Antonio Deinde Fernandez’ Daughter Dabbles into Music, Releases First Single
Daughter of Nigerian Billionaire Antonio Deinde Fernandez, Abimbola ‘Bim’ Fernandez has said she has set her sights on becoming the next Rihanna.
Fernandez said this in an interview with the New York Post after the release of her first single ‘Let’s Take It Naked’ which was released today on SMH Records’ site, with an iTunes roll-out expected soon.
The New York-based 24-year-old told the paper that she has embarked on her career without the help of her father -who is reportedly worth a staggering $8.7 billion and is considered one of the wealthiest men in the world- despite a hefty monthly allowance from him.
She said: “l think that, unfortunately, everyone’s perception of socialites has been pretty accurate so far, which is what I want to change.
“Money can’t buy a record deal, It can’t buy good music. You can either sing or you can’t.”
Talking about the new single whose title suggests some racy lines, Fernandez said: “It’s very poppy, like, ‘I think you’re cute! Do you like me? So let’s get naked!’ I want it to be that song where it’s like, ‘Turn that song on! Let’s get ready! Let’s do shots!'”
Fernandez who decided to pursue her life-long dream of a singing career only last year after her mother died of colon cancer, cited Barbadian singer, Rihanna as one of her biggest musical inspirations. Her only prior professional music experience was a vocal cameo in Cobra Starship’s 2009 album Hot Mess – a feature she booked after meeting the band’s lead singer Gabe Saporta backstage at a show.
In November, she signed her record deal with SMH and revealed that she is now topping off negotiations for her reality TV pilot to be picked up by a major network. She also shared insights on how her starkly different outlook on publicity and self-promotion has worried her father. She also sees the release of her new single as an opportunity to prove her own potential.
“He’s terrified because I’m his baby – especially with [me] revealing [my] wealth. And me being alone in the country, he’s terrified of someone kidnapping me and holding me for ransom,” she said.
“He also just doesn’t want people taking advantage of me because I have been sheltered my whole life.
“People think I’m exactly like Paris Hilton, that I do nothing, I don’t work for myself, I don’t take my own money, I just spend my dad’s money, and I’m a spoiled brat. I hope they’re not right.”