Musician Categories: Interviews

You’ve probably heard the popular Kumama Papa song that has been trending on social media, especially among Christian young people. There are now various versions of the Kumama Papa song, but two of the earliest versions were by Clement Whyte and Prinx Emmanuel, both featuring Grace Lokwa. Today on Musicians’ Corner, I will be featuring my interview with Clement Whyte, one of the people that made the earliest versions of the Kumama Papa song as we hear it today.

Clement Whyte is a music minister, a songwriter, music producer, music director and sound manager. In the past few weeks, a lot of videos on social media have been done with this Kumama Papa song used as the background music. And truthfully speaking, it is a beautiful song to listen to. Here is my interview with Clement Whyte.

Spirit: First, can you tell us a little about yourself and your childhood days?

Clement Whyte: My birth name is Clement Ibechone Uwanni. I’m the first child of my parents. My parents were in the choir in their time and are now Ordained ministers with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I learnt the basics of how to play the piano while I watched someone teach my dad how to play and picked up the rest from there.

My childhood days was very rough cos my parents couldn’t afford to really take care of us at some point. But then I would say God’s faithfulness have been sufficient for us through the years.

Spirit: Interesting. What motivated you into music?

Clement Whyte: I honestly can’t say something motivated me or what actually motivated me into music cos I literally found myself growing in it. Music was always there wherever I turn to. When we were children, my dad always played music, very early every morning, while we were still asleep. My dad or uncle would have the cd player running almost all the time. We were also forced to attend choir rehearsals with them cos they were all in the choir.  Well, I wouldn’t say the “forced” was the right choice of word, because we couldn’t have been able to stay home alone, so we had to go with them. Music was just at our right, left, back, and front while growing up.

Spirit: Wow! So, music has always been a part of you. I read that you started your music career as the music director/ pianist in a church. Can you tell us a little about those days? How was the experience?

Clement Whyte: Wow, I had a lot of wonderful experiences. I was permitted/allowed to join the adult choir even though I was not old enough, because they saw how I was beginning to perform extremely well in the children choir. One day, the church drummer fell sick and the first time I touched the drum set ever, I played it like a pro at the time. Before then, I used to rehearse drum playing on a bench back at my mum’s shop. Later on, my parents relocated to the busy part of Lagos, Alagbado to be precise. That’s where I started playing the piano proper and then I gradually rose to being the choir director.

Spirit: That’s interesting. So, how long have you been doing music?

Clement Whyte: I can approximately say I’ve been doing music professionally for 14 years now.

Spirit: Wow! That’s a long time. Can you tell us a bit about how you met Grace Lokwa and how you came about making a version of the popular Kumama Papa song?

Clement Whyte: The was no connection from the start. A sister from the U.S. sent me a video of Grace Lokwa singing the song with some people on the street. It was Acapella. She said she heard my voice in it and wanted to be sure it was really me. Honestly, when I listened to it, I heard a voice in the background that sounded like mine. But then l immediately connected with the file and went ahead to make a quality audio file. Afterwards, I contacted Grace Lokwa and asked if I could go ahead and publish the song to the world and he agreed.

Spirit: How does it feel now that the song is trending and blessing millions of lives?

Clement Whyte: Anyone would be joyful, but I have been working and waiting for this to happen, I don’t feel too surprised actually. I want more. I strongly feel this is just a start and hope that God helps me to achieve what I really want.

Spirit: Let’s talk about your other songs.. I know you have other beautiful songs. Can you say something about them?

Clement Whyte: Yes, I’ve done some covers and a few original songs too. For most of the cover songs, I would say I was motivated by how much the songs speak to me. For my original songs, I would say different things have inspired me at different points of my life. There are some of my songs that are yet to be released, but all of them tell a story and most importantly tell people about God. There are so many stories to be told about each of them but I’ll stop here. Thank you.

Spirit: What are some of the biggest lessons you have learnt in all these years of doing music?

