I’m not about fame – 12-year-old saxophonist

Temilayo Abodunrin is a talented multi-instrumentalist. The 12-year-old started with a keyboard before moving to the saxophone which has made her the delight of several people within and outside Nigeria. She has performed on stage with Davido, Johnny Drille, Tope Alabi and several famous Nigerian artists. In this interview, the Kwara-State indigene shares her future […]

Temilayo Abodunrin is a talented multi-instrumentalist. The 12-year-old started with a keyboard before moving to the saxophone which has made her the delight of several people within and outside Nigeria. She has performed on stage with Davido, Johnny Drille, Tope Alabi and several famous Nigerian artists. In this interview, the Kwara-State indigene shares her future plans which include remaining relevant in the industry.

What is music to you?
Music is a sweet and pleasant sound to the ear. It is a sound that has rhythm and can even be used to send messages to people. To me, music is fun and it helps me to express myself.

How will you describe your journey into music?
Well, I would say that I was born into music. My parents introduced me to music at an early age and I started playing the keyboard at the age of four. The first time I saw the saxophone was at a church event and I saw some children playing it too. I was stunned because of its loud sound and gold colour so I told my parents that I was interested in playing the saxophone and after a while, they got me a sax and a teacher to tutor me.

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What attracted you to the saxophone?
I was attracted to the saxophone because of its gold colour and its loud sound. Now that I know more about it, I like the fact that I am able to create a lot of rhythm and melody out of the saxophone and I am able to play any song of my choice.

You’ve played alongside several stars in the industry, what will you describe as the high point of your career so far?
The high point of my career so far has been meeting and playing alongside Davido, Johnny Drille and Woli Agba.

How are you enjoying the fame?
Honestly, I am not about fame but I enjoy reading lovely comments from my fans because it helps me know that I am touching lives positively.

Fame could be risky even for adults. How have you been able to handle it?
My parents help me a lot in this regard. They help me manage my social media accounts. They help me get events, and they also make sure that my music does not affect my education.

Considering your age, what challenges you about the music industry?
So far, the major challenge is having enough time for both my music and my studies.

Why do you think education is important to your music career?
Well, education is really important in order for me to interact with people on a daily basis, be knowledgeable and be well respected. Also, a lot of the time when I go out, people always encourage me to focus on my studies as well as my career.

Remaining relevant is a big task in the industry, what are your plans to sustain your rise in the industry?
Well, I am planning to have more original songs and also have an album of my own. I will keep going for events in order to expand my fan base and someday start my own yearly concert.

How would you describe playing alongside Davido?
Playing alongside Davido has been one of the most interesting and best times of my life as a saxophonist. It was a great experience because a lot of people know Davido, but they don’t have the opportunity to meet him. And meeting him at this young age is a thing to thank God for.

How have you been able to combine music and education?
I am a JSS2 student of Flora High School. My best subjects are Music and Mathematics. I have been in the school since kindergarten, so the teachers and students are familiar with what I do. I love my school because we are all like family and it is close to my house hence, I don’t go through the early morning Lagos rush which could have eaten into my productive time. I plan on going into music full time, and also music production.

When should your fan expect the album?
The date of release has not been set but I am taking my time to come up with something outstanding which will also not affect my studies negatively.

Who do you look up to in the music industry?
I look up to great jazz saxophonists like Candy Dulfer because she started playing the sax at the age of six and she is also a female like me. I look up to Kirk Whalum and Tia Fuller because they are professional jazz artists and they are really good. In Nigeria, I look up to people like Beejay sax and Olujazz.