‘I’M NOT IN MUSIC FOR FAME OR FORTUNE’

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‘I’m not in music for fame or fortune’

By Dele Onatade

Saturday, March 17, 2012

London-based singer, Afolabi Tiwatope Ogunleye is career driven. Hardworking and dedicated, the young musician is the latest on the list of F.K Management, the artistes management outfit owned and managed by Funke, the estranged wife of Afrobeat musician, Femi Kuti.  The Business Administration graduate of Covenant University, Ogun State operates with the stage name, Engager. Here, he talks about why he is threading the path of music and other interesting issues. Excerpts:

Beginning  I have always been interested in music. Right from when I was young I would always hum and sing along to songs that I listened to. But I actually started singing at the age of 12 when I joined my secondary school choir.          Attraction to music  I can’t really pin point what attracted me to music. Like I said, I’ve always been interested in music, the beats, the lyrics, and the soul. The way music can lift you up when you are down, the way you can put everyday activities and events into lyrics. My mum used to sing a lot when I was growing up and she had such a soothing voice. That also encouraged me.                                  My brand of music  My kind of music is hip-hop. I’m much more comfortable expressing myself through it. But I am very versatile as well. I can do all kinds of music from R&B to fuji; in as much as the music engages people, I am good in it. No, I don’t have an album yet, only singles. Now that I have signed with FK Management, I’m more focused on creativity and we now have a strategy in place for my album.

Passion  I’m in music to fulfil a passion and leave a life long legacy that will open doors for my sons and daughters long after I am gone. I am really not in music for the fame or money, I am just doing this because I love music, and I welcome any other thing that comes with it. I have done a lot of shows in the UK and other places. I have had a couple of performances in some campuses including University of Ibadan.

Challenges  My major challenge is acceptability. When most people hear of a new artiste they think he has nothing to offer but they seem to forget that the big names in the industry were new acts once upon a time. So, before people listen to a new artiste, they would have already looked down on you. But I thank God acceptance is coming my way now and with FK Management, things can only get better.

Highpoints of career  Through music, I have met some top acts and influential personalities around the world. And my music has connected me to a whole lot of people I never knew before. I learn daily through meeting interesting people in the industry and am very happy about this.

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