Clement Whyte: Hmm… I like to make use of 2 key words here: Consistency and Passion. Passion made me want to dig deep musically. I don’t get tired and I always look towards perfection. Most importantly, I love what I do. Passion and consistency are intertwined sort of, cos for me my passion brought me into consistency. I’m always available to do music irrespective.

Spirit: Great. If you were to advise a younger aspiring musician, what would say to them from your experience?

Clement Whyte: First I’ll like to say do what works for you. Operate more in your comfort Zone. Note that I said, “operate more”, I didn’t say you shouldn’t try other things outside your comfort. You have to just operate more there; put more tenacity where you function most. We all have that one thing, that one area you are good at, USE IT.

Secondly, put God first. Actually, this should have been the first advice. With God, you can achieve more than you can ever imagine. He is the first prescription for every ailment and the only map to your destination. It is God that gives the power to make wealth and wisdom to create exploit. He’s the source of creativity. So, indulge yourself, talk to him cos he has experience. That’s all I can say. If you put this to use, with other little things in place, you’re good to go.

Spirit: Wow! Thank you very much for your time.

Well guys, this is where we’ll stop. You can connect with Clement Whyte or listen to his songs via his linktree.

Remember that you can get unbiased song reviews for your songs (whether they have been released or yet to be released) for just a token. The reviews could be private (for your consumption only) or it could be published on our site. You’ll get honest appraisals as well as constructive criticism of your songs. This would help you get better in your music. Plus, other people who might never have heard about you before would get to listen to your songs when they read the published reviews (who knows, they might even turn to fans). If you’re interested to get your songs reviewed, send an email to jeplunemusic@gmail.com and attach an mp3 of the song to be reviewed. Also state if you would like a private review or if you would want it published.

 

 

Last week, on Musicians Corner, I featured the first part of my interview with OluwaDrumma. This is the second and concluding part of that interview and here we got talking about the way forward for the Music industry in Jos. You can read the first part of the interview here. Enjoy!

Spirit: Are there some challenges you face with doing music here in Jos?

Oluwadrumma: Well, the music industry in Jos is growing, and you know for every growing industry, there is bound to be challenges. The music industry in Lagos right now wasn’t always like this 15 to 20 years ago, but it has grown. One of the things I’ve noticed with people who do music in Jos is that they are, often times, not confident that their art is good enough to sustain them if they make a market for it. You know, depending on other sources of income makes an artist distracted cos the time they should be investing in their craft is taken by something else. And I don’t blame anybody because surviving in Nigeria is very tough.

But making music in Jos is very special for me because I don’t think you can find a bunch of very talented musicians any other place in world, as you would find in Jos. And it’s just a matter of time and effort. Thank God for people who are doing things for the music industry in Jos, music journalists like you, bloggers, etc. I mean, that’s what the music industry in Jos needs. We need to have a voice, we need to say “Hey, we are here”. We need to get the attention of the world and we cannot do that by being silent.

And we back that up with availability of quality content. That’s one thing I noticed when I was in Lagos. The market is so competitive that if you weren’t good at what you do, you lose out. Simple! That’s the kind of attitude we need to cultivate in Jos.

Spirit: Wow! You really have passion for the growth of the music industry in Jos… Now, let’s talk about Kr8 radio. How did the vision come about? And how did you start?

Oluwadrumma: Well, the vision for Kr8 was born out of my passion for the musicians in Jos. I realized that we needed to tell our own story, and we can’t do that without radio, social media, you know,  covering events and putting the word out there that something is happening here in Jos. That’s what gave birth to the vision.

So, I called my friend, Igwe and a couple of friends and we sat down together to strategize. I had never done internet radio before, so the whole process was entirely new. I had to do a lot of research and study and finally we got the ball rolling. I’m proud to say we were the first internet radio in the Northern part of Nigeria. With time, we beagan to expanded, had a blog, created a music store, and began a vlog.

We’re still growing and still establishing the brand. We hope to provide solutions to music related problems in the future, because we want artists to be comfortable and excel in their crafts. Right now, we are limited in what we do because of funds but we’re not giving up.

