In October 2024, I spent more than one hour interviewing Deola Taylor. It is like catching up with an old associate. Sitting across from him, I saw someone who had experienced both highs and lows in his creative and personal life. We talked about his relocation from Lagos to Ondo town, and he explained how the relocation was more than just a change of scenery—it was a journey of growth, grounding, and artistic clarity.
During our conversation, I could see how deeply grateful he is for those who’ve supported him—the producers, friends, manager and family members who’ve influenced his journey. He’s a grounded artist, someone who respects his past but isn’t afraid to explore new territories. From his early days of singing gospel to the sound he’s creating now, Deola has always been intentional, balancing ambition with authenticity.
This interview offers a unique look into Deola’s life—a life where creativity, dedication, and strength combine to produce music that feels both deeply personal and widely relatable. With a project set to be released soon, Deola Taylor is eager to demonstrate that he’s only beginning to share his talent with the world.
Enjoy.
Emmanuel Daraloye: As I was just coming to this house, I realized it’s been up to a year since you relocated from Lagos to Ondo town. So, how has it been?
Deola Taylor: It’s been a lot of ups and downs, and I’m grateful for the experience. Although It’s not a new experience, it’s just a different approach. Coming in is a good decision, and I’m still here thinking of what more I can do.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Do you think the aims and objectives of you coming back have been fulfilled, or are they still a work in progress?
Deola Taylor: The work is continuous. Like I said, it was a good choice. And I’m still working and not relenting, regardless.
Emmanuel Daraloye: I was flipping through your WhatsApp a few days ago, and I saw posts from you that were appreciated by a lot of people. I was trying to imagine the self-awareness and the self-consciousness phase that might have warranted you doing that. What prompted you, because it is unusual of you–you are not a frivolous status uploader; you post when it’s important. What prompted you?
Deola Taylor: Yes, you are correct to say it’s not a usual thing for me. But as we grow, regardless, we come along with people, and I feel like every step of the way, those people, we must appreciate the little efforts that’s been put into everybody’s progress. I don’t just look at the results; I look at the efforts, both in human form and in material, however, they are provided. People must know the ones that have been behind and on the scenes, giving their ideas and support.
Emmanuel Daraloye: One of the pictures that mesmerized me was the one of “Kaytunz_vybz” The one he took with Mavins with their stamp.
Deola Taylor: I think it was at one of Marvin’s events; I’m not sure. Maybe a camp or something. Kay Tunz was the last producer I worked with…. You know we have four projects we have worked on. I worked with him on “In the Street of Eko.” my forth studio music project (album)
Kay Tunz Vybz is a promising chap that I feel like more people need to hear and listen to. He has that vibration I long for. That quality in a young chap.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Were you surprised to see him with Mavins?
Deola Taylor: I wasn’t surprised. It was expected. I was elated. You know, every man has his dreams and what they want to gain on their journey, and I believe it’s part of his journey. What’s important to me is that whatever one wants to achieve, I just want to see you keep going. We are not longing for the same thing. What I mean is that whatever you are longing for, you push it to the maximum without hurting anyone intentionally and consciously. As long as that’s clear, we are good.
Emmanuel Daraloye: I was looking through your trajectory before I slept, and I was seeing this trend of one producer per project. I was like, that was something you did in 2018–that was like six years ago with Antikercaworm. Do you think you guys will work well?
Deola Taylor: Yes, I’d love to work with all the producers I’ve worked with. That’s a fact. Hopefully, if they are still up for the task when we want to work, why not?
Emmanuel Daraloye: About one producer per project. Was it a conscious thing, or what did you feel at that moment?
Deola Taylor: It wasn’t a conscious thing; it came from the angle of progress. At every point, we try to do something and make it work, and we make sure we work together. And it’s a fact that “the journey continues” is my next project, which is my music project number five (5).
We are working with a new producer. His name is Nedu Stay Woke. He is a promising up-and-coming producer. We just want to try things together. We have five to six tracks or more coming out.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Do you have any tentative title for the EP?
Deola Taylor: Yes, “Small Boy From a Small Town: The Journey Continues.”
Emmanuel Daraloye: Should I tag it as a sequel?
Deola Taylor: Yes, you can say that. You know, the first one was “The Initiation EP,” which was the introduction, and with this, the journey continues.
Emmanuel Daraloye: This is October. Are you planning on releasing this year?
Deola Taylor: Yes, I plan to drop a single this year. The last time I dropped was in April last year.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Will there be any collaboration, or will it just be you?
