Well-known plus-size model, make-up artist and composer Ally Tobias, popularly known simply as Ally, has worked in the industry for many years.
Last week, she released an extended play (EP) record titled ‘Etameko’, which she describes as another step in her creative process.
Ally describes herself as having worked in the world of fashion, modelling, music and beauty for a number of years. Her new musical project is her very first solo venture, she says.
“I just wanted to explore and figure out which sounds best for me.”
‘Etameko’, meaning “the beginning”, symbolises the beginning of a new journey in music.
She has collaborated with some top professionals in the field and says she is grateful to all who assisted her in making the EP, which is currently accessible on all streaming services.
“This EP is a potjie, in my opinion. There are several sounds mixed together. Rap, hip-hop, jazz, kizomba, R&B and other genres are also present.
“It’s a gorgeous combination of gorgeous sounds. But it’s definitely more in the Afro-house direction,” Ally says.
The EP consists of eight tracks, and Ally says she was able to collaborate with South African musician and close friend FakeAno.
“It took us only about three hours to write and record the song when I was in Johannesburg, and it was absolute magic,” she says, gushing about how creative and easy-going FakeAno is to work with.
In addition, he collaborated with Mr Glo on the production, she says.
“The majority of the tunes were created by Mr Glo; his sense of sound is simply amazing. A big thank you to DJ Kboz for his assistance with the mixing, mastering and production as well,” says Ally.
She singles out ‘Wedding Day’ featuring Big Ben as her favourite song.
“I still get goosebumps just thinking about being in the studio with somebody I consider a legend.”
She also collaborated with Skrypt on ‘Ino Worry’.
“Anyone who knows me is aware that my life hasn’t always been easy, but I’m the kind of person who can endure hell with a grin. The message of this song is simply to encourage people to not worry about anything because everything will work out in the end.”
Ally hosted her biggest concert so far, ‘Ehangano’, at a church in Windhoek a week ago.
She says the event was focused on honouring beloved traditional hymns from the ‘Ehangano’ songbook that she had updated and reinterpreted.
“The concert served as a platform for my album launch. We had an incredible line-up of artists that performed, such as our very own songbird Teqla, Dee’A and Franklin, and the Captivating One Accord Accapela group.”
During the concert, Ally performed about six hymns alongside her backup singers.
“Since I also launched my album, I performed three songs from my EP alongside Big Ben and Skrypt. The songs were really brought to life by the amazing live band the Hot Pocket Band, who entertained the crowd the whole night.”
She says the concert evoked a lot of emotion.
“Just because I never would have thought I could accomplish such a feat. I just want to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me,” she says.
So far, Ally says she hasn’t really given music her full attention because she’s still modelling, applying make-up and pursuing her career in accounting.
“But I will give music the same priority that I give to everything else I do,” she vows.
While being blessed with a few abilities, Ally says she prefers to believe that most of the time she is just incredibly hardworking rather than particularly gifted.
“I try to do anything and everything to the best of my capabilities,” she says.
Her creative process began in 2016, during her first year at university, she says.
“I was pursuing a degree in accounting and my mother ended up passing on in the same year, so I got into a serious depression.”
After that, Ally says she simply tried to find herself again.
“That’s when the creative me came out,” she says.
Ally competed in Miss Plus Size Namibia in 2017 and began working as a cosmetic artist in 2018.
“I have always participated in choirs. The love of music has always been there. I was elected Unam choir president in 2018 but I made the decision to go solo three years ago.”
Ally credits her successes so far to her ability to collaborate with some of the greatest organisations in the nation.
“As part of my beauty business, I’ve collaborated with organisations like MTC on the MTC4Life project, which was a sizeable undertaking.
“I debuted my apparel line Strike by Ally Tobias at the Windhoek Fashion Week in 2020 after winning the award for plus-size model of the year at Katutura Fashion Week in 2018.”
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