To the average music follower in Nigeria, Jaywon needs no
introduction. His fans nicknamed him “Oba Onitinko” after he
dropped his debut album, Tinko Angel. Also ‘Oluwajuwonlo’
came into the limelight courtesy of that
popular song, ‘Fi-Le-Be’ which made Kenny Ogungbe to sign
him on. Jaywon, who recently spoke with our reporter
IYABO AINA said he has done a song that will live after
him .
What’s so special about the new song ‘This Year’?
It’s the grace of God and the urge to do something different. I just needed to be different from everybody and that was what
brought about the song and since it’s release and
everybody seems to love it. In the industry, everybody is
talking about it but we give God the glory that we could bring
out a song that everybody loves and we thank all the
fans who have been supportive; those who have been there
since the beginning and they are still very much around.
I won’t lie to you, the song has done very well in the short
time of its release. As a matter of fact, the same song brought
me back to the music scene and put me on the lips of every
music lover in and outside the country. They have been
calling almost everyday requesting for this same song.
We just give thanks to Almighty God and to all the people
that have been encouraging us, especially our friends in the
electronic media, print media, radio Djs, presenters and
bloggers. I thank everyone for being supportive to my career.
I have been working, I have been on tour and at the same time
doing a lot
of things underground. You know, while on tour, a whole lot
of things
happen; there are songs that people want to listen to like
Gbongbon, Filebe, Facebook Love and at
some point, they couldn’t get these songs and people started
wondering where’s Jaywon but what I believe is that God’s
time is the best for everything and when God says yes,
nobody can say no. When we released this song This Year –
Odun yi, I personally didn’t know it would be this successful.
It is not up to two months and its video is not up to one month
but the song is everywhere. A lot of people are talking about
it.
With the rate of response the song has attracted, what do
you think is going to happen to it in the next two years?
I’ve been very much around dropping songs into the airwaves
with the same connection and promotions trend but it’s just
that this song has been a crowning blessing to my other
efforts.
What are you working on at present?
At present, I’m working on an album. A lot of songs are
going to be released pretty soon. I have been working with
different producers, so just watch out for different kinds of
tunes and different kinds of music.
What should your fans expect from you in your next
album?
People should expect something different, not the regular gba
gbo gba music, because right now, we are taking it back to the
roots and if you listen to the song ‘This Year’
and you compare it with the old song, you will feel a whole
lot of juju, highlife and pop tunes in it. So, we are doing a lot
of different tunes together, songs that the elders would be able
to listen to, dance and appreciate. So now, I’m much
interested in doing a song that is going to have the flavours of
juju, highlife and pop tunes in it.
Does that mean you are changing your style of music?
I just want to do something. different from what everybody is
doing. I just want to be on my own. I just want to create an
avenue where people would differentiate my style of music
and know that this is Jaywon.The kind of music I was doing
then is a blend of pop, RnB and Dance-Hall.
Yes, I did those styles of music which made me travel out of
the country in just two-three years, but this particular song
‘This Year’ has really changed a lot in me since the
day of its release. Everywhere I go, people always pray for
me and everywhere people are saying, yes Jaywon, you just
got the music right, this is an evergreen song and people tell
me this new song would definitely live after me. I don’t think
you know what that means to Jaywon? Some also say that
after Jaywon has died, his children and grandchildren would
still be singing it, do you understand? And if I can
release a song like that and people love the song this much,
what do you expect me to do? It’s much better for me to stay
on that lane and keep doing that same style of music.
What is happening in Kennis Music?
Everything is looking so good and since I personally dropped
this song, ‘This Year,’ everything has changed for better and
all the artistes under Kennis Music Record from Joe El,
Minijin, FEMI, everybody has been itching to bring out a new
song. Many of them have released their singles and are still
working very hard to get that song that will get
across to everybody and I personally thank God that I did that
song everybody has been looking for and everybody is loving
and it’s a big shout out to all Kennis Music team for being
supportive.
Is it true that Kennis Music abandons its artistes to face
the struggle alone?
This issue of a thing happens everywhere, there’s no record
label in Nigeria that has no problem either from the artistes or
staff. To complain is just a normal thing. If you go to other
companies, people would still complain of mismanagement in
one or two areas. It’s a normal thing to complain and it will
get to some point that you just have to stop complaining and
face the work, but for me, I don’t complain of anything. I just
want to do my job because it’s my life and career, but if you
have a boss and he or she is
not doing what he or she is supposed to be doing, you just
have to do it yourself and if your boss is ready to work with
you along the line, then you guys should work together . As
you want your boss to carry all the attention and
responsibilities on his head, he or she has his own
responsibilities hanging on his or her neck and other
unfinished businesses he or she might be thinking of. So, you
just don’t need to put everything on your boss, you need to do
something on your own. I can tell you that the
amount of money and strength I personally put in this new
song is working for me today.
What about your song titled Catch me if you Can?
Well, the song ‘Catch me if you can’ featuring Ice Price and
Ryhno, is one of my craziest songs that is enjoying massive
airplay, though ‘This Year – Odun Yi’ is overshadowing it
because everybody is now talking about it and its toping
most music charts and it’s a big shout out to Ice Prince and
everybody in that song.
What are the gains and pains so far in your career?
So far, the gain has been working for me, despite the fact that
money isn’t coming in yet but hopefully, this year is going to
be different and better because already everything
is looking great and we give God the glory.
Do you still consider yourself as an upcoming artiste?
No, I have been on top of my game since three years ago but
the thing is that we are still growing but we have
covered 70 percent of the journey while 30 percent is yet to
be covered. I believe that soon, we should get closer to where
we are going but I have been at the top of my game
in the past three years and I don’t need anybody to tell me
that. It’s obvious, but we have a target to meet.
How do you cope with female admires?
I cope well with them. I know how to treat them fine and how
to make them happy and also how to time myself; when to get
close to them and I limit my hanging out with
them because there is time to play and time to work but if I
wish to get anybody impregnated or get married to anyone,
I’m ready and nobody is going to stop me. I have a girlfriend
and we are in a serious relationship and she also understands
the nature of my job.
But it was said sometime that you have a wife and child in
your hometown?
I don’t have any child, wife or secret lover in my hometown,
that’s not true; it is absolutely a fake and
fabricated story.
What is your involvement in politics?
I’m not going into politics and more so, every artiste in
Nigeria is connected to one or two politicians, but in the
recent times, the likes of my state deputy governor and other
prominent people in the state have been calling me for one or
two things because I’m also working on a project over there.
Do you have any political campaign contract?
None at the present, and if it comes, fine. Yes, anything can
happen because I’m doing this for my state and not just
anybody but my people, because there’s no place like home.
If you are not doing music, what will you be doing?
I’ll always and always do music because music is like a way
of life to me not just as a business and it’s very spiritual
business and until you see music as way of life then the music
will see you too.
Do you take music as a career?
I take music as a way of life, if I should see music as a
business, I won’t release this song ‘This Year – Odun Yi’,
most of my friends asked me why I shot the video of this
song, it’s a risk at the moment; wasting so much money on
such video isn’t worth it even I too didn’t believe that the
song is going to be this big but I just wanted to sing the song.
Your words of advice for upcoming artistes
Keep doing it yourself, don’t let anybody deceive you to do
what is not right, believe in yourself and don’t let anybody tell
you that you can’t do it or achieve your aim because to make
money is for all of us and to live a meaningful life is
everybody’s dream. So keep closer to your God and be
prayerful because it’s only God Almighty that has answers to
every request.
Source: http://www.surestinfo.com/2013/04/interview-with-top-musician-artist-jaywon.html