(Season 6), tells BAYO ADETU about his experience in the
competition and other issues
Q: Shortly after you were announced winner of the
MTN project Fame, you said your mind was still
blank to express how you felt. It is more than 48
hours now, so how are you feeling?
I feel blessed. I feel that everything around just worked for
me this season because I didn’t really expect to come out
as the winner this season. It’s about God because I don’t
believe there is something I did that others didn’t do. It
was the grace of God and the people that voted for me. I’m
really grateful to all the people that believed in me and
voted. I wouldn’t have won without them. Basically, I feel
this is God’s grace because at a point in the competition, I
was almost evicted, so when you look at everything from
beginning to the end, you will realise that it is God’s grace.
If you didn’t envisage winning the competition, what
was your plan when you registered to participate at
the auditions?
I came up to register when ASUU was on strike, and this
was my first time to participate in a music competition. I
didn’t really come with too much determination, but
anywhere I find myself, I always try to give my best in all I
do. So, when I got into the academy, I didn’t have a choice
than to give my best for everything.
So ASUU strike actually pushed you to Project Fame?
Yes, but I believe that is how God wants it to be. The strike
is a blessing in disguise for me.
Who is Olawale?
I am a normal guy and like I said, I am into sales and
repairs of phones and laptops, and I do that in school just
to make some money. But I love music so much. I play the
piano, drums and I sing in my church choir. I was the
music director of my church choir for two years before I left
for school. Basically, that’s just me. My life has just been
music and business. I just try to add value to myself.
Tell us more about your experience as a phone and laptop
repairer?
I started as a lover of gadgets because I know much about
gadgets. Like some people will call me pimp. I use to pimp
their phones. It was expensive then to put some media
applications like Bible on phones. It was a luxury then, and
that was what I was actually doing. I later graduated into
selling phones. I started knowing the problems that are
peculiar with some phones and how to fix them. I didn’t
really go for any special training though. I am not saying
that I am very good at repairs, I do it basically based on
the experience I have with phones.
How lucrative was the business, and did you
sponsor yourself to school with it?
I didn’t sponsor myself to school, my parents did that. But
there are some extra money needed in school that you
can’t ask your parents; that was the type of money I was
making. At times, I feel like taking some responsibilities
myself, so I need to get extra cash.
As a millionaire now, how do you intend to cope with
your colleagues in school when the ASUU strike is
over? Will there be any pressure on you?
I think the only change is that I meet a lot of people and
people know me now. I wasn’t this popular, but now I am
popular. I think that is just the difference. I am still
Olawale. The only thing different is just that I am now
popular and I have to be more conscious of my career now
because I have to work more on my songs. I have to make
sure I don’t disappoint my fans out there. The work has
changed.
Project Fame had produced five previous winners
before you. What are your plans to rank among the
most successful ones?
Basically, I am sure that those that have won it before
didn’t achieve that because of what they did, but that is
God’s plan for them, and I believe that God’s time is the
best; if you come out at the wrong time, then you might
just crash. I am putting everything to God and I will just
play my part, work hard and make sure I write good songs.
But everything depends on God. He knows when He needs
me to come out, when people needs to know me. My
music will not be a do-or-die affair. I didn’t bring myself to
the Project Fame academy, God did, and He is able to
sustain me.
You sound very religious…
I won’t say that I’m too religious, but at the same time, I
believe so much in God. Looking at my journey from the
beginning of the competition to the end, it has been God. I
was almost evicted at a point.
You started from the church as a choir coordinator, and
now you are a winner of the project fame. Are you going to
play gospel or secular music?
I’m not doing gospel music, and my personal composition
at the Project Fame finals wasn’t gospel music. I believe
that God created love and dance, which is not bad for us. I
don’t believe that everything should be gospel; music
should be either positive or negative. Even if a secular
song has a message of love, it is good, but there are some
music that don’t deliver love, and I wouldn’t go into such
music.
Before the Project Fame competition, how well did
you study the Nigerian music industry?
I am very observant and listen a lot. I don’t really listen to
Nigerian music, but at a point, I realised that my culture is
important, so I started listening to it. I actually wanted to
know what they do that make people scream and shout
their names, understand their kind of music and know the
type that sells. For a song to sell, it has to have African
trade mark on it, either you put Yoruba language or you
put pidgin English. WizKid, 2Face, P-Square and others put
something of these languages into their music; that is one
major thing I have discovered. With that, their music flows
in a way that even a roadside mechanic can get your
message and enjoy it. That is music that both the rich and
poor can listen to.
Are there any Nigerian artistes that you draw
inspiration from?
I don’t draw it from one person. I draw experience from
different sources, so I will say they all have their own
peculiarity. I am a very flexible person, and have decided
to throw myself open so I can learn a lot. They are all great,
so I will try picking one or two things from each of them
and add them to my own and pray better things will come
out of it by God’s grace.
Despite having a good music background before
coming to the Project Fame, what have you learnt in
the academy?
I have learnt to have confidence in myself. I sing in church
but have not been in this kind of platform before. Project
Fame is my very first experience, the first time I will appear
on TV. At a point, I became nervous. The first time I came
on stage, it was written all over me that this guy is scared,
but the Faculty members worked on me. I really appreciate
them. They helped me manage those weaknesses and
now, I’m more confident on stage and believe in myself,
despite the fact that I have a small stature.
What was the most challenging thing you
encountered in the academy?
Like I said, I do business, so am used to it. I don’t have
problem with my co-contestants, don’t quarrel, and I don’t
get angry easily, so everything was just fun for me.
While the competition lasted, was there any other
contestant you had feelings for?
None.
You were never close to any of them?
One thing is that throughout the competition, I made sure
I wasn’t too close to one person. Samuel was my birthday
mate; Roland’s bed was beside my bed. As for Immaculate,
I learnt from her. But I didn’t really have a favourite.
Was there any contestant’s eviction that really hit you?
Everybody. During the first eviction in the show,
people were weeping, but I wasn’t crying. At a point,
some of them were like ‘come on, are you not
human?’ and I told them that this is a competition
and it is normal for people to be evicted. Besides,
your crying won’t bring the person back. I was
determined that even if I was evicted, I won’t cry,
but I focussed on my task. Each time anyone gets
evicted, I always feel for them, but that is how it is
meant to be.
Since you emerged winner, have you spoken to your
girlfriend on phone?
I don’t have a girl friend.
Why?
Nothing, I’m still young.
How old are you?
I’m just 25.
That is not too young to have a girlfriend
I see myself as a young boy. Look at me, do I look
like someone that can maintain a girlfriend?
But you’re now a millionaire. Your level has
changed?
It’s not about the level, I’m still Olawale and I don’t
look like someone that can maintain a girlfriend.
Where do you see Olawale in the next few years?
Majorly, I see myself as a very different person, coming
into the music industry with my own originality, and I don’t
want to lose it for any reason.
Who is likely to be the first artiste you will work with?
I don’t know. I can’t really predict. Let’s keep our
fingers crossed.
Culled From :PMNEWS
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