Deola Taylor: For now, it’s just going to be me. However, I look forward to Collaborations. As I said, we all have dreams and goals, and how we want to achieve them is different. How we understand process and progress is different, and most importantly, what we reflect is the message. For me, regardless of what I’m going through, I make sure my message is intact. One must pass the message. Every artist, i believe, must endeavor to “reflect the times” ; that’s the ultimate sacrifice. The sufferings and struggles must be well reflected and documented. It comes with a price. That’s the cross one have to bear. Same with some writers who have written many books but still live in small houses without cars and luxury lifestyle –too many of them. What we chase is different. Artistry comes with sacrifice. You might/will be denied many benefits. You must be inside to give it outside. If not, all you’ll give is outside, which is a vibe.
What we want to achieve is different.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, what did you feel when creating the project you’re about to release? Where did you make the recordings, and how was it?
Deola Taylor: The recording was inside a confined house. The producer came around from Lagos. He is an Igbo man. He understood the vibration I needed. He is a soft guy. People should expect a new implant, like an icing on the cake.
Emmanuel Daraloye: What were your expectations when creating “Small Boy From A Small Town”? (2018) I have this analogy while listening to the project: this is a fresh guy trying to introduce his own story. I might be wrong. So, how was it?
Deola Taylor: To a reasonable extent, you are right. The project was a journey, I mean, the beginning. We started from somewhere, and we are going somewhere. When I say somewhere, I’m not saying that I want to go and live somewhere. What I mean is we are trying to push the sound out there. We are from a small place, and we give reverence to the place and we intend to keep transporting to the world. Even though it’s a fact that I had Western influences, at the same time, I don’t throw away the actual source because that’s what I need to give my people. As a Yoruba man, I must give them the beauty of the sound, and that’s why I said the people should expect growth, like an icing on the cake.
Emmanuel Daraloye: How has the journey been so far, I mean, in Ondo town?
Deola Taylor: Yeah, Ondo has been a blessing to me, even in the midst of the hurt and the hate, the brutal judgments, the misunderstanding, but we keep going because we know and aware of what we wanted to achieve. Trust me, from the beginning of life to the end of it, there will always be side talks. At the other end is random people trying to impose on your artistry. But you know the drill, just sieve and accept the ones you can. So, it’s been a roller-coaster, and we keep going; we keep the important ones and keep going.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Were you born and bred in Ondo or Ibadan?
Deola Taylor: I was born and bred in Ondo, but I have a huge history with Ibadan. I started going there 1994.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Do you have a family there?
Deola Taylor: Yes, my grandparents.
Emmanuel Daraloye: They once lived there?
Deola Taylor: Yes, and they still live there. My grandma used to live in Felele before they moved to Oluyole Extension. Now, my mom lives in Ibadan. As a matter of fact, my mom grew up in ibadan.
Emmanuel Daraloye: You know, you have roots in Ondo and Ibadan, which are two historical cities. Cultural-wise, Ibadan holds a very big role in it–the Yoruba culture and all. I can still remember Wole Soyinka, Beautiful Nubia, the University of Ibadan, and all of that. Could that have motivated you to study at the University of Ibadan?
Deola Taylor: University of Ibadan has been a school I wanted to attend. I tried UI after four years.
Emmanuel Daraloye: What were you trying before? Were there other things?
Deola Taylor: I was trying other things like music. Then, I tried Akungba(AAUA), which was based on people’s influence and advice. But I was glad Akungba did not work.
Emmanuel Daraloye:Who was advising you?
Deola Taylor: My mom and other family members. You know, Akungba was still fresh then. It was kind of “go to school.. I went ahead and did the necessary exams, but it did not work. Instead, they gave me something else. I was not cool with everything going on. So, I moved on with life. The thing is, you can give me advice, but I try to know the strength and capacity of the person advising me. How long and far you can go. Anywhere you are, just make sure you are going, and you are getting people’s blessing. Yeah, UI was a blessing. I studied theatre art, and it added to the vibration of the stage. I am a man of vision.
Deola Taylor: You weren’t even pursuing music when you were at UI.
Deola Taylor: Yes, I was behind the scenes.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Because most of these artists started on campus, I was wondering if you didn’t even show any sign of music, and then, after school, you started singing. What was the decision like? Did you just wake up one day and say, “I want to sing”? Was it when you left UI or when you were in your finals?
Deola Taylor: Here’s the story. When I was at UI, I used to sing, not as an artist, but just sing, even for gospel artists. Well-known gospel artists or just church gospel artists?
Just church gospel artists. Choir. I attended many churches and fellowships….
