From the outset, there were strong indications that this creative song writer, Ashimi Olawale, massively called Brymo on the beats scene, would end up as an entertainer. This phenomenon stamped such revelation out rightly when he was in the secondary school as he performed regularly for classmates during breaks. Like somebody destined to keep a date with history, things started to fall into place with every step he took. Brymo told Our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, not long ago, that his musical background provided the necessary podium through which his musically-inclined mother used in helping him to further his dream. With his initial strong belief that he doesn't need a university education to become a musical celebrity, he forged ahead, grabbing every chance to possibly actualize his age-long dream. With his talent, he pushed out two hits, “Oleku” and “Ara”, which availed him the golden opportunity to become the star he had been hoping to achieve. Enjoy this step-by-step rise of Brymo, including the secret behind his catchy voice level. Welcome!

Let's start from your childhood. How was it really like?

I actually grew up in Okokomaiko area of Ojo in Lagos State. I did not leave that area until I was 18 years of age. It was after I became an adult that I went to Ikeja. Okokomaiko is quite a fascinating place. It is a place for the rich, the middle class and the poor. I had friends whose parents were rich and lived in duplexes there. At the same time, I had friends who stayed in houses consisting of many people. We all lived happily together in Okokomaiko for years. I used to go out with my friends to play basketball, even though I was short. I remember that my mother used to tell me as a child that I was pretty stubborn. If my father was not around, I could go out all day, playing with my friends. I can say categorically that I learnt a lot of things from my friends during my childhood days when I was in Okokomaiko. I also made new friends there. I still go to Okokomaiko till date to visit friends because of the fond memories I have of that place. I come around during their December street carnival, whenever, I am less busy.

What was your educational background like?

It was quite interesting! I went to Akanji Primary School, and later, Japual Primary School. From there, I moved into the secondary school, and finally the Lagos State University (LASU) where I got admission to read Zoology. But, I abandoned my studies for music which I am surviving on till date. For me, education is quite important. If I didn't take time to learn, I wouldn't been able to speak English language just as I am doing now. But honestly, I didn't think what I want to learn is in the four walls of a university because I can make it anywhere, hence I had to leave. One of the reasons was that it was difficult for me to pay my school fees. I knew I could prosper if I had time to do music because I was convinced that I want to do music which gives me joy and fulfillment.

When did the music bug bite you and what did you do to actualize it?

It all started in 1999, when I was in JSS 3 and SS1. That was the time I started writing songs. In 2002, I started to write songs for my friends and much later, got sponsorship. Basically, I started by singing for students. That was mostly during breaks when I would go to other classes and mount any of the chairs and sing for them. I grew up in a home where my parents listened a lot to Yoruba folk lore songs and that ignited my interest in such brand of music. I remembered that I grew up in the Mosque simply because my father was a staunch Moslem at that time. During the period that I am talking about, I was deeply in love with writing and singing songs. My mother was really interested in my career and this she showed by listening to my songs. She added her own melodies, and indicated when and where she needed to do so. Unknown to her, I was learning fast on how she used to weave her songs together. I must confess that this has helped me in my musical career in no small measure.

May we know when you hit town with your debut album?

I did that with a group called Alliens. We came out with an album, released between 2003/2004. Incidentally, I wrote the song which was my first. But sadly, we didn't get it right; hence we stopped pushing out albums after our debut. When we came back in 2005, we had problems again. This time around, it became pretty difficult for us to continue as a group. At that point in time, some of us started gaining admissions into the universities, thereby worsening the situation. With time, we stopped seeing ourselves and this resulted in lesser rehearsals. This provided me the golden chance to concentrate on writing songs, unchecked. That was the situation for long before I finally went solo.

Your first solo album was titled Brymstone. Why such title? Did it really work out as calculated?

Brymstone was the name of my maiden work. I remember then that I had a lot of R&B influence then. Hence, I listened much to R.Kelly’s music and Back Street Boys a lot because I wanted to go that direction. I actually had high hopes for this album. But against such hopes, things failed to fly. Interestingly, I was not downcast. Rather, I had a brainwave to sing the way R Kelly does. That I did and two things jumped out. Firstly, people in my Okoko immediate environment who I had wrongly thought would not give a damn about the work, embraced it, to my surprise. I distributed it and they bought it to confirm that they loved it. Within the first six months, I sold up to 2,000 copies. That factor alone, spurred me into clinching to that unique brand of music until my hits "Oleku and Ara" came.

Has your music not gone past the initial R Kelly’s infusion?

It has, since; with the elements of Fuji, R&B and the rock brand which I introduced into it. However, I simply call it pop. And with this, I have really gotten across to my fans because of the medium. I am fully aware that nobody would invite an act to come to his function to perform bad songs.

In your estimation, is the Nigerian beats scene still emerging?

Oh yes! I still remember what the industry has done since the past 10years. That time, we had Davido who have actually re-defined modern afro pop music. I want to state here categorically that one thing we have failed to realize is that musicians who were before us are part of our music history. There is a little more we can do in terms than just strengthening the music industry. Young acts must know what happened to great acts like Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, late Jim Rex Lawson, Crossdale Juba, late Chief Inyang Hensaw, late Celestine Ukwu and other greats of blessed memory; although the Nigerian music needs to be restructured immediately for our immortalization to have any effect.

Now, let’s talk about one of your hit albums, “Ara”. How did you get the inspiration to write such philosophically-strong lyrics?

Ara in Yoruba language simply means wonder. However, it is more of a slang than anything else. When somebody is doing something big or something is happening to that person, some very religious persons would simply say that “Olorun Dara lara re”, meaning God did wonders for his body. The song is quite old now. As at the time “Ara” came out, I needed a single to take me to the next level in my musical career. Just at this point in time, somebody came with a beat for the song. However, I was initially skeptical. Well, I managed to listen to it and I loved it. I strongly believed that if I use it, it would be great. I eventually used it, and it turned out to be great.

There was no doubt that you faced some challenges as a start-up act. Can you please let us into these challenges?

The challenges were just two. The first was to make sure that people would say this song is from Brymo. That’s a clear-cut case of a strong identity for me as an act. I mean people should be able to point out openly that my last release is different from my latest one. There must be a story to back up the new song to make both songs to stand out on their own. Another challenge was the jealous guidance of my voice which is obviously a strong factor in the renditions of my songs for any serious-minded act like me. Hence, I still stay away from cold water and oily foods before I embark on any performance till date.

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