian and now I have my niece and nephew that are half Nigerian. So, definitely all up in the culture and going to all the functions and eating the food and everything. So your dad is Muslim and your mom is Christian,

[00:01:59.700] - Wande

Correct.

[00:02:00.780] - Gaelika

How does that work out? How does that growing up?

[00:02:04.750] - Wande

Definitely an interesting situation. At first it was like chill out. It wasn't like crazy. So I just I didn't put much thought to it because I was like a kid growing up. And so my dad had just allowed us to go to church. And so it seemed normal. But I did know there are certain things like my mom was like, oh, don't ask to, like, go to summer camp, you know, usually have those. She was like, don't do that, don't push that. Just let me go. So just keep it there. But I guess I was just always someone who was like, whatever y'all too scared I'm going to ask. And so essentially I started getting, like, intrigued about faith in middle school and I wanted to learn more about who God was, which led me to looking into things like Christian Hip-Hop exist, like stuff like that,

[00:02:47.700] - Gaelika

OK.

[00:02:49.050] - Wande

From there I saw like Lecrae and basically the whole world was like they were going to be performing at the summer camp my church always goes to. And so because I was intrigued about that, I wanted to go to the summer camp. But essentially my dad was like, oh, I don't know, you can go to some camps like that. So I just told him like, oh, I'm going to an internship. And so I was like, can I do this internship at a summer camp? And he was like, I mean, I guess if you want to go to an internship. And so that's how I was able to go. But it was cool because I end up getting saved. And that's how I ended up seeing the tension, because once I came back from that and wanted to share the gospel with him and stuff like, he was like, oh, you can't go to church anymore. And like, I don't want to hear any of this. It definitely interesting, but he's been very like, I guess, respectful now.So he's been able to see, like, the favor of God in my life and stuff. And so it's just an interesting dynamic. But, yeah, you got to be yourself.

[00:03:43.460] - Gaelika

Definitely. So about how old were you then when you went to that summer camp?

[00:03:47.910] - Wande

Probably like 13.

[00:03:49.560] - Gaelika

And what was it? Was there something in particular that made you want to get saved there?

[00:03:55.140] - Wande

So I think I heard the gospel for the first time. They're like legitimately presented that you need the savior. And I think before I had to rationalize being saved is like only for if you had, like, killed people or like, you know, you were just out here in the streets. And so I was like, oh, well, I haven't really done anything crazy. So I guess I'm good. But there's like where I heard, like, it doesn't matter. Like good works won't get you into heaven, like good works doesn't make you right with God, but it's just having salvation and having a cleansed hear and that we've all fallen short. And so that's how I was able to actually get saved. And it actually changed my life and I experienced peace. And I want other people to know about who God was, Jesus was.

[00:04:36.030] - Gaelika

And so you're basically junior high. And prior to that, when you went to church, you have a brother, right? Who's the oldest?

[00:04:46.500] - Wande

Oh, I'm the youngest.

[00:04:47.070] - Gaelika

So so when you were going to church, was it just your mom and your brother and you and your dad would stay back?

[00:04:54.990] - Wande

Yeah. So, I mean, everybody else in my family doesn't really care about faith that much. So it was just me, basically, like I was the one who wanted to learn more. And so they would just stay at home or say, oh, I have to football practice, bye. And so, yeah, they didn't really care. And so I was the one who basically I would go to church with my mom, so I would actually go to work with my mom because she was a nurse. And so she works every other Sunday. And so I would go to work with her on the Sunday so she would go to work. And that's how I was able to start going to church, because then my uncle picked me up and I'll be able to go.

[00:05:27.560] - Gaelika

OK, so and then you come back in, "I've been saved" and you said there was a little bit of tension there with your father just being like no more church for you.

