14 October 2008
interview
Lagos — Born in Lagos in 1978, the last of six children, Tosin Martins gained his LL.B from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He served his National Youth Service Corp year at the Ministry of Justice in Gusau, Zamfara State. And there ended his brief career as a practising lawyer! Music and law, he explained to FUNKE ABOYADE recently, ran in his veins but 'the waters of music ran deeper!' Tosin was catapaulted into instant stardom in 2006 when his smash hit, Olo mi (My sweetheart) took the nation by storm and became an instant anthem at countless weddings. Since then, he hasn't looked back. Unstoppable, he aims high and who knows? A Grammy may just be on the horizon
'I still find myself naturally living out the cool, calm nature of a legal practitioner' Tosin informs me as we chat in the reception of Cobhams Asuquo music recording studio in Ikeja, Lagos whilst the photographers set up their equipment.
It's been almost three years since Tosin's hit song, Olo mi, shot him into the limelight and instant national fame, stardom and appeal. Since then, no wedding is complete without the smitten newlyweds dancing to - and oftentimes, belting out - the song. Olo mi is Yoruba for my sweetheart.
Proof that love sells?
'Even before the success of my hit, love has always sold. But the sheer joy of knowing you're in people's hearts, unlike (disco) music which is just for your body, you dance and the pleasure is momentary and is gone. Not so with a love song', he muses.
Tosin, who is now 30 years old, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003.
'I never practiced law, I went straight into music' he says, in response to my question.
Why then did he study law?
'Back in school, I was always very objective, spoke well and delivered good speeches' he explains. He was nicknamed "barrister" by admiring classmates.
'At what point did you decide being a lawyer wasn't for you?' I ask back.
'During my University days. In Unilag, the waters of music ran deeper ', he smiles in recollection 'I'd be in class and there would be music in my head!'
'It took a lot of discipline to finish' he confesses.
It wasn't therefore, a struggle within him to follow his heart and forego law practice. Law however, he says, helps his writing abilities and his interaction socially. And, he adds, that dignity only a training in law can give.
'People tend to wonder, what's the correlation between law and music? But I think there is, because the legal profession trains you with words. You are more thoughtful about how you put your words together. In music, you take on your audience and try to imagine how they think.'
'Did you encounter any parental or family resistance to your decision not to practice law but to become a singer?' I prod.
' I won't say resistance, more like strong concerns, maybe fears which I probably shared but guess I'm doing what I must' comes the philosophical response.
'Have you always had music in your veins? What are your earliest memories of wanting to be a singer?'
'I think both music and law, but music runs deeper! As for memories, they've been since my secondary school days.'
Tosin recalls he grew up listening to his mother's repertoire of songs, from Otis Redding to Boney M, through to Ozidi King, Sunny Okosuns, Ebenezer Obey, Kris Okotie and Haruna Ishola. Of the last, his mother had a soft for as they both hailed from Ogun State.
'I grew up in Palmgrove, and right at the back of the house, was a speaker blaring out Fuji music on a daily basis!'
Not surprisingly, Tosin's music has a touch of each of the genres of music he spent his childhood listening to. His first album, Happy Day, which has his hit track, Olo mi, reflects that wide genre of music. Will he eventually stick with one that will define his style?
'It's a reflection of my musical orientation and background. I also don't know how to do so much in just one way so I stay true to how the songs come and leave it to people to make their pick. I believe the songs that get the buzz over time might give a hint of which genre to place me.'
Olo mi which is a highlife tune became an instant hit, what inspired the song?
'God gave me one of those many moments of favour otherwise I should release something like that every other month if it's just being talented in love. It's bigger than me and I'm the first to admit it.'
'A deep song like that, surely must have been composed with a special significant other in mind?' I prod some more.
'I ended up singing it to my (now) wife' he says 'even though I had put it together before I met her. I was between relationships then.'
'Olo mi is regularly sung at weddings and played on the airwaves, what your feelings when it dawns that you produced that beautiful, timeless, hit song? How do you feel being a star?', I'm curious.
Tosin pauses, then answers, 'Humbled. A bit frightened. And honored. I give credit to God. Some songs are really bigger than the artist; you wish you could document how you get that emotion. We live in a society where people critique you when you're successful'.
Tosin who composed both lyrics and music of the famous song explains that he draws inspiration from pain, his environment, true life experiences, love and faith.
Pain?
He explains he lost his five month old daughter, who'd battled a congenital challenge, only last month. I don't know what to say; platitudes seem really lame. He and his wife, Moiks (Omoikhuren), he says, are working their way through the tragedy Silence, as I contemplate the incredible pain they must have gone through
On Olo mi, he says light heartedly, 'I'm happy about the song, I'm arming people with it - if you don't know what to say to a woman, play the song, it's a cheaper alternative! People are sometimes lost for words or simply just not articulate'.
When should his fans expect another album, and hopefully, another hit song?
'Hopefully before the year runs out. Storm records are supporting with all the processes.'
What are the major problems and challenges faced by singers like him in Nigeria today?
'Piracy; little or no Government attention and corporate support; still a bit of preference for foreign artistes and sadly, the gradual shift of emphasis from lyrical content to rhythm only so you don't need to make sense or write well, just give people beats. What radio plays mostly as good music is partly to blame for this. Sad.'
I ask him about the lyrics of Olo mi which has mostly Yoruba lyrics.
'Mo fe ba e d'arugbo' doesn't quite resonate well when translated to 'I want to grow old with you', he points out. As for 'Oju kan sa l'ada ni', it's based on a Yoruba saying, relative to marriage. Just as a cutlass has one blade, one man one wife; it's a statement of commitment. But my friends joke, "Ada kan ti l'oju meji nisin yi o! (A cutlass has two blades these days!)
'It was a big challenge releasing that song because most of my experience had been in Church, and it was anathema to them. Some felt I should only sing gospel songs about Jesus and here I was, singing love songs!' he recalls.
But, he explains, he has a 'God view' about these things. 'Who better to talk about love than the author of love Himself, God. Otherwise, people will sell sex to you as love. I cannot only sing to those in Church without encouragement for people out of Church.'
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