J uju music sensation, Dare Falade is ready to release his second album almost six years after his debut album set the pace for other African musicians across North America.

His last show was the 2001 Ekiti Kete Club of Chicago annual gala held at a mall on 111 Street and Halsted.

“I never left the scene even though I’ve not been playing round the clock like it used to be in 2000 and early 2001,” the musician told The Chicago Inquirer when cornered at Ola Mummy restaurant in the south side.

“My marriage and birth of two children changed everything but I’ve been playing consistently in churches, producing albums in US and London and even ventured into acting,” he said.

“Nothing makes me happier than when I’m playing music. I was the youngest band member of King Sunny Ade and I enjoy entertaining fans and the public with melodious songs,” Falade stated.

Falade attended acting classes at Acting School located at 3043 North Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Unlike Nigeria where budding musicians are more desperate to have a chance to perform with established and talented musicians, Falade said the hassle to pay bills and respond positively to overtures at home as well as take care of family matters hardly allow African musicians to rise above the fray.

“Band members don’t have time for rehearsals. Eighty percent of the instruments played and songs in my debut album were actually done by me. You can’t blame them because they have to live and provide for their family,” he said.

Falade hopes to release his second album before the end of the year. “It is coming with a video too.

The launching is tentatively set for June”, he said, adding that “the second album is a combination of Juju without all the worldly message similar to Ayefele’s kind of music. People will really have good time.”