[00:05:40.220] - Wande

So essentially, like, the way I got around, it was just like I had just wake up really early, like so I'd wake up at 5:00 in the morning, read my Bible before, like everybody woke up and stuff like that, and then smaller business. And then also this music helped me a lot because like sometimes I don't get punished for stuff. And so, like, it was just like Christian stuff really mattered to me because then, like, even in moments like that where you'd want to feel spiteful because, like, why am I getting punished for something that's not even like bad? But I would just sing like songs in my head of like having grace or forgiveness and stuff like that. And so it definitely was it was interesting phase, but I think it helped build up my faith to where like now it's like I'm never I'm never leaving God or never going to Jesus.

[00:06:18.050] - Gaelika

Like, Oh, no. I mean, you were super about it to be a teenager going basically out of your way to go to church. That's crazy. I don't know too many teenagers like that, at least not when I was growing up. But it was also cool that you found the culture of Christian hip hop because that as well, I, I didn't get into until I was an adult. So for you to have the mindset to be like, is there a genre that exists out there for me?

[00:06:46.740] - Wande

Yeah. So definitely, definitely was very I was glad that I was able to find that because I was like me and I really like hip hop music, but I'm really trying to pursue Jesus and like, this is not good for my walk. Like, it's influencing me to do things. I was like, I can't I can't listen to this because basically from your mind, like, that's what your actions start to flow. So it's like I'm actually serious. Like, I can't keep listening to this

[00:07:08.210] - Gaelika

for sure. And when you're at the camp, you said one one six was there, was it, who was on the roster then?

[00:07:14.900] - Wande

So that was like I guess the original set, like so it was Lecrae, Trip Lee, Shobaraka. And so it was like 2009.

[00:07:21.710] - Gaelika

So, yeah, that's OK. So you end up doing just a whole full circle. OK, so. All right. So now. You're you're fairly young, early twenties right now. Yeah, I'm twenty twenty four. All right. So now you're like this rising Christian hip hop star, like you have a whole lot of buzz around you. I've been following you on Instagram for a while. You pretty much mainly post about music. Every once in a while you will post like some personal stuff, did I see, are you in a relationship?

[00:08:00.750] - Wande

Oh, yeah, I am.

[00:08:01.990] - Gaelika

OK, so, I mean, how is it like dating and you're being like this young Christian hip hop, like rising star.

[00:08:08.640] - Wande

I guess the thing is like I've been in a relationship for a long time, probably like like four years, almost five years. I think like I look at my life and I'm like I feel like God did that on purpose because I don't know how this would work out if I wasn't in a relationship. I feel like it's made a lot of things easier because like in my job settings, like I'm the only girl in a lot of situations. But I think it makes it easier because now guys can tell there are significant others, like a I Wande is not interested in me she has her own person, she is minding her own business. And I think it also helps, too, because like whenever I work with guys, because I mean, even people, I guess in my age group, I think naturally is the age group where people are trying to get married in some way. So I think it's helped me to to where all my interactions and music have just been purely business or friendship, because it's like I already got somebody. So I think it is it's been really it's been a blessing to me because it's helped avoid like any weird situations that could potentially be awkward.So, yeah.

[00:09:06.690] - Gaelika

Yeah. And that's like one of the excuses that was used for a while as to why women weren't signed to labels, that and touring like how we're going to tour and can be on the same bus as us and what when it comes to because now you literally are the first woman, the first lady of Reach Records. What hurdles have you encountered being the first lady?

[00:09:36.120] - Wande

Yeah, I would say for the most part it's been great, but I would say hurdles I've encountered just like, I guess, reassurance of life that this is where God's placed you to be and that this is like you're competent. So I feel like a lot of times men, naturally, they they want to be nice and helpful. But in a way, it can make you question like your intelligence that, you know, what you're doing might be like oh, let me do this or let me do this, and it's like this no, no, no, it's just like one challenge I just had is this I reassuring people like, hey, I got this is fine. And like like kind of trying to communicate that because as a woman, a lot of times that can come across as like, oh, you just don't want anybody to help or you don't. And it's like, no, I welcome help. I do. But I also need to be myself and be an artist like and so without it. Otherwise it becomes everybody else's show and you're just the face of it versus like you what God actually told you to do first.

