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With over three decades in the music industry, Demola Olota, aka Demolta, is no stranger to discipline, depth, and the pursuit of excellence. A trained musicologist, performer, and band leader, Olota has carved out a niche with his Afrocentric style while drawing strength from his classical foundation. In this interview with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN, the versatile musician speaks about his philosophy of music, his family’s deep connection to the art, and why he owes no apologies for standing firm in his own lane, among other issues. Excerpts…
ITH over three decades in the music industry, what have you learnt over time?
Without having to say much, over time, what I have learned is broaden your skill, know your onions and get a very good foundation. I just got back from Rome, where I went to play at a wedding. I couldn’t go with my team, though I have a choir and orchestra – a band, but I can fit into any event as long as it is music. Music lives in me.
Would you say it’s still very important for anyone going into the music industry to play at least one instrument?
From a professional and academic point of view, every music performer is an artiste. The voice is also an instrument, but if you play an instrument apart from singing, it is an added advantage, and it actually expands you and puts you on another level. For instance, one very key instrument that is the master of all is the piano because it enhances your singing. Where I studied music, piano was compulsory for everybody, but the way things are now, everything is about money.
Where did you study music?
I studied at the University of Lagos. I’m just coming from the UNILAG now, where I went to see the new Head of Department, because I was actually planning to go back to school and see how I can impact the up-and-coming generation. We were the first set in my department – we were only three in the music department when I graduated in 2004.
With your experience and knowledge of music, do you feel some kind of way if you are not being recognised compared to the likes of Fela in terms of popularity?
My name is out there in the public space, maybe not in the mainstream, but my over three decades in the industry isn’t child’s play. The only challenge is that a lot of people can’t match my name with my face, so I don’t feel anyhow, I’m good.
You just returned from Rome, where you performed at a wedding, and you often play for the whites outside Nigeria. How do you get them to sync with your music?
A client of mine, whose daughter’s traditional wedding I played for in the eastern part of Nigeria, told me that people couldn’t get over my performance and booked me to come and play in Rome for the white wedding. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go with my 30-man band, so we paid 10 Italians over there, and I was sending them scores from here. When I got there, they did a great job. Music is a universal language, so that wasn’t a problem.
Are any of your children showing interest in music?
Oh yes. My two daughters have just passed out of the university, and I give them voice training lessons because voice was my major in school. I had the best result when I graduated. It’s just like when you study medicine, my father was a medical doctor by the way, I was supposed to study medicine, but I ended up in music. So, yeah, my two daughters sing. In fact. My second daughter does productions on her own, and my first daughter sings because they both studied media information at the Pan-Atlantic University. My last daughter follows me to church every morning – she is in a young choir. It runs in the family.
What was your dad’s reaction to your decision to study music as opposed to medicine?
My father was an organist before he travelled to Germany to study medicine. He was a German-trained medical doctor. He didn’t stop me from studying music. He loved music but didn’t do it as a career.
Who are your contemporaries in the industry?
The people I can call my contemporaries are musicologists- those I call the real musicians. Ayo Bankole Jnr, Seun Aje and co.
What advice would you give a young artiste looking to make an impact in the music industry?
The very simple advice is to have a mentor, a direction, and a very good foundation. It is very important to get an education because anything without education always tells in the future. Education makes a difference. In anything you do, also get international exposure.
Some disgruntled band boys have in recent times come out to voice out on how they are paid poorly by band leaders. What’s your take on this?
What I would like to say is that never judge without hearing the other side of the story. It’s just like companies paying their staff poorly, but we still need to hear the other side of the story. I have a band that I pay, people have come and gone, and people can never be satisfied. At some point, you outgrow certain things, then you can go and start your own as well, but that notwithstanding, it is fair enough that we all have a conscience, and we have to do our best to pay our people well.
What project are you working on at the moment?
I have a project out now, ‘Ire Ayo,’ although it’s not so new, but people heard it and they are like wow! So I’m re-promoting it now. The song was titled after my first child, who just graduated. Nathaniel Bassey actually appealed to feature in that song 25years ago. He played the hotline of the song. It’s a song we want to make go viral now, and the reception has been really great.
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