How do you feel you have been able to cultivate the sound that you have now?
It's always been about making music that feels most natural to me at any point in time. That's usually the first and most important factor or the foundation of my musical life. I'm not the kind of artist who doesn't make music just because a particular sound is trending or whatever. So, I always stay true to myself. I always work for me most of the time, and that's how I've cultivated my sound over the years.
You have stepped into a new chapter in your career and started your own label, Young Legend. What inspired the name, and what would you say were the moments that led to this for you?
The major inspiration behind that name is that you're young enough to do legendary stuff. The idea of Young Legend is that you can be young, and it's never too early to do big things. I'd say the first time I got inspired was when somebody in the industry, Tunji, sent me a DM and said, "You're a young legend," I really connected with that. It's always been my dream and goal to have a platform that I can use to support other artists. Young Legend is not just about me. It's about helping very talented, creative people. Not just musicians but also videographers, photographers, and content creators are creating that safe space on a platform for creatives to thrive. Coming from where I am, there is so much talent, but there needs to be more infrastructure. I want to pay it forward by creating a platform that supports other creatives.
What does this experience of doing things your way look like, and how does it feel different from what it was like before?
I've become more intentional regarding my rollout and the marketing and everything; it's a bit freer for me, it's not too planned out, and I get to be more involved in the process. When you are at a label, you have people who handle everything, so you're less involved. One thing I've always been in love with is the process. I like to see things start and where they will end up. I love the process, from shooting videos to recording songs and everything, so that's what has been different for me.
You released the short film with Qing Madi for the track you collaborated on, and that was a very different way for you to display your creativity. What was the whole experience of making the film, and how did the idea come about?
That video was about the importance of teamwork. Thankfully, I have a solid team passionate about the dream and the goals we want to achieve. I wouldn't say the acting or the short movie was my sole idea. We brainstormed on it, and everybody came up with the fact that, oh, is this something we can do? I didn't want to feel like anything was too crazy to achieve. I cannot stand it, no matter how crazy the idea might seem. Let's see if I pull it off and think outside the box. That's been my mindset since the start of the year. I want to do things differently on a different scale. Have people say, okay, this guy's on his name. So yeah, a big shout out to the team for putting everything together and to everybody who came up with the idea.
What was that experience like of working with Qing Madi?
Qing Madi is a very talented artist. I remember that I posted a video of one of her songs sometime last year because I've always loved her sound, even before she broke through the mainstream. I've been following her journey, and when I made the song, I said Qing Madi would be a good fit for this. So I sent it to her on a team, and they loved it. She jumped on it, and it's such a great collaboration. And she is the first female artist I've done a feature with; I've worked with women in other aspects but never actually on a song, so yeah. I had the song with my producer, and I asked him if it would be a good fit for Madi, and then I sent it to her. We didn't record it in person; I just left a place for her in the song, and then she killed it, so it was a very smooth process.
From where you are now since you began, how has your creative process changed?
Regarding my creativity, I like keeping the process the same. I occasionally try different things regarding my recording process when working with other people. I have since learned to record myself, and it's been fun, so I don't need to wait for a sound engineer or a producer, which has meant that just being able to make music and record is so much easier and smoother for me.
As you embark on this new chapter of your career with Young Legend and look back on everything you've done to get to this point, what has that journey been like for you?
It's been such a beautiful journey. It just helps me understand the way life is. I wasn't sure when I came to the game, and I was always so uptight with things. Then I realized you can do it; being young in the Nigerian music industry is no joke. So, being able to put out fantastic music consistently means you're doing something right. And so, for me, it's been a beautiful journey of acknowledgement that whatever effort, time and energy into my music career has not been in vain because things keep getting better and more extensive.
How have you been able to maintain the same mindset in navigating all of the ups and downs and everything that has happened in your career?
This time has been the best I've been mentally. I'm more confident, more daring, and more willing to try out different stuff. I don't. I don't move with fear anymore. I do it if I want to do something, regardless of the outcome. I have learned to fall in love with the process, and I have found that it means that you always do well because I feel like when you are focused on getting results and don't get the results, you feel discouraged. However, when you fall in love with the process, you enjoy everything more; I enjoy making music, shooting videos, putting my music out there, connecting with fans, and just falling in love with that process makes it a lot easier. It takes a lot of stress off your mind; you don't really move with expectations or results. Results will always be great, but as a creative person who wants consistency, you have to learn to fall in love with the process.
What advice do you have for young artists?
The biggest thing for me is being unapologetically yourself. If you're a lover, boy, own it with your chest. If you're a girl, own it with your chest. Don't try to portray yourself to be somebody you're not because what usually ends up is you end up keeping up with an image that you've given the world that's not really you, and that also leads to mental stress. So when people like you for who you are, you know it's true; if people don't, at least you know it's real. Don't expect everybody to like you. So, that's one: stay true to yourself, be open to learning, and be consistent. Try to show up every day and look for a way to improve yourself. Don't get too comfortable; save your money when you make money.
In this moment of your journey and where you are in your career, how does this moment speak to where you are and the space that you are in, how you are feeling about everything, and what you have in store for the future?
It's such a crucial moment for me. I've never felt so much more at ease since the beginning of my career. I've had mental clarity; productivity is at a very high level, and a lot of results. The results for me being in this state right now will show off in a few months. It's going to pay off, and it's going to be heavy. There are plans in motion, and I'm 100% ready for music showing up and ensuring everything's well. Everybody involved is just ready to go, ready to put in work, and when all these factors are put in place and balanced, the sky is just the beginning. I'm excited because I know what's coming in a few years will be incredible, and it's about staying ready.
CREDITS
Project Manager: Zekaria Al-Bostani: @zek.snaps.
Producer: Seneo Mwamba: @seneomwamba
Photographer: Joshua Kinsella: @kinsellz
Stylist: Mh’ya Mclean: @mhyamclean
Photography Assistant: Will Sousa: @wc_sousa
Design: @deeds.studio (@dianeadanna)
Studio: Blankboxstudio: @blankboxstudio