[00:10:32.840] - Gaelika

And prior to this pandemic, were you doing a lot of touring?

[00:10:37.050] - Wande

Oh, yeah, definitely. So it's been a blessing to even see like that's possible. I think this lifestyle like was definitely like seemed like a fear to me to be able to be like, oh, this is my only job. Like I do music and just talk about Jesus all day. So it's been cool to be able to travel to different churches like around the country and like talk about Jesus and help energize their youth to like the empire for God. So it's really cool.

[00:11:01.110] - Gaelika

And how do the traveling arrangements work? Are you traveling by yourself? You have are you able to travel with other male artists?

[00:11:10.860] - Wande

Yeah. So, I mean, usually I'm traveling with the group, so I've been intentional about having these women around me. So my show actually consists of me and then two dancers. So usually that's the group that we're traveling together and then like everybody has their responsibilities. But it's cool because, like, everybody loves music, so like we're able to, like, fellowship together with them, also have fun with their performances. And then even I like being on some other people's tour. So like, for instance, we had the Unashamed tour, and RG did a tour too, called the Saint Holy Tour. So I went on tour with him to feel like those are some other situations too, where I was able to be with other artists and stuff. So it's usually chill like it's like I get my own hotel room, which is the benefit, like so I get to live it up. But yeah. So I usually like car transportation situations. We're all together and then when it's time to like sleep, they'll just be my own separate dress. I'll be in my own separate area.

[00:12:00.660] - Gaelika

I mean that works out for you. You're own space. Yeah. OK, so it really doesn't seem like like all the hurdles as to why we can never sign a female artist, because another thing was like it will be too expensive because she would have to have our own room and like traveling. But it just seems like the room is the only situation really that's different.

[00:12:24.207] - Wande

Aye, yall just got to make it happen.

[00:12:25.740] - Gaelika

Make it happen. So, OK, so coming up again, growing up in a Nigerian household and you decide that you want to be an artist, how does that conversation go with your parents? Like we travel from Africam, work had so you can be an artist?

[00:12:45.300] - Wande

And it's just like I think just even with life, right. Life is much easier when you find the root of the situation, why people act a certain way because there's a root behind it. And so the root behind, like saying that they want you to be a doctor, lawyer, all that stuff is because they want you to have a good life. They just want those jobs secure a nice income and want you to like your intelligence. So just go for the top. And so they're not saying it because they don't want good for you. They they think it's good intentions and they just want the best for you. So knowing that that was the route is like, OK, I'm not mad at you, but we actually never had that conversation because I think that's another lesson I learned. Just like about protecting your dream, Joseph. Joseph, you know, he kind of said it prematurely and he told his brothers, like, I'm going to do all this and it didn't go that well for him. So I just kind of, like, kept my mouth shut and I just let my actions speak for myself. I feel so like they just kind of maybe sometimes, like for Christmas I would ask for, like recording software or I'd ask for a microphone and ask for keyboards. And so and then I would have shows and talent shows. Then I'd be like, oh, you can come to my talent show if you want. So stuff like that. So I mean they would see over time, I think they probably thought it was a hobby, but once I moved to Atlanta, oh you got a contract like OK, this is a series and I can tell you consistently do something for years and years. It's like, OK, she actually really cares about this thing.

[00:14:07.980] - Gaelika

So that's cool. Just do it. Like, I'ma just do it and then we'll talk about it later.

[00:14:15.090] - Wande

Yeah, pretty much.

[00:14:17.970] - Gaelika

So how does God's presence look in your life personally, like outside of music. Just personally.

