The former girl group songbirds say despite being on opposite ends of the music industry, they have no iota of hate against each other as largely rumoured. They spoke separetely to Selma Neshiko
The rumoured beef between the former award-winning R&B twosome, Frieda ‘Freeda’ Haindaka (above) and Daphne ‘Oteya’ Willibard of the now defunct Gal Level is, seemingly, over. Fans noticed that during different occasions where the ladies appeared at the same events, they ignored each other and kept a distance from each other, even short of a ‘greeting’ each other. Despite previous claims that the two have beef with each other, there have also
been claims that the ex-singing duo aren’t on friendly terms. Oteya addressed the alleged beef and stating that their separation was taken out of perspective. “I have no hate for her but I know for sure people have made it possible to bring issues between us,” she says. “I discovered last year when I approached her to perform with me at the P-Square show, it was unlikely, though I respected the competition issues between music labels. It’s a pity that the industry is this way but life goes on. I’m happy with my solo career. I’m aiming and hoping my solo career will surpass the Gal Level fame and bury issues pertaining to Gal Level once and for all!”
On the other hand, Freeda does not understand why people pit her against Oteya. “I am personally happy for her. I think she is doing well for herself both personally and professionally. This is someone I shared half my life with.
Just because we are not together anymore does not mean I should be bitter and not want them to succeed. Her success does not take anything away from me and vice versa.” After the break-up of Gal Level, Willibard came back as Oteya and Haindaka as Freeda. Freeda pursed her solo career in 2013 and Oteya in 2014 with each dropping
solo albums, Ethimbo and Just Freeda respectively. The Boom Boom singer, Freeda, is surprised that people even still care about the groups split-up. “It’s funny how people want to tur n this whole thing around to something
that it’s not supposed to be,” she says. “Before we made sure our fans were aware of this separation.
We wanted to make changes both in our personal lives and careers. For example, Daphne wanted to start her own family and I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a solo artist.” This however contradicts sensational
singer, Oteya, who states that the idea for their separation was to taste waters of their solo careers but external interference started brooding. “Freeda was offered a deal, by the owner of a certain company that deals with
cell phones to use Freeda’s image to market their cell phone brand and he wanted to do this outside the label. Freeda was given the task to choose between the two and she chose to accept the deal outside Ogopa Butterfly. Also the
offer wanted her detach from Gal level.” “At that point in time our contract with Ogopa was three months before expiry, thus Ogopa couldn’t do much, so Ogopa let go of Freeda, which was sad because Ogopa lost a lot of money which they never got back,” Oteya says. When asked whether they each still have a right to perform the songs composed under Gal Level, Oteya said “the rights of Gal Level-recorded songs belong to Ogopa Butterfly as our publishers and music label at the time. We all have rights to perform the songs for as long as the publisher is informed.” However Freeda does not see the need to perform the songs. “It just doesn’t make sense to still perform Gal Level’s songs as solo artists. Though the songs were done under the same label, because the songs were written by both Freeda and Daphne, and yes the label does have copyright, but the group is not there anymore. So it just doesn’t make sense even to the fans and I think we all saw the people’s responses when that happened.”
The duos differences, however, seems to confirm that there will be no Gal Level reunion anytime soon. “I am very happy as a solo artist. It’s a dream I had for a long time. I am usually booked three to five months in advance for shows and my album is still selling well. I am busy working on my second album. I enjoyed being in a group but I love doing my own thing now,” says Freeda. Oteya says she is not competing with Freeda. “I’m doing music for my fans and I love every bit of it. As for sale and success of my solo album, I would not want to blow my own trumpet, I suggest you do that research and tell me.”