The Word Café Podcast with Amax
My unique message to the world is the power behind the words of our mouths. We have made light of it but cannot escape the fruits thereof. For me, words are the unit of creation, the building block on which our existence evolves. This podcast is for everyone who wants to better their living by using words and applying themselves wisely. I will be using the storytelling style fused with imaginative nuances to transport the listener to that place, where possibilities are not luxuries but everyday experiences; movie in voice.
This podcast will emphasize the power of routine, and what you repeatedly do, you most likely build capacity and expertise for what you repeatedly do. My podcast will help the listener learn how to practice success because the same amount of time you use in complaining is the same you can use to plant, build, prune, etc. I intend to draw the listener's attention to the power of their words.
The Word Café Podcast with Amax
S4 Ep. 226 From Visual Impairment to Musical Inspiration
Emmanuel "E" Daniels captivates listeners with his remarkable journey from a visually impaired child to an acclaimed gospel artist whose worship songs are touching hearts nationwide. Born with a visual impairment caused by childhood measles, E Daniels grew up immersed in music – his family's constant singing and diverse collection of cassettes and CDs formed the foundation of his musical sensibilities long before he recognized his calling.
The authenticity in E Daniels' testimony shines through as he shares how his musical journey formally began at a school for the visually impaired, where mentors recognized and nurtured his talent. What stands out most about his story isn't the challenge he's overcome, but rather the way he's embraced his unique perspective as a vessel for creating music that connects deeply with listeners. His popular worship song "Yahweh" exemplifies this gift – born not from deliberate composition but from a spontaneous moment of personal worship in an unfinished rehearsal room.
The wisdom E Daniels imparts transcends music ministry. His emphasis on focus and consistency as keys to discovering and developing purpose resonates whether you're an aspiring artist or seeking direction in any field. "It has to be 100% or zero," he advises in a generation filled with distractions, encouraging listeners to identify their strengths, find supportive communities, and persist through inevitable setbacks. Most refreshingly, E Daniels attributes his recent rise in collaborations and ministry opportunities not to strategic networking but to divine timing – a reminder that authentic talent paired with faithful persistence eventually receives recognition. Don't miss his upcoming releases, including a new single next month and songs from his recent live recording. Follow E Daniels and World Cafe Live Show on social media to continue drawing inspiration from this remarkable artist's journey.
You can support this show via the link below;
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1718587/supporters/new
Okay, we're back in the habit. Not a bad one this time. Hello guys, yes, before we go on, I need to say this Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good everything. How are you doing today? I am not asking rhetorically, I am asking because I care, we care rhetorically, I am asking because I care, we care.
Speaker 1:The main, one of the main reasons why we are here, is because you're there listening to us. Yes, welcome to the world cafe live show. Yes, this is the space where we come in to lean on one another's experience, to forge a positive path. Amazing, yes, it's been a solemn period. Within this space, we're celebrating at the same time, sharing some vulnerable moments with you Today. I am excited, I am. That's why I said we're back in the habit. Not a bad one, a good one now. And I have this amazing I'm not alone. Yes, I'm not alone, not as if I've ever been alone. You know what I'm talking about, but I have this amazing personality on set with me today.
Speaker 1:Yes, how do I describe him? Don't worry, when he comes on, he will say one or two things and a lot more about himself, but he's a psalmist, he's a singer, a songwriter and a lover of God. Yes, the first time I saw him how do I describe it? He has this. What's the best word to use now? This beautiful cry in his melody. You know, when you listen to him, you hear it. It is so distinct. You know who am I talking about? None other, but E Daniels. Yes, e Daniels, you're welcome to the show. Hello everyone, thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I must say, when I got across to you and like, can you do this with us? And when you said yes, it meant a lot, always a pleasure. So how are you? I'm good, good, good, I can see that, so I'm going to start with that name. I know I asked that question before we came on set. Yeah, the E Daniels. What does it stand for?
Speaker 2:So simply E for Emmanuel. Okay, it sounds to Emmanuel Daniels.
Speaker 1:I'm one of the Daniels you're one of the Daniels amazing, ah, my grandfather's name is also Daniels for years, so I each time I come across Daniels, they excite me awesome, alright, so let's get to meet you. Who is E daniels um?
