‘Why I returned to Nigeria to pursue my career’

Mathew Olatanmiwa Alajogun, (a.k.a) Major Matt, is a fast-rising musician-cum-actor. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, he speaks on how he has been able to combine music and acting.

You released a new movie recently, what exactly are you trying to showcase?

I see the new movie production as one of my achievements in what I love to do best. The event gave a clear picture that people are already feeling my impact in the industry. My greatest joy is that I have so far been enjoying my life as a musician and an actor. The Movie is entitled: Fayose Olowo Idan and I am delighted with the success of the movie and the responses so far has been encouraging.  I just want to have a feel of my initiative. I am really excited about the success of the work, because I have always tried to do something like this, but I have never got the chance, because overtime, I have not been in the country and when I finally had the story from my mum, I was glad to turn it into a movie. So, I got into it and invested in it and it have become a reality today. I thought I am not the only one that needs to see this. It was a task for me to switch from producing love movie to an action-packed movie.

Going by the title, is the movie centred on the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose?

Honestly, we thought about that when we were deliberating on the title of the movie. In fact, I thought using the name of the governor could put me into trouble, but to be candid, the movie has nothing to do with him in anyway; neither do I have a relationship with him. We felt the title we gave the movie suits it going by of the main character and the message we are trying to pass across.

You have been in the industry for some time now, how has it been?

I started movie when I returned to Nigeria in December 2013. It was the first time I went to location in Lagos. My mum contacted actress Lola Ajibola, who then linked me with some people in the industry, and that was how I got to know the director. I used them for my first movie. All these were unknown to my dad, because I didn’t tell him that I went to a movie location, because he didn’t support the idea then. But I eventually opened up to him when the passion became more obvious, which he embraced. He has since been supporting my dream. I premiered my first movie during Easter in 2014 alongside the unveiling of my father’s hotel in Ibadan. Even now, he teaches me and makes correction on my acting. My experience in the industry has been great. I started slowly, but I found it more interesting the more I got roles.

What is your relationship with other actors in the industry?

It is very cordial. The relationship I created with them has been strong because I believe in having a cordial relationship with those I work with. It has been cool as everyone has been there to support me.

You are a musician and at the same time an actor, which came first and how have you been able to combine both?

Music came first, because I started as a chorister in the church. My mum was a chorister in the Celestial Church and she taught me how to play the piano. Then, I always got the beating of my life for playing on the wrong key, but I picked up when I stared listening to different music. I started with the gospel side of music, but expanded my music talent when I travelled to the United Kingdom. From the piano, I started playing bass guitar and later became a drummer. When I diverted into hip-hop in 2014, I dropped a song entitled: Banana Love and later Jo Bi Okoto in 2016, among others. I would say it has been God to have been able to combine music and acting without a clash. I have also enjoyed the support of my mother and my manager, who is a very active person. He makes sure that everything works well.

If not music and movie, what else would you have done?

I love directing movies, though I am very much interested in creativity and working in front of cameras is great. Those directing behind the cameras do a greater job. That is why I respect other experts that work behind the camera of any movie production. I am a basketball player and  coach and the captain of my team in my university in London.

Why did you come back to Nigeria?

I came back home because I found no competition in the United Kingdom when it comes to Afro beat.

What is your advice to up-and-coming artistes?

My advices for them is to get the right leader who can push and motivate them. Motivation is the major key that drives one to do more; being under the wrong people won’t take you far. There is also the need for self-motivation. It is not ideal to be a ‘copycat’. They also need lots of prayers to be success in the industry; if you are not prayerful, success or breakthrough is not certain, because the industry is a serious one and it is only God that can determine one’s success.