I was born to sing —Willy Mor

Fast-rising hip hop sensation, Willly Mor,  is willing to take his fame to the next level. WIth three singles to his credit, Mor who studied Music at the Polytechnic Ibadan, said he  had got what it takes to be the next big project in the music industry. He speaks with SEGUN ADEBAYO about the journey so far and plans to make his mark in the industry.

How did the music journey start?

Music has been part of me since childhood. I grew up listening to what my dad listened to   Don Williams, Jim Reeves, ABBA, Dorly Parton. He listened to a lot of country music. My dad once told me his first dream was to become a musician. When I was six years old, one of our landlords sons used ask me to sing for him. I think he saw something I didn’t know I had. So, as I grew older, I started listening to music of my own choices, which were Rap and R n B. I listened to Tupac, R Kelly, Bob Marley, Plantashun Boiz, Remedies, Tony Tetuila, Eedris Abdul Kareem.

 

Which of these artistes really inspired you?

I noticed that I got inspired after singing Rkelly’s songs. After a while, I started singing my own lines. The first problem I had was writing the songs and composing them at the same time.

 

So, how did you overcome that challenge?

In 2001, I met Tu Close, a close friend who lived in my neighbourhood. He was the leader of a small music group in Townboiz. I discovered that he was very good with writing and composing songs. I worked with him for some time and I started developing the passion and zeal to write my songs. He inspired me greatly and I felt I could do what he was doing. That was how I was able to overcome the challenge of writing and composing songs. From there, I found a group “ DaRulinBOiz” and I recorded my first demo on a cassette that same year. At that time, there was no producer, we just had to make do with what we had and it turned out to be our first recording. From that day, I have never looked back.

 

How has it been since you started?

As I have learned from great men through their books, the beginning of a great journey is not always easy. The journey has been very smooth and rough at the same time. I can’t begin to explain the low moments I have had. There had been good and bad moments on the journey, but it has largely been good because two things have actually been working for me, passion and tenacity. I have heard people tell me that “Go and find a better job. You don’t have a future in this” but I have always believed in my self and I know that whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve. I believe that one day,  my dream will come true.

 

Has anything positive happened to you since you decided to  take music to this level?

Yes, a lot of positive things have happened to me in the last few years. People have been showing me great support coupled with the positive responses that I have been getting from people at different times and platforms, especially when I went to perform at shows. People say they love my voice and that I would go far with music. All these have been a great source of inspiration for me and I am grateful to God for the grace to have come this far.

 

What kind of music do you do? 

I am a versatile artiste. I am not restricted to one genre of music but I major basically in Afro-pop.

 

How are you sure this is the best thing for you?

I see Music as my calling. This is what I am born to do. It is my mission to make people happy with my music. In this world, we all have pupose of existence. Once I was able to discover that, I have never looked at anything else. It is now left to us to discover our purpose, fight for it and be great in it. I believe that nothing can be best for you than what you are born to do.

 

Why music in the first place?

I was lucky to be able to discover myself at a tender age, so I don’t have to start asking myself what I have been called to do anymore. Although, in my family, not everyone is okay with it but I have to follow my dreams. I believe I can succeed in any path I choose but I love music, music flows in my veins.

 

How big do you think your career will go under your record label?

I leave everything in God’s hand. God knows what is good for me. I have a solid team that understands what the industry entails and we are ready to go all out to make things work. The plan on ground is to take our game globally. We are taking over the music scene.

 

You released a new single days back, tell us about it?

The new song, ‘Desire’ is my first offiicial single. It was produced by two of the hottest producers in Nigeria, Prodo and Allan B.  The song was released on Thursday and from the feelers I am getting, the song has gone to top many radio charts in less than 24 hours. The music journey has begun and we are taking the industry by storm. In the next two months, we are dropping another single with videos. So, let’s just keep our fingers crossed as we roll out the plans.

 

How do you view your chances of making it big in a very competitive industry like this?

I have 100 per cent chance of winning because what I am bringing to the table is different from what people are used to. I am not scared of the competition, I was born to do it. With God on my side , His grace will take me there.

 

Who are your role models?

TuPac, Bob Marley, Rkelly, 2Baba.

 

Who would you like to work with?

I have a lot of people I would love to work with. R Kelly, Akon, Chris Brown, 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Jay Z. In Nigeria Tuface, Wizkid, Davido, MI, Vector, Chidinma, Waje, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Cynthia Morgan, Patoranking, to name but a few.