Spirit: Interesting! Now, I know you have a lot on your plate. How do you manage with all these responsibilities; the studio, the radio and now your home?

Oluwadrumma: Umm… First of all, I would say the help of God. Secondly, I have a lot of people around me who are very supportive and who take their work very seriously. Amazing people. I can’t begin to mention names because they are quite many. And I’m grateful to God for blessing me with these people. Something that helps me and my team is that we try as much as possible to always set goals and aim towards accomplishing those goals.

Thirdly, I have a very understanding wife who is also very supportive of what I do. In fact, she motivates me to do more. And I’m grateful to God for her. This has been one of my biggest fears with regards to marriage; I didn’t want to marry someone who would slow me down or be a setback to my goals. And thankfully, God gave me a woman who understands me and encourages to do more.

Spirit: Thank you for your sincerity. Now, beyond just making music, you seem to have a heart for the gospel and it is very evident. Can you say this has limited you in any way with regards to success in music?

Oluwadrumma: Yes, I love God and I have a heart for the Gospel. Some time ago, I used to do a lot of stuff for a lot of people, on that road to fame, you know na. But I got a point, I wasn’t satisfied anymore, and I’m not talking about money, I mean that inner peace/ satisfaction was lacking. I just felt like I was doing something wrong, you know. Those times when I’m mixing a song and I’m hearing the lyrics, and I know, deep down, that this song I’m mixing will contribute greatly to the further decadence of the society. It goes beyond the money, you know. So, I made up my mind, and till date, I don’t accept songs that encourage moral decadence. Cos I know music contributes, up to 75%, to the moral decadence in our society today. It’s a fact. Music can either positively or negatively influence people.

Has that limited me in any way? It’s a choice I made. Being a Christian, I see it as my responsibility to fix my ‘Father’s House’ (the church) first, before attempting to fix my neighbour’s house. I used to complain about music in the church and kept comparing the Christian Music industry with the mainstream industry, but I realized that such complains would not solve the problem. So, instead of complaining, we ought to contribute towards changing  the narrative instead. And that’s what I’ve decided to do.

Spirit: That’s awesome. It seems you and I have the same philosophy about music. Now, what advice would you give someone aspiring to be a music producer like you?

Oluwadrumma: Alright, first of all, I would advise such a person to get their facts right. By this, I mean learn the basics of music. Learning how to make beats is not the first thing you should go for. A lot of producers find it difficult to evolve in their sound because the basics are not there. So learn the basics.

Secondly, be sure of why you’re going into music production. And make up your mind that you’re going to stay, even if the whole world turns against you. Don’t go into music production with uncertainty in your mind as to whether or not this is what you want to do.

Thirdly, you need to be very patient with creativity. It could be very frustrating trying to get into the creative mood. So you have to very patient with yourself and be patient with the creative process.

Spirit: Any final words for upcoming music artists and producers?

Oluwadrumma:  Yes… For upcoming artists and producers, know that everything is possible. Believe it. Truth is, nothing great can be accomplished without faith. So, have faith; know that you’re going to be fine. And then trust the creative process. Don’t be under pressure to impress anybody with things you can’t achieve at any point. At some point, you’re going to have people (maybe even people you respect) start questioning what you do, try to discourage you, asking why there are little or no results to show for it. But don’t let them stop you. Know that if this is God’s call/ ministry, then He is the only one you should listen to.

Spirit: Wow! Thank you very much for accepting to do this, and for your time. Thank you for your transparency. I’m sure my readers would learn a lot from this. God bless you!

Oluwadrumma: Thank you for having me. I count it a privilege to be able to share my story. Thank you very much for doing this for music and for the city of Jos. I pray that God increases what you’re doing. And please don’t stop.

 

Alright folks, with this, we’ve come to the end of my interview with OluwaDrumma. I’m sure you learnt a lot from this concluding part, especially with the talk about the Music industry in Jos. You can follow OluwaDrumma on Facebook or Instagram @Oluwadrumma.

