Against the backdrop that musicians were simply lay-abouts in the past, yet Jazzman Olofin’s love for music did not nose-dive, expectedly. Hence he was poised to balloon their number. But his father, like the typical Nigerian, frowned at his love for music. However, he excused him years after clinching a first degree from UNILAG. Today, the graduate of Philosophy has realized his dream as a musician, after dueting with top Fuji act, Adewale Ayuba (a.k.a Mr Johnson) to become a celebrity musician. In this encounter with our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, Olofin went down memory lane, starting with his background, romance with music, his most successful duet with Adewale Ayuba which made him a celebrity, embarrassing campus shows, formation of defunct X-Appeal band, why he left it, solo efforts and many others. Enjoy it!

Who is Jazzman Olofin beyond the klieglights?

My name is Olumuyiwa Olofin-Kuade which I shortened to just Olofin for easy pronunciation. Hence today, everybody in the showbiz circle call me Jazzman Olofin. I hail from Ikare-Ekiti, in Ekiti state. I am not from Ijebu as many have been thinking wrongly over the years. I had my primary education in Kizito Catholic School, Lagos; secondary in Fagba Grammar School, Iju, and university in UNILAG, where I read Philosophy.

How did your romance with music start?

It all began when I spotted the talent in me between late 70's and early 80's. I must confess that my interest and eagerness then must have been boosted seriously by some top wave-making foreign acts like Lionel Richie, The Commodores band, late Barry White, who were all making waves on the Nigerian music scene as at that time. In the 90's right at home, celebrated acts like Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, KSA, late Christy Essien-Igbokwe, Stella Monye, Dame Onyeka Onwenu, Pastors Kris Okotie, Felix Lebarty, Bunny Mack, and late African soldier, Evangelist Sonny Okosun; they all actually inspired me to make up my mind to become a musician. I thank God for using them to actualize my age-long dream.

During your take-off, did your parents give you any sort of encouragement?

Support me? None at all! It was the same old and discouraging story of “my child will never become a musician for whatever reason or reasons.” It was quite disappointing; and killing too, quietly. Honestly! I suffered this social malaise which was pretty prevalent then among the typical Nigerian parents. My father, under whom I really grew up and under his watchful eyes, confirmed his disapproval when he pulled a fast one on me during that time by secretly telling my USA-based uncle to ignore my request for a keyboard. Hence, he just let out a loud and ridiculous laughter when I told him to remind my uncle who visited us of my keyboard before he flew back. His laughter then was simply to tell me that I don't know what I was talking about. However, his countenance changed when I left the University. His action was like you are now free to do your music. Finish!

What is the name of your first group and how did you become part of them?

My first group was the X-Appeal Band. It all started when I joined the UNILAG Theatre 15 with the hope and strong belief that they would expose me to musical contacts. They linked me with Lexy Doo and Folu Obasa, both fellow students. We chatted and formed our group. We later met Nicholas Alexander. He joined us, and we became four in number. That was how it all started for me. When we began, we started having and attending shows. Initially at that time, I was actually learning how to face the crowd, conquer them and perform before them successfully. That time too, the band, as a whole, would suddenly go off key, causing students with the mindset of watching a tight show to scream at us disappointedly, booing and jeering at us. However, we managed to hold on fast to our belief that very soon, we would master our act and start giving them good shows, thereby earning our deserved respect as a band. True to our belief, we won the devil at last and started to give them good shows and they, too, began to applaud us as professionals. Then, the group became the in thing on campus. That was in the 90's! We played on campus and outside it, jamming and making things to happen. I must confess that I remember those moments with rocking nostalgia.

How did your group, X-Appeal finally broke into focus?

We actually did after leaving the University. That was after coming into being formally as the X-Appeal Band. In all honesty, we were really as serious as when on campus. We did all humanly possible as serious-minded musicians in our bid to survive. But funny enough, only Lexy Doo and I were together when the band finally pushed out their maiden work, “Big Mess” in 2001. This was so, because the ball game was simply different when we were on campus from the current one. Could you believe that after the release of the “Big Mess”, I was not satisfied with the commercial result of the work? So, I just bowed out quietly from the band, leaving Lexy Doo. Surprisingly, he continued, but it was just for some time. My exit from the band, actually provided expressively the platform for me to spend quality time with the Bonsue Fuji Lord, Adewale Ayuba whom I eventually did a duet with which shot me into the limelight as a celebrity.

As a keen watcher and critic of the Nigerian music, I noticed that the production of "Bubbles" was tight by any definition. What was the magic behind the quality production?

Magic? Which magic? The only magic was that I spent much quality time with Ayuba as a friend and fellow musician, brainstorming on how to redo or redefine “Bubbles”, making it refreshingly different from the one Ayuba released. My continued togetherness with Ayuba was the magic behind our successful duet. Our wish really played out as expected because I was always with him after his gun shot experience and playing shows too with him then, I mean before this our successful experiment. Hence, it did not cost us any extra efforts to come out with a hit as expected, with everything in place. That’s the result of our unique arrangement, I mean where and when to cue in and out, leading to a solid and impressive overall production at the end of the day.

What is your greatest asset as a musician?

It is simply my voice which I deploy pretty well to convey my passion for singing. Thank God that it has always come out as planned to the glory of God. I have actually been singing from the depth of my heart, showcasing my natural feelings. I am so passionate about it! Hence the finesse in my music!!

Where do you get Inspirations to write the songs you sing with passion?

They come naturally from songs that I have listened to in the past during my formative years, my experiences in life. All these I digest and blend with my music during compositions. Another vital source of inspiration is usually when I am alone.

I notice that your songs have highlife flavours. Why is this so?

I love highlife music. I don’t joke with it, honestly. Why? Because I am simply and easily carried away by the lyrics, arrangement and rendition. I get transported into another realm before I know it. Hence till tomorrow, I worship Late Olaiya, Roy Chicago, Adeolu Akinsanya and all other highlife greats. May their souls rest in perfect peace in Jesus name, Amen!

How long do you think that the current computer-based music can last?

I want to state categorically that this is so, because of the fact that we are in a computer age and time. Hence, computer is playing a visible role in today's music because there are certain instruments you might like to use in your music which you can only find in the computer. So, you can see why you can’t distance the computer from today's music.

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