[00:14:24.450] - Wande

Yeah, I mean, I guess just like an everyday thing, like God's presence is there because he just leads my decisions, he leads what I do would talk to him in the morning and say thank you. And yeah, I guess you could see it over my life, which is grace, like the grace to do what I do every day and to just even like favor, like certain things work out. And don't like, the God's presence over my life is just like literally just in every aspect, like everything I do is glowing God's presence.

[00:14:53.760] - Gaelika

I mean, it seems like you've really been connected from a young age, like he's been the power source to everything that you've just been doing.

[00:15:02.250] - Wande

Yeah, definitely.

[00:15:03.580] - Gaelika

That's awesome. All right. So let's get into music now so we know that you started off like you literally work your way from the bottom up and that you were an Internet Reach Records and did A&R work and now you are a full time artist. So being at the label as an artist, like how was that transition going from working there and working on other people's projects? And now I'm the artist and people are working with you.

[00:15:43.560] - Wande

Yeah. So I think it actually a blessing that I had to work my way up because God definitely refined me humbleness and treating people with integrity and stuff and not being arrogant. So I like the transition was easy. It was just like, OK, I'm working with more people than I already work with every day and still treat people the same. For me, it was actually nice because they let me keep my job because, like, the one thing you want when you become an artist, like people, things like artists are rich and everything. And it's like, no, like you have to work your way up and you start getting money over time. And then even the money that you do get, you're using it to pay other people. So it's kind of like most art is like you're not going to be rich till after a couple of years. And even that you might still be average American. But it's nice because you earned it off of, like, music versus just like nine to five. But yeah, it was a cool transition. I think everything I did in the past prepared me for where I am today. So I'm just basically supplying that knowledge to my real life now.

[00:16:42.240] - Gaelika

And so you dropped your debut album, Exit, and you had some licensing go on ESPN?

[00:16:52.140] - Wande

Correct?

[00:16:53.920] - Gaelika

OK, I had a conversation with one of an artist James Gardin and he was just saying that artists are at an advantage when it comes to licensing because your music is already clean. So they don't have to be, like "hmm I wonder if there's going to be any curse lyrics?"

[00:17:09.060] - Wande

And they love us. It's like it's taught me to listen to you because I think a lot of us Christians sometimes were like, oh, I don't want to say anything because they're going to think like I'm being pretty or blah, blah, blah. So we might discredit ourselves in situations before we are even beening discredited. And I think, like the sync situations have taught me a lot of just like having confidence and being unapologetically like on fire for God. So, like, it's been cool because like the songs, like they'll play the part to say Jesus or they play the parts that say God and like it's like, oh, I can like really to be myself. And still get success in certain areas.

[00:17:46.610] - Gaelika

So dope and so go, I mean, it just seems like for you, just doors, it is just opening and you're just like walking in effortlessly.

[00:17:59.570] - Wande

Yeah. Think even just with that, like, it's just kind of like a lesson God's been teaching me about, like following the plan because like if I would have deterred then certain doors would not be open. And so it's like, it's kind of like for me it's like a ripple effect, like being obedient in one area literally opens up the ways to be easier for other areas. And so, like, for instance, like when I started working for Reach, that was a my plan. Like I wanted to be an artist. I didn't want to be working for them. But it was like, OK, I feel like God telling me to do this. So I did it. And so he was like, I am trying to help you out because it actually helped me out because I understood contracts. Now, my contract being way better because I've seen their contracts so they can't give me trash contract and stuff like that. And I learned how A&R works. So then that helped me as an artist. And so I believe in learning like literally everything God put you through is like on purpose. And so you're missing out on a blessing if you don't go through the process and say yes.

[00:18:56.760] - Gaelika

Yes, All right. So getting further into the music, I have a section called The Four Song Breakdown, and it's where an artist either raps or recites a verse from a song and then discusses that song. So for you, I it would be dope if we can go through "Happy", "Be Yourself", "Been Up", and "Iconic". Sure. So would you mind starting with doing a verse from "Happy"?