Remember that you can get unbiased song reviews for your songs (whether they have been released or yet to be released). The reviews could be private (for your consumption only) or it could be published on our site. You’ll get honest appraisals as well as constructive criticism of your songs. This would help you get better in your music. Plus, other people who might never have heard about you before would get to listen to your songs when they read the published reviews (who knows, they might even turn to fans). If you’re interested to get your songs reviewed, send an email to jeplunemusic@gmail.com and attach an mp3 of the song to be reviewed. Also state if you would like a private review or if you would want it published.

Today, on Musicians’ Corner, I’ll be featuring an interview I had with Oluwadrumma, one of the finest music producers in the city of Jos. He has produced quite a number of both known and upcoming artistes, both within and outside Jos. He is also the founder of Kr8 radio, an online radio station operating from Jos city. I would say it’s a privilege for me to interview him on this blog. Due to the length of the interview, I decided to split it into two parts and this is the first part. Enjoy!

Spirit: Let’s start this interview with the name, Oluwadrumma”, how did you get the name?

Oluwadrumma: Well, initially, my production name was “drummaboy” from my favourite Christmas carol, ‘The little Drummer boy’. And drums was the first instrument I learnt to play. Even till date, it’s still my favourite instrument. But when I moved to Lagos to work, as a producer and sound engineer, with a particular outfit over there, my boss called my attention to the fact that there is another producer in the U.S who also goes by the name ‘Drummaboy’. He advised that I find another unique name for myself, so that it wouldn’t be a problem when I grow bigger than I was then. And honestly, I’m grateful for that advice cos I had never thought of it before then. Also, my mum is Yoruba, and Yorubas basically add ‘Oluwa’ as prefix to most names. So, one time, I was in Ogun state with my uncle and he called me ‘Oluwadrummerboy’ and it struck a chord. I thought to myself, “this might just be the name I’m looking for”. I pitched it to my boss and he said it’s too long. He suggested that I shorten it to ‘Oluwadrumma’ instead and that’s how the name stuck from 2015 till date.

Spirit: Wow! That’s interesting. Please can you share with us a little about your childhood days before music?

Oluwadrumma: Ok, errrmh… I used to drum on anything; pots, plates, anything. I grew up with my grandmum, I stayed with her till I was 14 years old or thereabout. Back then, in the church we attended, the use of musical instruments was sort of prohibited. I didn’t really get the opportunity to learn or even see any musical instruments till I was like 14. So, I would say I started music very late. I know it takes a lot of time and learning to develop and be very good at any skill, but considering when I started and how fast I learnt, I would say I’m blessed. However, I remember my grandma used to play a lot of music in the house; the likes of Fela, Lucky Dube, Femi Kuti, etc. Also, she had a file with those song sheets that had sofa notations. She taught me how to sing the notes, so I would pick them and sing; I think I went through all the sheets she had. I knew tonic sofas when I was about 5 or 6 years old and that knowledge has really helped me. Right now, I don’t think there’s anything that can confuse me in music. So, I would say, I had a little bit of music theory training from my grand mum.

Spirit: Interesting! So, what or who motivated you to start music production?

Oluwadrumma: Well, first of all, I would say my frustration. I come from a home where my father is very passionate about education. In my father’s house, if you don’t have a degree, you can’t talk. Hahaha. That was on a lighter note. But then he ensured that every one of us had the best of education. However, I was frustrated with school and exams and all that, so music became my escape. I used to sneak into a church, would get locked in the vestry all night, just so I could learn piano. I’m a self-taught pianist; nobody taught me to play piano until much later. Back then, there weren’t many YouTube videos and they were not easily accessible like they are today. The only way for us to access the internet then was cyber café`s. But whenever I could afford browsing time, I would download and print materials and then go back and study them. Good thing my father did for me was the reading culture; I read more than I listen to music. All this to say that my frustration with school was my first motivation to learn music production.