Emmanuel Daraloye: Did you gain a lot from these churches you mentioned? Because when it comes to music, these churches have different sounds.
Deola Taylor: Yes, so it was like this: I used to sing, and people would just call on me to sing, and I didn’t use it to make money. It was next to nothing. Getting to UI is the journey that continues. I mean, trying to sing from churches and my department too, theatre art, singing is part, I encountered someone who was like a manager then, his name is “Adejare Adebayo.” I can’t really tell how that happened, but one way or the other, he used to get me dinner gigs. I mean, he just calls me up for a dinner performance, and I’d go and sing my favourite RnB songs. All these Neyo, R. Kelly, and all. He would just call me, and I’d sing. I can say he was the first manager for me then.
Emmanuel Daraloye: That was like the formative background of the team?
Deola Taylor: Then, I was more into stage, and event management. I was working behind the scenes. Associating with different talents. I remember we had a stage event show for different artists in UI. I was part of the production and social group. At first, we started with SkyBlue, The theatrical troupe. Then Realad_Entertainment. Mehn, we were so much into putting up those stages, that accommodated several student talents and also talents outside the walls of the institution. Mind you, before I went to UI, I was in a group called Unique Worshippers (a gospel band). Then I later joined Da Strings. Courtesy of Mike Oladipupo(mikel) the president and my brother Zeal, his vice.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Within the same age range, right?
Deola Taylor: Yes, we came together, and I was backing vocalist for them. At one time, I was saddled with the responsibility as PRA, assisting the PRO. (Kaybliss)
Emmanuel Daraloye: Did any of these twelve become a full-fledged musician or take it seriously?
Deola Taylor: Nah, I think I’m the only one. They are all doing well and are married.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Did they release any singles or albums?
Deola Taylor: Yes, they released an album. Most of the guys were guitarists, others played the reminder of the crucial music instrument. But the guitar was the vibration. Hence, “Da Strings”
Emmanuel Daraloye: I can remember we had an interview four years ago. You went to a music school before UI, right?
Deola Taylor: Yes, I went to a music school, but I didn’t pay attention to it.
Emmanuel Daraloye: In hindsight, do you think you could have paid attention to it?
Deola Taylor: Yes, I wish I was more serious about playing the instrument. Although I’m grateful it gave me the basic music theory. The name of the school is Peter Kings, and it is located in Badagry, Lagos State. Benjamin James, one-half of The Cavemen, Asa, and others attended the school. I spent about three months there. I was supposed to do two years.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Was it like a Diploma thing?
Deola Taylor: Yes, you can do three years and all of that, but I did three months. As I said, school was paramount in my journey, also with my parents.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Okay, but the UI hasn’t clicked?
Deola Taylor: No. I’m talking about 2009.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Okay. Hadn’t it been for you being in UI at that time, it would have been not easy.
Deola Taylor: At that time, I was looking for admission to a tertiary institution. Like I said, my parents wanted me to go to a proper institution like you could get some knowledge, you know. That’s why I said it’s been ups and downs. A roller-coaster, you know.
Emmanuel Daraloye: And then, I don’t think you were knowledgeable enough to sit them down and educate them, probably.
Deola Taylor: I was not calm enough to educate them. Even with everything, my mummy still gave me suppor.. She bought me my first piano. I only added small amount of money for it’s purchase. Because those times, I knew how to navigate my ways and make some additional finances. She sponsored the tuition fee there too.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Do you remember anybody from school who made it big right now?
Deola Taylor: There’s a guy called Elijah who plays the piano, there’s another guy called TPiano or something, and then there’s a guy called MOG, who plays the bass guitar.
You know these guys are performers. They are always at all these social clubs.
Emmanuel Daraloye: And fun fact: some of these big Nigerian artists went to that school for a short time or an online course. I know guys that go there. So, like, the journey was already getting cemented there, for you going to Peter Kings.
Deola Taylor: When we are talking about Peter King, I’m talking about 2009/2010. Peter Kings is fundamental. That was my actual and direct encounter with young musicians who reads music sheets. Sight read-play, sight sing and all.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Yes, but at the formative stage, some baby steps were taken toward future growth. So, at Peter Kings, you weren’t even thinking of being a full-fledged musician?
Deola Taylor: The spirit in me knew I was going to be a lead vocalist. Because most of the people that go to the school are or become instrumentalists. In all honesty, my own idea was just to have the knowledge of sound and what music is all about. That’s why even up until now, when you see my fingering on the piano, you will think I’m one badass pianist lol. Because I know the rudiments.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, did you finish UI in 2016?
