Tosin Oyelakin is one of Nigeria’s promising gospel artistes, whose music career has been gathering momentum within and outside Lagos in the last few years. Oyelakin, who is also a physiotherapist, speaks with SEGUN ADEBAYO about her career, plans and family.
What’s the latest about you?
I’m currently working on my debut album which is nearly finished now, with some awesome inspirational and worship songs on it. I am also working on a couple of music videos.
How ambitious are you, when it comes to music?
I want to go as far as God would take me by His grace, and since He says I am above and not beneath, then I am going all the way to the top. I believe it’s time that gospel music in Africa and all over the world takes its place and start to showcase God for the whole world to see – that is my musical ambition.
What great sacrifice are you making for your music?
I am making a lot of sacrifice for my music but the major one, being myself as a person. I have had to give my all to God in worship, not just in music, but in everything, including my finances, some friendships/relationships, time, emotions, etc. I am learning that to achieve my ambitions in music ministry, I have to give my all without holding back, and that is what I am doing.
What do you want to actually achieve as a singer?
My aim is to lift the name of Jesus high for the whole world to see and to be drawn to Him; to go global with my music, reach the unreached, love the unloved and bring hope to the hopeless. Many of my songs are quite inspirational, in that they minister directly to people through the lyrics, rather than being aimed towards God as worship. I would love to touch the hearts of everyone who hears my songs.
What’s different about your music?
My music can spread across and reach a wide range of audience with different taste (in music). I don’t just do one genre; I can do practically everything, as you will find out with my album. It’s RnB, it’s worship music, it’s dance, Afro. I do a mix of genres. I also like to speak to people with my songs. While some of my songs are to extol God, some of them are also to encourage people and speak to them about the things and the way of God.
Do you have what it takes to become a truly great gospel artiste?
I believe I do. I have developed and continue to develop my art, working with experienced producers. I have a great team of publicists, who I am working with in terms of promotions. The business side of things is being taken care of with a lot of research going into it and what’s more, I have God on my side, Who has called me to do this. He is making a pathway for me in the industry and helping me form links that I couldn’t have achieved on my own ever. With this mix, I don’t think anyone could go wrong.
What are your music plans?
My plan is to start touring, physically taking my music around the world. I’ll also continue to make great music by God’s grace, and I would love to collaborate with other great gospel artists. I have my eye on some already.
Tell us your most memorable performance so far?
Believe it or not, it was at my daughter’s school. They had an outdoor summer festival one weekend and I got to perform there with other great singers. I was the only gospel act there which made it even more special for me because, it meant I could reach a lot of people, who would otherwise not listen to gospel music, and boy, the feedback afterwards was just awesome. I thank God that I agreed to perform there!
How did you get your calling into music ministration?
I would always sing in the choir since I was little. We actually did a great performance of one of the kiddies praise series at Sunday school, when I was around 7 years old. I always knew that I love singing and just was drawn to music, but I thought the best I would do was just to sing in the choir. I never thought I would be a recording artist, even though I recognised my songwriting gift in my late teenage years. But after I had my kids, I went through a very rough experience with some friends which eventually led to me write You’re Precious and Beautiful – my very first release. After I wrote the songs, the Lord told me they were not just for me, that I needed to share them with the world as it would bless many. I just took the plunge and did it. It wasn’t the easiest of start-ups, as there have been a lot of opposition, but thank God – He is proving Himself.
Would you agree with insinuations that some gospel artistes look down on fellow gospel artistes?
Really? I don’t know…. But, I do know that gospel music has not been given the credit that it deserves. I do know a lot of great gospel artistes who are fantastic vocalists and would stand up to anyone on the secular scene anytime, any day, but I feel we generally don’t push as hard as we should to be heard. We are too shy of promoting ourselves the way we should, because sometimes, we see these promotional tools as “ungodly” – maybe (and I say this carefully). If we believe in our art and our God-given talents, then we need to be wiser in getting them out there without falling into error.
How easy or difficult is it combining music with physiotherapy and marriage/motherhood?
It has not been easy at all. I live in a country where you do it all yourself or you pay through your nose to get help. So, I am a wife, mother with kids of school age, a full time physiotherapist, and the cherry on the cake – a singer. Even I sometimes wonder how I manage to do it all, but thank God for His strength, a very understanding, supportive and accommodating husband, and wonderful kids. If not for these, there’s no way I could manage to do it all.
Would you say being married and also being in another profession is affecting your music progress?
At this point, I would say no. I don’t know about when the ministry grows bigger than it is now and I start touring. I might have to make some changes professionally when that happens.
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