Speaker 2:okay, so e daniels here, um again, emmanuel daniel, um e daniels for short. Yeah, I'm from niger state. I am a singer, songwriter, um, a multi-instrumentalist, also a music producer and director, as you want it. Yes, I'm the fourth of five children. Yes, with parents, and then, and yeah, what else? I'm a child of God.
Speaker 1:I like that. So where did it start?
Speaker 2:for you, the music thing. Where did it start from? So music has been something I had, I, I just grew into, um, the musical space actually, um, so I'm the fourth of, like I said, I'm the fourth of five children. So I, I grew up and then I met everybody in the house singing, literally, yeah so, my older siblings and my mom, and I think the only people who don't really do serious music thing at home is my dad and I think the second born, yeah, my elder brother, the second, yes, but trust me, they are also lovers of music. Yes, so, but the rest of us, every other person I grew up hearing singing all around, and then from there, I, so I attended.
Speaker 2:So while growing up I observed that there were a whole lot of. My brother would get a whole lot of CDs then, yeah, cds, oh, before even cds, this um, cassette, cassette, radio cassettes, yes, different albums. I can't even remember some of their names. Some it's, in fact, for some of the songs I started listening to. Then it's now when I hear them, and then I can now place the name and who who did the the song Actually did the song.
Speaker 2:And then I remember, oh, this was what I used to listen to then, yeah, so he gets all of that and then, aside from him, my mom also gets a whole lot of them. So I grew up listening to a whole lot of music songs from different artists, different genre also, and then I proceeded to my primary school, where I first started my education and then it was located in there's this college of education, zuba.
Speaker 1:Zuba okay.
Speaker 2:Yes, that was where my primary it was school for the visually impaired. It was in the school premises, the college of education premises. They give us few blocks, they were just used. And then some of them in the F premises, the college of education premises. They gave us a few blocks, they were just used. And then some of them in the FCS came around and then they would just pick us and would attend. They would take us to the fellowship and then they now started taking us to the choir. For some of us who they felt like, oh, these guys had like a talent or so, yeah.
Speaker 2:So they started taking us into their music team gradually, gradually, and that was how I started growing and that was actually how music started for me.
Speaker 1:I can imagine Now, whoever has seen E Daniels, one thing strikes, and before we came on I was like telling him hope you don't mind my asking that you know he has a challenge, but he has not allowed that challenge to stop him and I want to ask, for the purpose of, uh, my audience, to know what happened to e daniels okay, so, um, I, I am visually impaired, yes, so basically challenged with the sight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and well, a whole lot of stories surrounding what happened, what happened, but I think I would like to just give the medical side of everything. So it was discovered, I was told, actually, I was told, it was discovered after a few months of my birth that I had measles, which is actually traceable to the cause of the visual impairment. I think it got to affect the sight and as I was growing, everything just kept getting bad.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. So it's been like this for From birth.
Speaker 2:From birth.
Speaker 1:Yes, Wow, so the other day I saw you at the opera room. Yeah, it was it was so blissful it was exciting when. I saw Minister Dunstan inviting you to do that.
Speaker 2:It's a very known song song.
Speaker 1:But the way you did it and he ended up saying we're going to do that song together. What was it like for you?
Speaker 2:Okay. So here is the story. I wake up that Sunday morning and I'm just preparing for service and there's just this thing. I am feeling this kind of an opening in my heart, like something is. I don't know if you get to feel like you're about to receive something, but you don't know from where exactly there's a nudge somewhere. Just there was just something about that morning. It felt different, it felt fresh. I was in my head, I was really preparing for service because I I was supposed to lead a session in church that morning also. So I was preparing for service and I was just getting myself ready and I just prayed. I'm like God, I'm ready for today. I'm just a vessel.
Speaker 2:Let's just do this yeah and then I'm on my way to church listening to the arrangement of the session I'm going to take and all of that. And then I'm with my phone and for like a minute or two I kept my phone down. And by the time I'm picking my phone and for like a minute or two, I kept my phone down. By the time I'm picking my phone back up, I see a missed call from Minister Dunst and I'm like is this a mistake?