Then a friend of mine showed me how to use Fruity Loops (I can’t remember which version it was). I used to spend hours figuring stuff out myself and learning. Later on, my brother bought a desktop for me. It was a Pentium 4, 3.2GHz, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HDR, oh my God! It was everything for me. I felt like Einstein. But I had to trek long distances to get software. Then I started learning and learning. I’m still learning though. There are a few people I would like to mention their names, first is Mr. Seth. I interned with him for a very long time, he took me like a younger brother and showed me everything about production, from beat making to mixing, then mastering. I would say I became a music producer because of him.

Spirit: Wow! That’s quite a journey. I’m sure there’s so much more you couldn’t say. What were some challenges you had in your early days of learning production?

Oluwadrumma: Oh yeah, there were a lot of challenges, man. The first was getting good equipment. Man, I had to build everything myself. I had no financial support from anywhere. Since my passion wasn’t medical practice or law practice, I guess it wasn’t important to people around; I mean what is music? So, I had to use my business sense, eat less, save more so as to buy equipment, pay rent and survive. Up till now, no one has ever supported my music production career financially… I laugh when I see people who are just starting out in music production and they want to earn big immediately. Things don’t work out like that. I remember one time, I produced a full album of 10 tracks for N15k. And then I had to use N10k out of the money to buy motherboard for my desktop. I made many sacrifices, man. There was a time I was interning at studio. I would come around and watch but I wasn’t permitted to touch anything. The only chance I had to practice was in the night. So, I would plead with the senior intern there and he would lock me in the studio. I had so many ‘locking insides’ in my journey. Hahaha. I would practice and learn on my own from 11pm to like 6am. Up till now, I still sleep on coaches and on the floor sometimes. Hahaha.

Spirit: You sure have a lot of stories to tell. Now, I’ve heard some of your productions over the years, and I must confess, you’re really good at the craft. What would you say helped you become this good with production?

Oluwadrumma: I’m flattered (smiles). But thank you… The first thing I would say that helps me is the power of imagination. All the music I’ve ever made started in my head. I think studying Physics in college really helped me; all those mathematics and calculations really stretched my mind. So, I do everything in my head before I start production and that has helped me a great deal. Also, I like experimenting a lot. I ask questions like, “what if the things that has been said about this is not right?”, “what would be the worst-case scenario if I do this wrongly or if I don’t follow the rules?” and that also helps me. The funny thing is I still use the regular software that everybody uses, but because of the trainings I received in my early days, I tweak the sounds, use EQ, filters, make them sound unique.

Secondly, I understudied a lot of people. There are a lot of producers I’ve learnt from that I have never met. Their sounds and their approach to music production has influenced me a lot.

Thirdly, I listen to a very wide range of musical genres. I used to have a 20Gb library of classical music that I listen to. In fact, I spent the entire lockdown period of 2020 listening to classical music and they have greatly influenced me….

This is where I’ll end this first part of my interview with Oluwadrumma. I’m sure you learnt a lot from it and you’re itching to read the remaining part of the interview. Don’t worry, you’ll get that soon enough.

Meanwhile, I’d like to remind you that you can get unbiased song reviews for your songs (whether they have been released or yet to be released). The reviews could be private (for your consumption only) or it could be published on our site. You’ll get honest appraisals as well as constructive criticism of your songs. This would help you get better in your music. Plus, other people who might never have heard about you before would get to listen to your songs when they read the published reviews (who knows, they might even turn to fans). If you’re interested to get your songs reviewed, send an email to jeplunemusic@gmail.com and attach an mp3 of the song to be reviewed. Also state if you would like a private review or if you would want it published.

Today, on Musicians Corner, I’ll be featuring an interview with Aizek. Aizek is a rap artist with D.P.E Records. He has two published projects and several other singles. He is also a part of the HBR Squad, and in collaboration with the other artist in the group, they have two published joint projects. So, let’s get on with the interview.

Spirit: Please can you share with us a little about your childhood days before music?

Aizek: I grew up in Rukuba Road in Jos, Plateau State, moved when I was 10. I’ve always been the laid-back person, had a couple of friends. You know how childhood days are na; playing, eating, getting into trouble ?, and all that. Fun memories and not so fun memories. It was good though.

Spirit: So, what or who motivated you to start rapping?