Deola Taylor: Yes, I finished in 2016. I got in after a four-year delay. I think I got in the 2011/2012 academic session, and I finished in the 2015/2016 academic session.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Okay, you went to Sokoto in 2016 for your NYSC?
Deola Taylor: Yes! I went to Sokoto in 2016. By 2017, I was supposed to be back. Yes, I was back in 2017. And we had our first show (Tasty Thrills) on February 25, 2018. In Ondo Kingdom.
Emmanuel Daraloye: I was thinking that when you got your posting letter to Sokoto, you would probably redeploy. Or was it that you wanted to explore a new culture, or did you just get tired of the Southwest?
Deola Taylor: Yes, it’s part of it. I wanted to explore new ground. However, my mother did not want that because most parents wouldn’t want their young son to go that far because of terrorism and all that. But the good thing is that Sokoto is a peaceful place. Although, i do not have updates about how peaceful it is now internally. All in all, Sokoto was also a good experience. I worked with a soundman named Adam Sound City.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Was that where you did your PPA?
Deola Taylor: That was where I did my first, almost professional track. However, I was posted to a Theatre hub in the state capital. Though, I used to shuffle. I wanted to work with a sound man because, honestly, there wasn’t much to do there, so I had to work with that man, Adam Sound City. It was there that I met one of the producers who produced my earliest tracks, his name is Mr. P. He produced “Je ka jo ma lo,” which was mixed by Adam Sound City in that studio.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Are you guys still in touch with Adam Sound City?
Deola Taylor: Yes, yes. We are in touch. Adam Sound City is in Sokoto, while Mr. P is from Benue State. He came in to serve too. I met him there.
Emmanuel Daraloye: In hindsight, that shows you really enjoyed your service days there.
Deola Taylor: Yes, I’m always trying to find my hands around some things–around some things of use, you know, around some artistry. I got some offers after my POP; however, I could not stay.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Family issues or?
Deola Taylor: Yes, family was part of it, and it was more like I had stuff to do here. And yeah, that’s just it.
Emmanuel Daraloye: I was trying to imagine how you have been coping with self-funding in the last six or seven years. You know, being an independent artist in this money-oil industry can be hard. So, how have you been coping?
Deola Taylor: I will say again. I’ll reiterate that it’s been very difficult, very difficult. But the good thing about the job is that you’ll learn and grow, and you will affirm and get clarity. Because if you don’t try, there’s no way you are going to tell what’s there. And that’s why I can’t stop. I can’t do anything else aside from what I’m doing. It’s whether it works out or not. And I’m always grateful to everyone being that has been a part. One way or another.
Emmanuel Daraloye: What do you think keeps you going? I asked you this question because I speak with artists almost every day, and I understand the whole waiting period. They call it a waiting period. You know it can be overwhelming. What do you think keeps you going and not stopping? We have a lot of artists that are stopping. What keeps you going?
Deola Taylor: What keeps me going is very straight and simple. It’s the message that I have to give that keeps me going. Trust me when I say that there’s every reason to want to stop, but the message, which is the assignment, is a point and it’s very important, and some people that take what we give, that takes it to high space, you know, high standard. I do it for the people. And the people know themselves. That’s what keeps me going. Like i said, it’s not going to stop, that difficult time, that challenge, that overwhelm. It’s not going to stop. When we have this understanding, you know, when you cry a little, in quote, and you want to rest a little, all of those little things you want to enjoy. Just do what you want to do and go back to it. It’s your job.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, two weeks ago, I was in Lagos; I was having this conversation with a creative, popular Nollywood, talking about having support from your partner and girlfriend, which is quite uncommon these days. It makes me remember when you were having your EP launch in 2018. Your girlfriend then was up and doing, so supportive.
Emmanuel Daraloye: You know, in a society where we are, people rarely show support or support that much. How’s she now, and what’s up with her?
Deola Taylor: She’s married now. She was supportive. To be honest. In this interview, I’d like to mention her. You know, I call her Robert Buck, but she’s Robert Bukunmi. We attended the same primary school. BSaint Raphael. So, after UI and service, when I came back to town, we met again.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Wow! To rekindle
Deola Taylor: And the good thing is she bears, and my first name is Oluwabukunmi, my second name is Adeola, my third name is Olamide. Taylor is a borrowed name.
Emmanuel Daraloye: And Adewole is the surname?
Deola Taylor: Yes, it’s the surname. Adewole Adeotoye
Emmanuel Daraloye: The name of your dad?
Deola Taylor: My dad and my grandfather.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Oh! There’s a long history attached to the name.
