5th October, 2012
London-based Nigeria-born Adesoji Adebayo, popularly known as Mr. Solek, has been in the music scene for over 12 years. He has performed in the United Kingdom, United States and Nigeria among others with his brand of indigenous Naija Flavour which has endeared him to fans and music enthusiasts home and abroad. Solek, in this interview with P.M.NewsEntertainment, speaks on his music career, Nigeria artistes and other issues
When did your music career begin?
Music has been part of me for many years. I live in music and music lives in me.
What is the difference between a musician and an artiste and what does it take to be a good musician?
One thing is that music comes in different forms. As you know, there is live performance and there is studio recording. But music is about sending a message and it depends on how people translate it and it depends on whichever way it comes. So, a musician and an artiste are the same because they are both sending messages either live or in album. The end point is the most important thing. However, junk songs sometimes sell more than good music. Some songs can come out and at the initial stage, people will not accept them and after, they will enjoy considerable airplay and they will become accepted. Sometimes, songs that are bad turn out to be good while good music may not even go places. So, whatever comes out, its demand is what I can call good music as far as I’m concerned; even if it is rubbish and it is acceptable.
If you are to go by this, then why do people have hit songs?
Hit songs are divine. It is like ants on the floor and you just pick out one of them. So, it is divine. If God decides to speak to you through music then the music is going to be a hit music. Some people will struggle hard and they won’t make it while some will not even do much and they will succeed.
What really encouraged you to go into music?
I love to listen to good music, I do not care who sang it, even if the person is my enemy. If the music is good then I will listen to it. Every good music encourages me because every music I like, I sing. Along the line, a lot of musicians have encouraged me but I respect Evangelist Ebenezer Obey a lot. I grew up listening to his music.
Is he your role model?
Yes.
Can you tell us the difference between the new generation musicians and the old generation because the old ones are not celebrated as the new ones?
The first thing is technology. I can sit down here with internet and release a song and within a minute, somebody in US will be able to listen to it. Back in those days, it was a well arranged system and for you to even get into the industry was very difficult. The few that were involved then were well celebrated but now, anybody can do music. About 40% of people doing music now are not born musicians but because of technology, many veer into music. But back in those days, it was not like that. Another thing is that people are appreciating African music more now than before because some American superstars were doing collaborations with our musicians. Music is a career that is easy to veer into but whether you are going to make it is another thing.
Is music a career or job? Secondly, what inspires you and how did you come about the name, Solek?
Music is my career, it is my everything and it comes before any other thing in my life. I love music to the core, forget about the money. I love what I do and I enjoy it. Thank God it pays my bills because if it not music, I would have been doing something else.
Lots of things inspire me; sometimes I get songs from my dream, if I am not too busy I put it on my phone. I can be inspired by people. As a musician, you have to be creative and I am an open-minded person.
On the name, when I was in the polytechnic, I had a friend whose name is Leke and I am Soji so we came up with SOLEK. After a while, I left for London and I was going about with the name after seven years, Leke too came to London but decided to form his own band. Meanwhile, everybody has known me with the name, it was difficult to change it.
How long have you been doing music professionally and what are the challenges so far?
I’ve been doing music professionally for 12 years, and talking about challenges, every profession has them but I try to live above challenges. Moreover, when I’m singing I do 10 things at a time, because the job involves lots of things and once it is your calling you will overcome all the challenges.
Let’s talk about your new album?
Basically, the way I emerged confused a lot of people because I sing to satisfy my fans and to satisfy the urge that I believe I can sing. I can sing hip-hop, RnB, Juju, Fuji. I’m not limited to a style. So, my new album contains Juju and I did collaboration with M’ocheda and Deebee. I also have another single that I did with Sauce Kid titled Yonke Yonke and another one, Won Ti gbowo Mi De. I can say my genre of music is “Tungba Music” because I sing all types of songs to satisfy my fans. When I’m on stage, I will have to satisfy lots of people, that’s why I sing all genres of music.
How did you meet Don Jazzy and D’banj?
Actually, I met Don Jazzy at a show; he was playing bass guitar for Seun, a musician in UK and I gave them a lift and left together for another show. After that, he started coming to my house and saw that I have a keyboard and musical instruments; he asked me to show him how to make beat on my keyboard which I did. From then on, he started making beats on my keyboard. At a point, he was staying in my house. Then, I used to stay with a man called Mike Attor who sings High-life. Mike taught me how to sing and play saxophone. We later formed Solek Crew and Don Jazzy played the keyboard and the beat with another guy called Michael. That is how I met Don Jazzy and we stayed together for about four years.
So what happened?
I think he wanted to do Nigeria hip hop because he was rolling with JJC after KAS took him to JJC. Although there was a little misunderstanding between me and him which is normal in life, eventually he joined the hip hop people and that was what happened. After we fell out, some people came to me to plead that I take him back, he came back and I don’t know what happened again. He went on hip-hop, he did a beat for me in 2006 for a song with Ruggedman. Then he was with D’banj because at that point, we were still communicating. I think he believed he had arrived, the relationship just stopped. I have a policy, if you don’t want me, I don’t want you. I can’t force myself on anybody, not that we are fighting. If he wants to be my friend he knows how to reach me and if I want to be his friend I know how to reach him. I don’t force myself on people.
What is your relationship with other Nigerian artistes?
My relationship with other Nigerian artistes is very cordial. I’m such a person that if you want to be my friend, I’m ready to be your friend. I do not force myself on anybody.
How was your growing up?
My growing up was good. I was born in London but raised in Nigeria, Ibadan precisely. I had my primary, secondary and tertiary education here in Nigeria before I went back to UK to continue with music.
What is your plan for the Nigerian market?
I believe I’m not yet a known name in the Nigerian music industry. I believe it is because I’m not based here in Nigeria. So, I will like to penetrate into the Nigerian market with my new work. I had some collaboration with Nigerian artistes.
How many albums do you have to your credit?
To the glory of God, I have four albums to my credit
Are you married?
Yes, I have been married for over 10 years, with children.
How do you relax?
I watch television a lot to relax.
—Edwin Usoboh