Aizek: Okay, a little background before I answer that, before rapping I used to sing, ??  I remember being in a boy band in school that eventually had female members?. And back in Sunday School I remember presenting ‘special numbers’ with some friends. I joined the church band in my church and all that… Music was kinda part of me, and I love rap. Back in secondary school I loved hip hop, used to search for lyrics and try following some of the songs, fast forward in 2006 I got introduced to CHH and man, it was a great experience, having Christians rapping and sharing their faith in hip hop, it was something else. I enjoyed listening to amazing songs back then and the desire to rap kept increasing, I believed this was something I was supposed to do, sharing from my experiences and worldview, basically the things I believe in. So, in ’07 I and Bwans co-founded a hip hop group named Da BOARD, we talked to some of our friends that shared the same passion for music, CHH…and some became a part of it. Cross Movement was a big motivation back then. Shout out to my big bro Wanger, he was my first plug that year to CHH, access to the music he shared with me played a key role in me doing this now.

Spirit: That’s interesting. So, what were some encounters you had in your early days of your music career? Was it easy?

Aizek: Honestly it wasn’t easy. First there’s the process of actually growing and becoming better, taking criticism and stuff. Then support, raising support and money wasn’t easy, cos you need money to do this… Like you really do. Great thing we had people that believed in us when we started (I’m saying we cos I started rapping with a group). The whole thing about rapping in church or at church events was a strange thing to a lot of people, so different people kicked against it and stuff, some legit couldn’t hear what we were saying.

Spirit: I can imagine… But, despite all these encounters/ challenges you continued. Why? What is your drive/ motivation?

Aizek: I’ve been down different times, thought about quitting, I’ve actually said ‘I quit’ different times too, but somehow, I get back. I believe this is something God wants me to do right now. Using my experiences and what I believe in to just speak to someone… In most cases I’m the someone. It’s beyond me and it’s beyond just the music. Being part of a community also helps; as you renew your mind with the word, you renew your vision with the community around. So, I keep pushing hoping that God will use it all for his glory, the good, the bad and the in-betweens.

I believe this is something God wants me to do right now. Using my experiences and what I believe in to just speak to someone… In most cases I’m the someone. It’s beyond me and it’s beyond just the music. Being part of a community also helps; as you renew your mind with the word, you renew your vision with the community around.

Spirit: Wow! There’s a whole lot of message in there. I think I need to take a minute to let it sink…

Back to the questions, I still remember the first time I heard one of the songs from your first mix tape. I did not believe you were Nigerian because of how good you were. What would you say made you become this good?

Aizek: I appreciate that. I believe in having the desire to keep growing and striving to be excellent. As I grew in my work with God, I realized sometimes we don’t put in work to be good at various giftings God has given us, especially within the church, you see people that will just do whatever and not give their best. God wants us to be excellent with whatever giftings we have. That’s something my group back then believed in, so we strive to be better. And believe me, it’s a lifelong process because most times I don’t think I’m that good.

Spirit: You are part of the HBR squad. What does it feel like working with a team now, especially since you used to be an independent artist?

Aizek: It’s not a new thing, like I pointed out cos I actually started rapping with friends in a group. It’s a great feeling. I do music with some very creative and artistic individuals, like they’re all good. It’s fun, engaging, pushes me to be better. I mean when I look back to how we worked on our various Cyphers, you should check them out if you haven’t, from the concept and ideas surrounding each one… Crazy. Then our joint projects; The Unserious Project and We Are Serious (WAS)… Creating those two projects was mad amazing, it was really good.

Spirit: Ok. Do you think your faith as a Christian has limited you in your music career in any way?

Aizek: Nah… I don’t think so. There are people that definitely won’t listen to me but I don’t see that as a limitation, there are places they won’t call me to perform at… Still. Something to point out here, being a Christian doesn’t limit the kind of songs you do, cos I believe whatever song you’re working on will be from the worldview you have and your belief system. There was a single I had some years back, ‘Kpomo vs. You’ featuring Haye, a Christian blog didn’t publish it when I sent it, they said it was more mainstream than Christian… I don’t know what that means sha ?. Limits here is very relative.