Deola Taylor: Yes, Adewole Adeotoye. So, in their house (family), they picked different names. Some picked Adewole, while others picked Adetoye. But Adewole Adeotoye is a generational and household name. Yeah, Robert Bukunmi is a fantastic lady. Take it or leave it.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Yeah, you know I’m creative, too. And I understand this thing. Most of these ladies won’t try to derail you, and they won’t show support even when they know that that’s where you get your source of income. They might be thinking that he can go and marry another woman. Like, she won’t listen to me anymore, just having sex with me. But she didn’t do any of these. She did her part.
Deola Taylor: Yeah. She did what she was supposed to do. And we were together for like five years.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Five years is much.
Deola Taylor: And she was the love of my life. And that’s the truth. But the thing is….
Emmanuel Daraloye: And you thought letting her go was the best?
Deola Taylor: I didn’t let her go.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Or did she let herself go?
Deola Taylor: Yes. At the time, I still loved her. But in life, you have to be realistic and honest with yourself.
Emmanuel Daraloye: We shouldn’t deceive ourselves.
Deola Taylor: Yes. Did she try to do what she could do? Yes. Did she have her shortcomings? Yes. Did I try, too? I tried. Did I have my own shortcomings, too? Yes. But the truth is, at that time, she wasn’t getting any younger, and she’s in a state of mind whereby when you get to a particular age, some things must be done.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Societal-wise
Deola Taylor: Yes. Societal-wise. And, of course, she’s not alone in this entire world; she has people around her. Her parents need her. They also need her usefulness. She had to make that decision. She also found a man who was ready to take care of her and carry out the responsibilities that I didn’t think I would be able to do.
Emmanuel Daraloye: You don’t think you were able to do it at that point?
Deola Taylor: Yeah. I still had many things to do. But we are here and still good. All love to her. So yeah.
Emmanuel Daraloye: I was trying to imagine because I think I’ve been in that stage once or twice; I was trying to imagine the kind of state you’d be in by letting her go.
Deola Taylor: It was crazy.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Letting go is not easy for five years. Let me give you an example. I’ll be thirty this year. All my life, the longest relationship I’ve had was a year.
Deola Taylor: Wow! You’ve been on the street.
Emmanuel Daraloye: (laughs) I’ve not even had a girlfriend for about two years now. For you now telling me that you had a relationship for five years, ah! I’ve never done it before. Five years is too much.
Deola Taylor: We looked like that perfect match. Everybody liked us.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Everybody likes you now. I think at a point, they were calling her Mrs. Taylor
Response: Yeah, everybody likes us together.
It was too much. I wish her well wherever she is.
Emmanuel Daraloye: It’ll be very hurtful. But as you said, there was no need for anybody to deceive themselves.
Deola Taylor: Thank you. There’s a greater assignment.
Emmanuel Daraloye: There is. And that doesn’t diminish the good time we had. Let’s remember that.
Deola Taylor: It doesn’t. It must not be for the growth of everybody. If I don’t make you aware of what you can do, at the end of the day, you might lose the battle. You might lose your importance. It is because of what you can do that we are still here today; it is because you kept consistency; if not, we will not be here today. You’ve done it many times. And you are still doing it. The Media–we are getting bigger. All eyes are on us. At that time, honestly, she could not just go along with the assignment again. That’s my belief. I believe a woman must align with a man’s purpose. So, that was just the whole thing. It was good until the end. It was a sad but understanding breakup.
Emmanuel Daraloye: It is. Because if you didn’t let her go, things might get sour. And it’s better. This is just one of the many things that happen to a creative person. So, for a long time, I just wondered how creatives cope. Their coping mechanism.
Deola Taylor: Right now, I’m single. Though I tried my best because I believe that you can stay alone without a woman sometimes, at the same time, I don’t wait so long for five years. Like, people just come and go. It’s not even up to six months. Few weeks.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Last time that I was with you at Zeal’s house, you had a long conversation with a girl. Here’s a fun fact: I was with you, and there was no way I wouldn’t hear your conversations. You were asking her a critical question: is this how you show love? Like you were surprised that if this is how you show love, that’s not how I show love o.
Fun fact: the way a man and a woman show love is different. And I keep saying that till Jesus comes or probably till the world ends, a man and a woman will always find it difficult to understand themselves because they don’t even think alike. So, for a long time, I’ll just be in the comfort of my house thinking, can this guy cope? Does this guy even recognise the current Nigerian girls’ reality? You know, for someone that’s dated a woman for five years, meeting new people, to even understand them, you know, most of them don’t even have the self-awareness. Do you think it’s a difficult key or difficult to find someone that aligns with you?
