Ovie Fortune Ebel is a gospel artist, in this interview with Olawale Olaniyan, revealed his experience at Gospel Music Academy where he become both a vocalist and Lyricist. Ebel stated that he don’t consider himself as one in stardom and other important issues. Excerpts;
Q: Was being a musician a childhood dream?
A: No! God called me into the music ministry and that calling He validated by giving me the ability to write songs; then I got trained in one vocal academy and one Gospel Music Academy to become both a vocalist and Lyricist. Although I’ve always been a Church boy, but singing was never my forte until the eleventh hour of my SS3 days back in secondary school.
Q: What inspired you to make music?
A: What inspired me is God’s calling and deployment to it. After my secondary school phase of academic education, I was praying [for weeks] for clarity of what purpose to pursue aside academics; during one of such prayer sessions, God said to me, “I created you to make unto me, music that my creations shall use as tools of worship and praise unto me { God }_”. Till today, that instruction is my inspiration for making music.
Q: What challenges did you face on your way to stardom?
A: Well, since it’s not my pursuit, I don’t consider myself as one in stardom; although that doesn’t deny the concrete truth that even getting here so far has been through challenges. We can’t reel out all the challenges in this interview, but first of my challenges was in the beginning! My dad was against me doing music and that was a big challenge; but thanks to my Mum who through submission [to my Dad] and wisdom convinced my Dad. I was actively playing football, but my mum said She vowed during my labour which took her three days that if she successfully gives birth to me, she will ensure I serve God all my life. As a Nigerian, another challenge for me would be the fact that we currently don’t have a music industry; at best we have a music scene and that doesn’t help with the galvanization of the fruits of your intellectual property. Then, like we all know, sufficient resources to do quality, impactful and timeless music is another challenge. Money is one of such resources and good music is expensing to create as well as promote; but if music is really what you have been created to do, then you will always find a positive solution in your persistence. Personally, the mindset is that for every level God helps me attain in music, I simply do what I can do at that level in creating my music. Yesterday was good, today is better and surely tomorrow holds the best and it is only when I do all that I can today that tomorrow is guaranteed. So with a progressive mindset, self-belief, faith and smart work consistently, I keep surging forward.
Q: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
A: Oh great question! My music can be best described as Cosmopolitan { it has an intentional global appeal }, it is compulsorily Soul-enriching and intentionally created to be timeless!
Q: How do you juggle being a singer and a producer?
A: Both are like salt and your food; giving balanced attention to each makes your meal sumptuous, enjoyable and always in demand. So I try to create time for music production because no matter how busy I am ministering/singing on stage, if I don’t return to the studio to produce more music, one might go obsolete. Also, being an active Singer helps you get better as a creative and that instinctively sends you back to the studio to refine and transport from abstract fantasies into concrete realities, the new music ideas that flows into your cerebral hemisphere for people to further enjoy and keep consuming even as they appreciate the Creative behind the music.
Q: Has stardom deprived you of anything?
A: Oh my GOD! I’m sincerely not used to this word “stardom” Oh! But if I get what you mean, than YES YES YES! It has deprived me of MY PRIVACY!!! Goosh, that’s painful, trust me; but aye! I am HUMBLED by it all; and I stay grateful- both to God and to everyone supporting me.
Q: Are you still friends with those with you before stardom?
A: You this word called “stardom”, leave me alone now, abeeeeg! { laughs}. Well, naturally, I am a keeper of relationships and sincerely, I try to not only keep in touch with my friends, but carry along the ones that my current capacity affords me to carry; especially if such persons are gifted and are ready to work smart and hard! Without the people I used to know, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to where I am currently by the grace of God; and because there’s a tomorrow better than today, both my early friends and the new ones remain the important angels that GOD is using to catalize my next and higher level in music; so daily, I’ll keep trying to remain same Fortune to them all. God help me!
Q: How do you handle advances from female fans?* I may be wrong and I stand to be corrected; but I personally don’t believe that narrative that suggests that simply because God is helping you rise in Stewardship to Him and the society, then ladies will just start making like you put it: “advances” towards you. Some may do that, but even if there is, that’s only a handful of the majority of our amazing queens out there; and overall, I think that narrative about our amazing female fans, like you out it is not an absolute truth. Their appreciation and probably celebration of my little efforts is highly appreciated by me and will never get into my head. On a serious note, shout out to every lady out there! I appreciate y’all!
Q: You were away from the music scene for a while, was this intentional?
A: Yes, I made the decision to go for more practical knowledge by serving on stage in my home Church – House on the Rock Lagos. You see, for a Singer, engaging in practical music; you can call it “stage and live music” is a credible institution of learning that shapes, equips, prepares and enable you to almost invisibly excel out there – even in the global music sphere. So I took a break to learn more; because if you rush in, you might soon rush out. I didn’t want to be a microwaved Minstrel but a well cooked and backed one and that painful decision I once took yesterday is paying off today. I don’t know it all Oh; so I keep learning daily.
Q: What project are you currently working on?
A: To God’s glory, I just held my very first music expression; you people call it “concerte, abi?. I call mine Music Expression; it was called “DIVINE”, a live recording in Lekki held on the 29th of October, 2023 and my God, it was a successful debut that I stay grateful for! From that project, i released my first EP titled “DIVINE” and I currently have the video of the first track “Hallow You” – a glorious and beautiful worship anthem unto God is out now!
Q: What favourite song do you love to perform?
A: Okay, let’s first say I don’t perform. I minister. laugh! Back to the very vital question, I believ I am musically ambidextrous, so I honestly don’t have a favourite. I learn and practice a lot to stay flexible and still effective; so whatever the occasion demands, I simply calibrate and sing to meet same.
Q: What is your advice to up-and-coming musicians?
A: Me self I’m still an up-and-coming Oh! laugh! Humbly, my advice include: don’t just have zeal; get knowledge to back your zeal. This is because if zeal alone pushes you into active music without you first having the necessary knowledge at least to a reasonable extent, you may soon realize that the zeal was actually a mere haste that led to waste! I have wasted time and money before due to few hasty decisions, so I’m giving my humble counsel from experience. Furthermore, once you gain knowledge and start your music journey, please hold dearly to these three keys: be competent i.e know your craft very well. It gives you your space in a world of endless talented musicians and singers; then be committed i.e dedicate time to practice and keep growing in music; and finally, be Consistent! Your biggest enemy is your last success; so waste no time celebrating what you achieved today; go for the bigger possibilities that tomorrow holds and I pray that many generations celebrate your impactful life and timeless legacy.
and then