Speaker 2:or something so I just told my brother. I'm like, is this him?
Speaker 2:we need to be sure and then we chatted through and we actually saw that he was the one and I'm like okay, so I'm now contemplating between do I respond immediately or I should wait till after service? And I just got the to just respond to him. And then, um, I just sent him a message man of god, good morning, sorry. I missed your call. God bless you. And I get the response back. I like what's going on and then he goes good morning, daniels. Um, god bless you. Are you in abuja? And I said yes, and he said how free are you this evening? I said how free am I?
Speaker 1:I'm you this evening. I said how free am.
Speaker 2:I, I'm free this evening, beautiful. And then he goes. Please could you come be a blessing to us at the upper room this evening? Ah, I just said, no problem, I will be there, I'll be there. So yeah, and that was how the story happened and everything you saw it was it was. It's still an overwhelming moment. I'm still trying to get into, I can imagine so for you?
Speaker 1:how, your process, how do you go about it? Your writing, your scripting, your, you know, putting all that together, how, how does it happen for you?
Speaker 2:okay. So how do we break this down now? Is it songs or generally? Or songs? Okay, yes, mostly the songs, mostly the songs. So I, I, I can, personally, personally, this is a personal thing, this is not. I don't want to generalize. Yeah, this is a personal thing. So this is not. I don't want to generalize, this is a personal thing. So this is how it happens for me. I think I can only place my hand on or I can just try to remember very few number of songs that I have consciously sat down to see. I want to write.
Speaker 2:Yes, if anytime I tell myself I want to sit down to write a song, it doesn't work for me. It really doesn't for me. So most of my songs, they just come and everything comes like that spontaneous. Yes, wow, so um, basically that is how it works for me, but other times I I receive songs through um I'm I'm actually also inspired by um good music that I listen to yes, um, stories of people, situations and and just everything around it.
Speaker 2:It really happens like that, but most of the times it's not something I I can just be here and something is just going on in my head, my spirit, and I just run into where I need to go record and get the tone tone down and all of that, and then later I can come back and to build on it, yes, build on it, fleshing it out Amazing.
Speaker 1:So this particular song, it's one that each time we even in morning devotion or home sale, we're having fellowship and all of that, and we sing it, it makes, it just takes us there. Your name is Yahweh, yahweh, you know, I think the first time I heard that song I was like this person singing this song is seeing Yahweh right in front of him. Come on, because it's just a beautiful cry. Let's talk about that song.
Speaker 2:So Yahweh was actually better for me place of worship, actually, yes. So we used to stay in this house where we had a separate room where, um, we had it was not like a studio, we just turned it into a rehearsal space. So it was not. It was nothing, too nothing, it was just a room, not even painted, not even yeah. So we just had a few, a couple of music, musical instruments set up and then when we have like any serious rehearsals, myself and my team, we just go in there and we just create what we need to create there and then just spend time fellowshipping and just working on our music together, and after that there are times that it's just me alone.
Speaker 2:I just take our time, just go there, sit in there and I'm just this time around. I'm not rehearsing, I'm not working on something new, I'm just fellowshipping Just me either, my piano, my guitar, and I'm just just having my me time with him exactly. And he was from that place that, yeah, we came from. So I was actually singing a song, a popular song that is out there, a very known song. I can't even remember what the song was, but it's a general worship song and I was just worshipping, worshipping and worshipping, and suddenly I started singing your name is Yahweh, and then I just kept singing, singing, singing, and the same feeling I was getting as, like the previous song I was singing, that is everywhere. It just felt like are you sure this is not someone's song? Are you sure?
Speaker 1:It's actually someone's song. It's Yahweh's song, and Yahweh gave it to you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you get my point, I do. So. It felt like it's a song that is already, but that was my business as I. Then I was focused on who I was worshiping and who I was actually spending time with, and it was later it dawned on me. I'm like this is a new song you just received, bro. And then I started singing it with consciousness of oh, this is actually a gift from God that you've received and all of that, and that was how Yahweh was bettered, actually from a deep place of intimacy and just worship.