Deola Taylor: It’s always been difficult. You mentioned something very important that we must not throw away: self-awareness.
Deola Taylor: Now, the thing is this, it’s two things: it’s either you are self-aware, or you’re moving about–like everybody should like them, like an open door, and I always tell women that if you know that a man is not worthy enough to be your head or to be listened to, there’s no point even to try him at all. That must be the first check for a woman. Now, for a man, it must be, can this woman marry my purpose? You don’t have to know everything. Can you listen? You don’t have to know music, but when I tell you, can you tell me say na soso e be? But when I tell you, you can now do your further research and come back and say, “But I think,” because we are also looking for something progressive. You know, there’s a difference between when you’re researching how things can move forward aside from trying to pull or tear down with words or destroy because some people are saying things outside there and trying to bring the vibration out of the relationship, you know what I mean? That’s why it’s good to have listening ears on both sides.
Emmanuel Daraloye: How many of these experiences do you think have formed your music, or have you inputted into your music? Sometimes, listen to your music; I know some might be from personal experiences.
Deola Taylor: Trust me, I’ve not even started singing about my experiences. It’s just been touching it, “Afenuba.” I’m not the type that lets out my emotions and lets them control my music. I learn from them and take the lessons from there, and now I take it to the music, like “na so my eyes don’t see o” or something like that. You understand, something like, “As we waka, na so e go be.” You know, that’s from experience. Even all my waka wey I waka, the ones wey e correct or no correct, na the result wey e give me that’s why I’m here.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, there’s probably that some of them are not even correct.
Deola Taylor: Yes, you get what I’m saying. Everything does not have to be correct. But the reality, responsibility, and accountability of your own journey will shape you, so you’ll not be blaming some unseen gods.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Acceptance. No be say “ah! It’s the devil, o.”
.
Deola Taylor: Yeah, you get it. And it’s been a huge challenge for me with women, or let me say generally. Women are not accountable.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Yes, they are not.
Deola Taylor: But I keep saying that we will keep getting the result. I feel like it’s a pretense, and I also have communication, so I always tell my women about my experiences so that I won’t do it for five years.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So that if you are doing six months and we know it’s not going somewhere, you let them know.
Deola Taylor: Yes. We just stop. Communication.
Emmanuel Daraloye: And do you think they’ll even understand?
Deola Taylor: Yes, if you understand communication–that’s if you’re honest with yourself; as I stated earlier, if you know the man is to be listened to, then go ahead, because then communication will come in place because if you don’t think a man is worthy, you might not communicate or listen to him. Here’s the thing: don’t pretend that you’re up to the task by not communicating. What I mean is maybe you’re hearing some things outside, and you’re dealing with it, which is good because you don’t want your man or everyone around you to go through it with you, just like I also have my opinion about you and I’m dealing with it. But the truth is, when is it going to stop? Are you going to keep handling it? That’s what most women around me keep making. Are you going to keep handling this situation by yourself? Guess after a few years or more, they now get tired of it, then burst out with words and sometimes actions.
Emmanuel Daraloye: They can’t pretend for long.
Deola Taylor: They can’t. It’s been piled up. That’s why I said communication is important, so I can tell you that’s how it is, and that’s how we will do it. What do you think? If you really have something to do in every situation or relationship, you must not have a problem communicating with that man. No be every man fit be every woman man, and no be every woman fit be every man woman. You understand. That’s why I said fundamentally, Emma Tallest, “Is he up to the man I can call my man”? That’s the first thing a woman should look for; if not, don’t go there. That’s why if I face rejection from some women, I don’t feel any kind of way.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Like, you probably won’t go back again?
Deola Taylor: I won’t go back again.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Maybe she’s changed her mind?
Deola Taylor: No, I don’t do that. But we can keep a normal human relationship where nothing is attached. Because it’s good you might not see me as that person, be it up or down.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, rejection is for everybody?
Deola Taylor: Yes, it is.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Okay, let me share some parts of mine: since I’ve been in Ibadan, I switched between Lagos and Ibadan. So when I meet a lady, and we start talking, and she gives me a rejection, I don’t or won’t go back to her. I don’t do that. Because there are some guys with this orientation that maybe she’ll later agree with. I don’t fall into that. I might have fallen into that before, but at my current stage, I don’t do that. The moment you say no, I’m moving.
Deola Taylor: Yeah, because in the process of making her see many things, you are already losing things.