[00:19:27.670] - Wande

Yeah, OK, and the happiness that comes from above is deeper than the feeling we receive from all the things that we have, I got into the last year has never been so content with this and go the way I'm thinking, oh, the way we feel. So to see that you ain't even no follow your heart. You make the wrong choice. People yelling but you always got the still small voice, got peace. Never drive me insane. We say in the same.

[00:19:50.920] - Gaelika

All right, and anything that you want to say about the song or the verse in particular?

[00:19:57.480] - Wande

Yeah, so I think I like that particular verse because even the first line I say like, it's deeper than the feeling we receive from all the things that we have. So, like, happiness is not coming just from, oh, I have all these nice things. Oh, I have a job that secure. Like if that's where you're finding your happiness, like that's all surface level, like you need it. The happiness that comes from like the love of God, because that's much deeper than all those things and that's the only thing that can be rooted. I just talk about how that last. Every other thing is passing is going to perish, but only what you have in the Lord will last. So you.

[00:20:31.620] - Gaelika

And for those who don't know, you pretty much do it all. I mean, you rap you sing you are a beast with melodies, obviously you write. Is there any other thing that you do musically that we are not aware of?

[00:20:45.020] - Wande

I dance. I'm trying to learn how to produce. So that's going to be my that's my next goal. So once I finish that, I'll put a little gold star.

[00:20:52.100] - Gaelika

That's right. And definitely we have to bring in the dancing, the dancing aspect, because that is something that Christian hip hop lacked, especially when it came to shows a lot of people want to incorporate dancers. I know it can be expensive. And then sometimes, like the space that you go to, it's like you just have room to do this and you feel like no room move at all. So that's dope that you get to bring that in. OK, next song, "Be Yourself".

[00:21:21.480] - Wande

Yes, OK, who you want to want to be when you see the ceiling at night, when you're home and you all alone, don't you know your beauty, too? But you want to be somewhere else when you work in that nine to five a slave away work. But there's way more to life. You can't run in the way for once inside you just trying to survive. You supposed to thrive. Don't you want moments like this? You were made in his likeness. You would try to God you may think is up, but have faith to see you.

[00:21:49.240] - Gaelika

All right. Let's talk about that song "Be Yourself".

[00:21:52.590] - Wande

Yes, so I love, "Be Yourself" and that verse low key kinda describes like it's like what I would want to hear to my past self when I was going through what I was going through. So literally, like it's like I'm working my nine to five and I literally wanted to be somewhere else. Like I'm just like, God, I'm telling you right now. Got to be a real I'm not happy. I'm upset like, you know. And it's kind of like I literally had to go through a mental battle of not giving up because every single day I was faced with the decision. You want to give up or do you want to keep going and keep pushing for what you know, God has called you do. And so I think for me, it was really good to hear, like, you know, there's so much inside of you don't just live for survival. Don't just stick with the norm, but thrive like live to do something more than the norm and like, step outside your comfort zone. And so I think for me, like I wrote that song because I knew that if I was in the space that I was like a year ago, I would have definitely wanted to hear something like that. And it would have helped me a lot.

[00:22:52.060] - Gaelika

Definitely. Now, I've definitely been in that space. That was all of twenty nineteen for me. Like Lord, I hate this job. I hate to this. All I want to do is tell your stories. That's what you created me to do. Let's make that happen. How do we make that happen? And so 2020, it's a totally different story. No, longer at that job. This song would have been on point last year, but I can definitely appreciate the essence of it this year. So thanks for writing that. And then next "Been Up", which also features Nobigdyl .and WHATUPRG, But you know, you didn't list any of your features on the album.Is there a reason for that?

