The name, Tosin Martins may not ring a bell, but Olo mi, among his other love songs, still rules the airwaves. In this interview by SEYI SOKOYA, he reveals the secret of his success. Excerpts:
What has been happening to your music career lately?
Good things. I hosted a concert in February tagged: Song of Tosin and followed it up with a new song entitled: Memories, a love dirge to help people deal with the of loss of loved ones.
Your purported speech at the recent Headies awards generated ripples. How did you feel about it?
That was childish rue over nothing. First I read from a cue as written by the organisers, and the error I was said to have made was no error at all. Imagine someone says ‘you’re just a reporter’. I guess your response will be ‘I’m not just a reporter’. So, if the assumption by a considerable number of foreigners is that Africa is just a country, what’s wrong if I say ‘Africa is not just a country? How does that equate to saying Africa is a country? In my opinion, I see the whole scenario as a hasty poking that needed to be ignored.
You became a brand with your style of music years back, but it seems young hip hop artistes have taken over and even overshadowed stars like you who are famous for romantic tunes. What went wrong?
Not exactly! Love songs will always be relevant as long as love remains the oil of life’s wheel. What has happened is simply that a generation of radio and television OAPS, who prefer to promote a certain sound and who no longer look to break different music, has taken over the electronic media. The challenge with that is anything that doesn’t fall within the bracket of what you’ve described (afro pop/hip hop) is not really given much rotation. This makes it difficult to hear much from artistes of my kind except you intentionally follow on social media or search for our works, or we are in the pipeline of artistes who happen to be aligned to the platforms of those kinds of artistes. An example is Adekunle Gold, who came on the back of an Olamide. But we are still stepping up our game and people are listening.
To what extent have you been able to achieve your aim through your style of music? Have you attained the goal?
Absolutely, till date I travel around parts of the world, sometimes just to sing Olo Mi and this is 13 years officially after its release. Also, I have inspired and paved the way for many others artistes and you know a number of them, especially the ones who, like me, came from the church and felt as Christians, they couldn’t dare sound a different note; by that, I mean do other music apart from strictly gospel music and still keep their faith.
What informed your decision to follow that path of music?
It’s true to who I am. I believe an artiste and indeed every human being must own and bare their truest and deepest convictions, and in my case, I believe in love. I believe it is a divine subject and the point of it is deeper than sexual gratification and so if I don’t sing about it, then who? Also, I love to speak to society and emerging issues and I use my music as a tool for social commentaries from a divine perspective and clearly, I share the gospel and worship with my music.
Your popular hit, Olo mi made you the toast of many. How did you come about the song and is it true you didn’t make fortunes out of it, despite its wide acceptance?
Yes. I did and I’m grateful to God for that. As for whether or not I made a fortune, I’m still alive by the grace of God and still making something from my labour and creativity. So, it may be too early to tell. You never know!
Some see you basically as a gospel artiste. I want you to put the record straight: which category do you belong?
Honestly, I struggle with this question. It’s like asking somebody to decide whether you’re a Christian or you’re a human being. While I live in this world and I have this talent and skill, I will be guided only by my faith convictions regarding the choice of the content of my music. As to the category, I leave that to my listeners. I can’t limit my inspiration to a certain category. So, I can’t honestly tell you I’m this or I’m not that. I am a Christian, human, Nigerian, husband, father, friend and so on and all that finds expression in my music. If one can categorise these, then I’m in that category.
Are you satisfied with the state of the industry?
The potential is encouraging given the attention and attraction it’s getting. As far as professionalism and quality control, a vast industry that captures all the different sounds available in our climes all are concerned we still have quite some miles to cover. We are working and we are positive. Also, we pray the government will go beyond patronage to key policy investments to helping the industry grow beyond a few individuals and outfits.
You should be nostalgic about how your musical career began…
It started actively in my secondary school days. I used to sing a lot and was part of an acapella boys band. By the time I was in the university, it just took an upward swing and I haven’t looked back since then.
How is your relationship with other artistes?
Awesome! For my first album, I did a song with Lara George off her KUSH days and B.O.U.Q.U.I and also Samsong. These are stars beyond the sphere of gospel music at the time. On my second and third projects entitled: Higher, which I released as a double album, I worked with MI, Banky W, Rooftop MC’s, Ice Prince, and had production by Jesse Jagz. On my fourth and current project, I worked with the music legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Cobhams Asuquo, Tiwa Savage, among others. I’m working with other artistes on the songs for my fifth project.
What has been your greatest challenge?
I’d say proper management and marketing, which I think is the case for the average Nigerian talent and you can imagine if I’m complaining, what would the case be for up-and-coming talents. Slowly, but surely, we are getting there.
Is there any other calling you would have preferred if you had not ventured into music?
I guess so many other things; a preacher definitely, a politician and a lawyer, which I trained and qualified for 15 years ago now, but I don’t practise, though, I don’t have any regret about that, because the music is winning. On a lighter note, I like the sound of money lawyers make from election petition matters these days.
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How have you been able to strike a balance between homefront and music?
There is no question about the fact that it has been God. I just look back over the years and realise everything is held together and all without any ingenious or intentional policy or practice. I also can’t take away the sacrifice and understanding of my wife and kids. It would be almost impossible without them too.
You have the qualities of a ladies’ man: handsome and a flavour for love music. How is your experience so far with the opposite sex?
Maybe, I’ve never considered myself that handsome. Seriously, it helps that my face is not as out there as my voice and name. So, I don’t get the mob following other artistes’ experience. You almost always have to introduce me before people know; almost akin to Lagbaja. Secondly, my Christian foundation helps me and makes it possible for me to rise beyond such things compared to the average male artiste. There are higher things to consider and standards I’m held up to. Not easy, not perfect, but God’s grace has been sufficient.
Your advice for the up-and-coming musicians.
Find yourself, your sound, your voice and stay true. People buy you and your truth and never leave because nobody can beat that. As I always say, be stubborn about your convictions about your path. People can love you, but love you in stereotype and known paths. We would never know what’s possible if everybody does and follows what’s popular.
and then