Emmanuel Daraloye: God bless you. I don’t even like talking too much. I was in a conversation with a girl, and I told her to come to my house; then I noticed I was talking too much. I just told her that, fine. E no suppose hard like that.
Deola Taylor: You know, and there will be some guys that at the snap of fingers asking them out, they wouldn’t bother to question it.
Emmanuel Daraloye: It got to the point that I noticed I’ve been talking too much, and at that point, you’ll be saying what you are not supposed to say, and you saying what you’re not supposed to say doesn’t mean she’ll change her mind. She’s already made up her mind. You, too, move. The problem with most guys in this situation is ego. They switch to money.
Deola Taylor: Yeah. It’s ego. You’ll do all you can to manipulate her and sing many pulses to her ears so she won’t listen to herself. She will listen to only you for many months and many years till the period of break, which is the downtime. It’s that downtime that she’ll listen to herself. For guys, when they have money, they don’t hear or listen, but when they are broke, they become calm. That’s when the women think and move. Because you forced them, it’s in different cases.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Yeah. It wasn’t a natural thing. Maybe it was with money. Who will reject money? Even if she doesn’t have a mind, she will do it. For creatives like us, it’s a very big task because, most of the time, I don’t even want to be thinking about it.
Deola Taylor: You know, for me, my mind is off of the relationship for now.
Emmanuel Daraloye: It’s like a frivolous thing.
Deola Taylor: Yes
Emmanuel Daraloye: You have the feeling that it will happen when it’s bound to happen.
Deola Taylor: Yes, it will for us.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Yes, because the moment you are forcing communications and doing dates, it has even gotten worse now that they’ll say, if you want to go on a date, you have to buy me clothes.
Deola Taylor: That thing of importing and imbibing American culture…
Emmanuel Daraloye: Africa no dey do date. Which one be date? We no dey go to the eatery and be doing videos.
Deola Taylor: Consuming all of that content online, women are easily swayed
Emmanuel Daraloye: COVID-19 brought a lot of social presence. To me, Covid-19 was the second coming of social media. People were much on social media, unlike before, and there was more content than ever before, so it changed the whole dynamic. Everything. Down to music consumption. When an artist drops a song, there’s a dance challenge. There has to be a collaboration with creators, TikTokers, comedians, and all that. How do you think this has affected the music industry and the new evolution? Do you think this will change soon? What is the status quo?
Deola Taylor: People want to agree that it’s the way it should go, but I don’t agree. I’m not saying I have a problem with whoever’s pushing those narratives. Like I said, noise. As a creative, I’m afraid I have to disagree that the audience should direct how it should go because the audience is unaware people.
Emmanuel Daraloye: They are.
Deola Taylor: When I say they are not aware, I’m not saying that they are stupid. No. They are not. What I mean is that they don’t know the assignment from the beginning of the journey, so there should be no way they should direct it. You’re supposed to teach them what they are supposed to listen to. It’s because of the disrespect that’s been so far in the art space. Ordinarily, the respect that’s supposed to be given to an artist is that of the prophet. The question now is, how will you get that kind of respect when what you are dishing out is just to whine to the audience? That’s where the noise comes from. Because every human being looks for healing–it could be short term, it could be long term. Some people find healing from drugs, or let me call it escapism. Escapism from drugs, from many things. That’s why people came with their pressure. I used to tell some of my guys, “Hey, stop it,” you are here, we understand, but you are not considering some of us. You are here because you want to be out of it. I’m not in that space. I’ve not been listening to that thing. I’m doing something else. I understand you.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, it doesn’t mean you have to castigate them?
Deola Taylor: Yeah, you understand. It shows that many people have been infiltrated. Just like Africa was infiltrated, our culture was interrupted. Same way with music; it’s been infiltrated by many shenanigans. Many forces. You’ll see that a girl of nineteen years old wants to consciously or unconsciously tell us how it is, even if some of them speak about relationships and have never been married before.
Emmanuel Daraloye: They haven’t even sustained a relationship for six months.
Deola Taylor: You understand. They just come out and tell you that’s how it is or that’s not how it is. And people will begin to like it because there are people from that perspective.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Imagine someone coming out to say relationships don’t work, and their parents are celebrating thirty or forty years of marriage. Can’t you pick a lesson from your parents? It shouldn’t be the celebrities or popular figures you know. Why should they be the mirror for you?