[00:23:38.490] - Wande

A little surprise? But yeah, so I hop on the scene and we can actually really believe, since I was a teen, I don't know, acting on things like what is on scene is less of a lasting than there were six teens when I was 16. You know what's happened? Is the deliveries coming. I can't. I see the cause I was double bottoms when if I want to play, I cannot sit on the sidewalk at the sunset of my. So what's happened is I've got to get up and go when I'm feeling below too much at stake. And so that song is just like about like a man like run it up like a God gives you something like keep going, like don't don't play small. So, like, one of my favorite lines on theirs, I see the cards I was dealt with. My God was winning to line them up. I want to play. So you might have been dealt some trash cards like you might have gotten some cards that everybody sees and they're like, you're going to lose. And it's like, you know what? That doesn't matter. Like just because your odds may look like you're about to lose like God, that they always win. So you should always play because at the end of the day, like, you're going to come out with a good thing, God always probably God already comes out to us. He's alive. So it's kind of like no matter what you've been given, like use your resources and just run it up because God is going to be on your side if you're walking in his will.

[00:24:54.220] - Gaelika

So,that is so dope. Your, for your age, it's really impressive, just the light, but you just have it so it's so bright, so bright, I hope it just shines even brighter, just keeps on. "Iconic."

[00:25:13.860] - Wande

Oh, yes, there's so many different parts of it, I'm like. Which part of I do you have a preference of which part you me to talk about.

[00:25:22.580] - Gaelika

I don't have a preference, but I do like the whole thinking about the future, can't be neutral or no better do that.

[00:25:32.900] - Wande

Part of thinking about the future can't be neutral. So intentional, that is. Switching gears, when he appeared unsure which way to go home, he had the job of suicide was his plan because he cut the Lamba. What he needed was the limo outside, looking inside, looking empty. You won't feel complete half of like a semi about to crash from the tube. You dashi need to step with the stash everlasting. And so, yes, that song, I mess with it because it's just talking about how, like, you have to switch things up. Like you need to start thinking about where am I going to end up at the end of eternity because I could be stacking up, getting all these things in, like literally I'm about to crash. Like, this is literally leading you to a disaster. You're going to crash and you can be very upset with your final destination. And so it's kind of just like a metaphor of like cars because like we're always on a journey with life. And so, like how I say, like, get the switch gears. Like, you have to like you have to switch it up and like make a change in your life. And so it just kind of like a self awareness song just for you to think like. Yeah. Which direction in my heading and my heading towards God or am I heading towards destruction.

[00:26:40.410] - Gaelika

And I like the line about because he caught the Lambo, but he needed what he needed was the lamb. Oh, I don't need the Lambo. All you need is Jesus. All right. So all of those songs are on Exit, your debut album, and they're. When people listen to Exit, what do you want the takeaway to be?

[00:27:07.790] - Wande

I want your takeaway to be like pursue the purpose that God has called you to do with confidence, like, you know, love God and really look at yourself and say, am I doing what God has called me to do? If not, what changes can I make to now start doing so? So I think that's the only takeaways I want people to have, like exit your old ways and enter into who God is calling you to be.

[00:27:27.740] - Gaelika

All right. And how does God's presence look in your life musically?

[00:27:35.060] - Wande

I think it just looks like joy. I think it looks like joy and faith, like God is definitely taught me a lot about faith, do music. So for me, like music is going to thing where it's like, God, you keep putting in situations that are totally outside of my comfort zone, but God is definitely taught me like a just trust me because you got this. And so it just even leaning on him for like creativity because like song like it's like where does this song come from? Like, you know, you can't you can't just I don't know. It just literally only from God. And so it's literally just leaning on to him because he's literally the one feeding my creativity. And if you look at the greatest songs in the world, like the same God who gave them that idea, I can literally drop that onto you. So it's literally just leaning on to God to like whatever you want to talk about. Let's talk about it because you can talk about anything. So I want to talk about something impactful that's going to lead people to God.

[00:28:26.210] - Gaelika

I hope you enjoyed the episode. Please subscribe to our show. And if you really enjoy the content, please leave a review. It really does help with the ranking for all things testimony, visit, testimonystories.com, until next time I'm Gaelika Brown, the music lover constantly seeking positive music.