Spirit: Are there benefits you’ve enjoyed as a musician because of your faith?

Aizek: Some respect and admire what I do and support it.

Spirit: Ok. One of the qualities you have that I admire a lot is your humility. Are there things you consciously practice to stay humble?

Aizek: Hmmm… This is tricky for me. Humility is thinking about yourself correctly, like C. S. Lewis said “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but think of yourself less.” That’s something I try to do cos believe me I think less of myself sometimes. It’s a continuous process…

Spirit: Yeah, I totally agree… So, what should we expect from you with regards music in the future?

I’m working on a project, so hopefully this year, hopefully I’m dropping another project. Different stuff are coming too… Fingers crossed.

Spirit: Any final words of advice for upcoming Musicians and Producers?

Aizek: Stay true to what you believe in and keep striving to be better, even when you have setbacks and mess ups. Fall, get up and keep moving. Keep your eyes fixed on the Son.

Spirit: Wow! It’s been a great time with so much to learn. Thank you so much for your time, Aizek. I really appreciate this opportunity. And thank you, especially for your honesty.

Aizek: Thank you for having me. I’m grateful.

Well, guys we’ve come to the end of this interview. I hope you learnt some things from it. I’d love to hear feedback from you guys, so please feel free to reach out. Also, you can check out music by Aizek using this link.

One last thing, I have started doing song reviews for both published songs and songs that are yet to be published. The reviews could be private (for your consumption only) or it could be published on our site. If you’re interested to get your songs reviewed. Send an email to jeplunemusic@gmail.com and attach an mp3 of the song to be reviewed with the artwork and release date. Also, state if you would like a private review or if you would want it published. You can check other song reviews I’ve done here.

 

 

 

 

 

This week on Musicians’ Corner, I will be featuring an interview I had with Surgeon, one of the well known music producers in Jos city. Surgeon, whose birth name is Pankyes Istifanus, is Rapper, A Music Producer, an Audio Engineer, Coach and a Businessman. He is the brain behind ‘Talent Help’, and the founder of ‘Skool of soundz’. He is also a husband and father. In 2007, Surgeon won ‘The King Of The Mic’ a rap battle. He has also won two JOGAMA Awards as ‘Producer of The Year’ and ‘Best Afro- Hip pop Song of The Year’, respectively. You cannot talk about Hip pop in the city of Jos, Nigeria without mentioning Surgeon. So let’s get to the interview:

 

Spirit: For how long have you been in the music industry?

Surgeon: I have been in the industry since 2003

Spirit: So what inspired you to go into music?

Surgeon: Actually, I was inspired by a talent- based group for Young Christian guys back then in Jos. They were known as ‘Armageddon Soldiers’.

Spirit: What challenges did you encounter in your early days in the music industry?

Surgeon: Basically, my biggest challenge back then was Finances. It took us close to 1 year to get our first demo, because we had no money and no financial support from anyone. Also, there was the challenge of having very few platforms for Rappers, back in the days. Another challenge I had was that my parents were not really fully in support of what I was doing then, mainly because of the level of exposure they had as of then.

Spirit: So, how did you scale through those challenges?

Surgeon: One word; Persistence! I have to admit it was not easy, but I persisted.

Spirit: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far from all your years of experience in music?

Surgeon: One of the great lessons I’ve learnt over the years is that hard work, persistence and consistent training coupled with the right knowledge will eventually yield great positive results.

Spirit: What do you still hope to achieve using your music in future?

Surgeon: I still hope to inspire and influence a great community of young talents in the future.

Spirit: If you were to advise an upcoming artist/producer, what one thing would you tell them?

Surgeon: Be patient, committed, persistent, plan, strategize, set goals, train, seek new knowledge, and have mentors.

 

Ok that’s it. I hope you learnt a thing or two from the interview. You can follow Surgeon on Instagram @surgeondabizguy . I’d love to get feedbacks from you too. Please drop your comments below. Thanks.