Deola Taylor: That’s it. I think it’s from the point of understanding that life is a process. You start from one point and then move to the other point. Step by step. That’s how, no matter how you write it or the development, if you want to climb a staircase, it starts with a step. It doesn’t change the reality. If you don’t agree now, it will happen later. You might not do some things now because you’ve not seen the reasons to or based on vibration and understanding, even if you’re being told every day. With all the things going on right now, at the end of the day, people will realise that it’s not what it is. People will wake up and ask, what’s the problem? Why is this happening? What’s going on with us? Asking those questions from our actions will give us the result. By the time we ask and ask, and of course, asking comes with killing and kidnapping, comes with rape, too. So when all these things happen with the unrest, people will now ask what’s happening and what’s the reason. That’s when we are going to go deep into the root.
Emmanuel Daraloye: You know that four years is a long time in a man’s journey.
Deola Taylor: Yes.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, four years ago, when we were together, there was this with Brymo. So, what’s up?
Deola Taylor: Yeah, I’m still a big fan of him
Emmanuel Daraloye: We have people that are no longer fans. Of his music and his personality?
Deola Taylor: No, of his music. I don’t deal with his personality. I don’t care. I was a lover of his music; that’s how I came across him.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Did you listen to his last release? I think that was on August 24.
Deola Taylor: What’s the title?
Emmanuel Daraloye: I can’t really remember. Even though I, as a fan, learned last week that he released a single in August, we are in October.
Deola Taylor: Yes, I knew about it. The thing is, as I would like to say, separate the art from the artist. It’s difficult for the fabs, and I understand because it’s hard for the fans, too, and they also have a problem understanding. You must understand that artistry is the message. That’s why they say that every child is a seed; it can be killed or be watered. That’s why we have many dead talents now. You know, as young boys and girls, we were created like that to speak into the family we love. If you understand this, you’ll know that every artist has a message. You’ll see that Brymo would tell you to be calm with patience and good luck, but then go ahead and fight on Twitter. That is straying from the art.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Don’t you think it’s better or necessary to practice what you preach?
Deola Taylor: Not everyone can do that. It’s another level. That means you must have worked on yourself while you work on the art. Trust me, I heard that Bob Marley beat up his manager. He’s a human.
Emmanuel Daraloye: I think we make this mistake: we fail to acknowledge that these guys are first human before being an artist.
Deola Taylor: So, be aware. They are human first before they are artists. So, don’t think because they are artists, they are not human, and a human will always be human. Yes, I’ll take it to politics: that’s why you’ll see a Nigerian blaming Tinubu for what s/he him/herself just did in the morning. I see people here bullying their house helps. Because you think you have that power, you can’t slap the boy or girl like that because there will be repercussions. And the real measure of man is how you treat those who are lower to you. Because you know you can beat up the person. Flexing powers. That’s how it is. That’s why we are all oppressors.
Yeah, it is, only with self-awareness. Then, you can know that you need Brymo’s Patience and Goodluck for yourself, not because of Brymo, but for the message. You can even pray for him.
Emmanuel Daraloye: So, most of the people who were just coming at him on Twitter were fans before.
Deola Taylor: They are coming at themselves.
Emmanuel Daraloye: Let me tell you, being a fan comes with love and hate. At first, they like you; second, they might even get jealous of the whole love, money, and wealth, and sometimes, as you said, they might even want to hold you or control you. Deola TaylorEmmanuel Daraloye So, there’s a lot attached to being a fan or fanatic. Take, for instance, why most of them go to the artist’s Twitter page and tell them what to do. During the election, most of them were going to Twitter, asking the artists why they didn’t support some politicians. Do you think it’s the function of the artist to be political or to just stick to his music and move?
Deola TaylorDeola Taylor: Ah, I think I’ll just say anytime you need wisdom, use it. That’s very important.
Emmanuel Daraloye: You were supposed to have a show on October 1, 2024, at Ibadan; it was later postponed; what really happened?
Deola Taylor: Yeah, first, I’d like to say we’re still going to have it. The reason for the postponement was because of the looming protest, the October 1st protest. We realised that during our underground information check, we saw many demonstrations and publications, and we saw leaders trying to move something around on the economic challenges. That’s the first reason.
Secondly, because of the level of technicality, we wanted to achieve something robust for the visual and, of course, the general recording of the life performance and other performances. We realised that we were unable to conceptualize within the timeframe and also the unavailability of cogent members of the band and the crew, you understand.
So, generally, what we want to see is the reason why we postponed the concert, of course, money is an essential setback, and we hope to get more partnerships, more sponsorship and collaborations, and volunteers in the future and all of that. Let me just tell you straight: October 1st, 2025, is what we are looking at for the new date; you know it’s an independence concert, so we’re not changing that. Thank you.
Emmanuel DaraloyeThank you for your time.
and then