Speaker 1:Amazing. I mean, if I hear you correctly, spending time with God, you know, brings this revelation on earth and of those secrets? Yes, and the minute they come into this dimension, they bring about this amazing change.
Speaker 2:That is obvious. It will just feel like it's been existing.
Speaker 1:Yes, you know that song my daughter, my children. Whenever we raise it, mostly my daughter. She takes it up again and on and on. The other day in church I work with teens, teenagers, so I raised it and it just went on like an anthem. Yes, you know, amazing, amazing. So what are we expecting, or what should we expect, from you?
Speaker 2:I mean, so amazing things coming up actually, yes, I mean so. I mean amazing things coming up actually, um. Yes, there is a single, that is, that is, um, to be released very soon, okay, next month, precisely, all right, so look out, look out, look out for that. Yes, um, it's a song that is already out, actually so, but I, I did like a remake of the song and it's so beautiful I can't wait to share, to share with you already. But, besides that, a whole lot coming up, um, I had a live recording last year, okay, and we, god, gave us some very beautiful songs. One of them was one of the songs we did um, um at um stage yes, last year remember we're talking about, we're meeting at the event last year.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, very beautiful song. It will take you to that deep place and connect you to your maker instantly yeah so those songs are powerful and we are working. We're working and we will start releasing some of those songs very, very soon. So good, watch out, watch out, watch out. It was. It was a powerful time we had during the live recording and we can't wait to share the moment with you thank you, yes.
Speaker 1:So now for what you do and who you are. We have a lot of young people you know in this generation who are somewhat, would I say, looking for that direction. They are like what's my purpose? What am I doing here? You have discovered your purpose and you're living it today. Can you share with them, let them in on what I call it your secret, which might trigger their secret?
Speaker 2:Okay. So my secret is actually very, very simple, okay. So, first of all, I think one of the things that helped me first was to first discover that there is something I have. There's something I have. So I think that is like your first point of call to first discover your abilities, what you can do, your strengths, yes. So once you are able to do that, then from there you find every possible means to make sure you are building on those strengths.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:So this is both practically, emotionally, mentally, and every other ways you can be able to find ways to build on your strength and abilities that you have, find resources, find mentors, if you can find role models and all of that and, at the end of the day, besides all of this that you look for for me, god has always been my focus, always been my focus.
Speaker 2:I has always been my focus. I think I owe it all to him because he first helped me discover these things that he has placed in me. So, and when I finally did, all I just did was to focus on him to say, oh okay, you are the way, so I am trusting you to lead me through this path I have chosen to follow, and then to help me develop these strengths, these abilities, these, these things you've, you've placed in me. And, yeah, once you've been able to do that, all of this two major things that have that has helped me actually has been focus and consistency. Focus and consistency. See, um, one second, you look away from what you're doing. You are doing something else yeah you are actually doing something else.
Speaker 2:Just a second. You look you are actually doing something to be, especially right now that we are in a very degeneration and the world where we are in now the distraction is just so much.
Speaker 2:So it has to be 100% or it's zero. It has to be 100% or it's zero. So it has to be 100% or it's zero. So it's okay to fall, it's okay to make mistakes, at the end of the day, but pick yourself back up and trace back your steps and maintain the focus and then be consistent, finally, at what you are. So you don't want to be doing a whole lot of things at the same time at every given point and all of that. So be consistent at um, what you know your strength is what you know your abilities. Just follow it through. Follow it through and you'll just be seeing the result.
Speaker 2:It might start coming little by little, just like drops of water but, at the end of the day, when you are able to sit and gather and take stock, you see that you where you, where you end up at the end of the day. It is so far from where you actually started from, amazing focus and consistency.
Speaker 1:That's what I hear you say clearly. Uh, don't be afraid of falling, don't be afraid of mistakes, but you got to pick your, pick yourself back up. Then you go after it, you go after it. Guys, we've been talking with e daniels. Yes, today, you know the meaning of that now is emmanuel daniels, so whenever you see him, yes, we've been discussing with him you will agree with me an amazing story he has here and, uh, quite exciting having him in the studio with us today. Now one last question. Before, uh, we wrap it up here now, I saw you on stage. Stage is a program hosted by the Summit Bible Church here in Abuja. It brings together Afro-Gospel and all of that, ministers and all and again. From that period till now, I've seen this gradual rise for you within this space. How do you collaborate with other artists or ministers, music ministers within the body?
Speaker 2:Okay, so for me I think personally, just like you said, from that time to now it's.
Speaker 2:It's really been like a skyrocket like an opal for me. I I want to really just give glory to god. First of all, he has been the one chatting my course, actually. So for some of these collaborations that maybe you might have seen between then and now, let me give, for instance, it's, it's sincerely not something I personally went after. Yes, so god just crossed our paths, make these things happen, yeah, um, some of them reached out to say, oh, oh, bro, can we do this and all of that. And then these are also some. For some of them I tried to reach out to. I tried to reach out For some, some people I tried to reach out to before now.
Speaker 1:I can imagine yes.
Speaker 2:And right now it's either that you are the ones reaching out or it's no longer as hard as it used to be between them. So I sincerely just give glory to God for the times that he's bringing me into right now. The season he's bringing me into right now, the season he's bringing me into right now, yeah, basically, I just I am open to to. I love, personally aside ministry and all of that. I love good music and sometimes it might look like I am picky with collaborations and all of that, but it's just because of the sound in my head and sound in my mind also. So I I look out for those sounds that I think, yeah, this is it for me, this is for me, and then I try to reach out to, and then God also, like I said, I've been, I've been bringing these people my way and just crossing our paths and just be making it happen he makes all things beautiful in his time
Speaker 1:and that's what I hear you, know you before now I've been trying to do this. I've been trying to reach this person. It's been impossible, but all of a sudden the person is now chasing me and all of that, and uh, we give glory to god. Yeah, I want to say a very big thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1:You know, to come into this space and share this positive energy with my audience. Nice to be here. Thank you guys. Please go listen to E Daniels. Just look for him. Just look for him everywhere, everywhere I know lately, on TikTok, I've been seeing you, oh yeah, everywhere. Everywhere I know, lately on TikTok, I've been seeing you, oh yeah, and all that. So I just whenever I see those songs, I just stop and I like, okay, let me listen to him for one minute or two. You know there's this particular one. I saw not your song, but you did it perfectly well. It was this Yoruba tune, I think it was done.
Speaker 1:It was this Yoruba tune. I think it was done. It was done by you, just said it.
Speaker 2:Yes, that was the ministration I had in church, and then the video. Just, I mean, I personally don't even have that video, but I've just been seeing it everywhere when I saw it I was like, excuse me, hold on, hold on.
Speaker 1:I had to play it over and over and over again and when I realised I said, okay, let me see who did this song. I said, okay, it's actually another I mean another group, but you did it. Like I won't say you owned it, you actually did it it's a beautiful song.
Speaker 2:it is ministering to me, it is.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Now, before we let you go from the World Cafe, we have a gift from you. Usually, when we have our guests, we share with them this wonderful what do we call it now? A pillow, a cushion? It's something to remember us by. I will just walk up to you and you'll drop the one you're holding, and that's it.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, thank you each time you, I mean hold it.
Speaker 1:You remember us here at the ward cafe. You know, live show guys. Thanks for having me pleasure. We, we've heard it from E Daniels. You, you, you, you are like, I mean, I'm excited. Please go listen to his songs, stream them. I mean he has something coming up he just shared with us, so get yourself ready, it would you. I know that because I have been under his administration before Exciting.
Speaker 1:Alright guys, you know how we say it on the show. This is that space where we come in to lean on one another's experience to forge a positive path. Yes, my producer will always tell me to do this. We are everywhere, everywhere, I mean on social media TikTok, instagram, facebook, linkedin, snapchat is not on our radar for now, so please go follow us. Yes, our YouTube channel. We have amazing content for you there. Go, why Go ahead? Subscribe, follow us, click on that notification button so that you will get fresh, fresh juices from this space. All right, Till I come your way again. You know how we say it on the show. My name is Amakri, amakri Sobue. Bye for now, daniels, bye, thank you.