Mayorkun: From banking to music

How did Mayowa become Mayorkun? My real name is Mayowa but people call me Mayor. There was a time I was addicted to Japanese cartoons and I noticed that a boy is called kun in Japanese, So I just decided to add kun to the name Mayor.   How was growing up? It was normal; there […]

How did Mayowa become Mayorkun?
My real name is Mayowa but people call me Mayor. There was a time I was addicted to Japanese cartoons and I noticed that a boy is called kun in Japanese, So I just decided to add kun to the name Mayor. 

 How was growing up?
It was normal; there was no force around my childhood. My parents weren’t so strict and they were not lenient either. We just had a normal life.

So has it always been music from childhood?
I’ve been doing music all my life, but I didn’t start music professionally until 2015 when I recorded my first single. I’ve been writing since I was 13 years old; music has always been a passion for me. 

Did your mother, a popular face in the entertainment industry, influence your choice of career?
My mum being an entertainer had no influence on my career. My extended family is into music; my uncle sings, my grandpa sings. It goes on like that. My family is into music, so I’d probably be a bastard if I’m not singing. 

What inspired your hit song Eleko?
The carrying fire part (why you carry fire for your head) was written last year at a friend’s place, while the igba ti mo ma l’owo, oluwa lo’mo (only God knows when I will be rich) was recorded three years ago. That song was inspired by an experience I had with a girl. Most of the songs were recorded in the studio.

Collabos (collaborations) are the fad in music now, especially to assist upcoming musicians like you. Why have you not been involved in any with already established artistes? 
I’ve actually been recording with other artistes, but since most of the recordings were not my personal projects, when they’d be released will depend on the other party. I have done one with Pepenazi and another one with Solidstar. I have also done plenty with Davido and Dremo, but when they are released depends on them. My own personal collaborations are just a few as I am working more on my album. 

How rewarding has the single you dropped been?
Better than banking job. It has been so rewarding for just one song.

Why did you compare it to the banking job?
I was once a banker; I stopped the job in January this year. 

Did you regret that decision before you dropped your single?
Well, I tried my best to cope. Before I got signed on, I told Davido not to expect much from the first song. I observed that in the industry, it’s usually the third or fourth effort that becomes a hit. So, I told them not to be too optimistic. But this one just came through successfully, yet I’m less than four months old in the industry. 

How did you cross paths with Davido?
Sometime last year, I visited my cousin. They had a keyboard in the house that no one knows how to play, so I decided to fix it. While on it, Davido’s song, ‘The Money’ featuring Olamide, came to my mind. I remember begging my brother to hold the camera while I play the song but he didn’t oblige as he was leaving the room. But when they came back and saw that I was serious with the song, they helped to record the video. I posted it on Instagram. When I got a new phone this year, I posted it on Twitter and Davido saw it. Then he followed me on Twitter, Instagram and even sent me a message. He asked if I have songs for him. I had done some songs in school so I sent him about six. There was a particular one he liked. Shortly after, I met him and I got signed on to his record label. 

What challenges have you faced so far?
Somehow, I have lost my independence. Since I’ve been at Davido’s, I’m no longer an independent artist. I can’t just decide stuff. It’s not like when I was doing my music on my own and I can decide to drop my song now and I’ll drop it. Although it’s stated in my contract that I have the final say, I still have to go through some forms of bureaucracy before some decisions are made. I don’t see it as a challenge though because if not for them, I won’t be here.

The trend among young male artistes in Nigeria seems to be that with fame comes a baby mama. What’s your take on that?
(Laughs) No, not for me, it’s zero to any baby mama. It’s not as if it cannot happen to anybody but I don’t pray it happens to me. Again, I say, for me, it’s zero to baby mama. 

How has it been with your new music family, your label mates – Dremo, Danagog, Davido?
It’s been amazing. Everyone is cool. We all hang out together. No one hates or beefs anyone so it’s cool. 

What is that experience you can’t forget?
If you had asked me this question a week ago, I would say it was when I performed in Ekiti. But then, the show I can’t forget was the one that happened recently at the Olabisi Onabanjo University. I was kidnapped. It happened a few days ago. I was expected at the night show earlier. But my mom’s friend’s son called me to come and record with him. The promoter came to pick me, but unfortunately I didn’t know it wasn’t the same promoter for the OOU show that came. I was already in the studio recording when about 30 men came to the studio, broke the door and stormed in asking for Mayorkun. I was silent. Then one of them pointed at me and shouted, na the guy be this [sic]. They dragged me out and ordered me to enter a car but I refused. My brother, my manager and the cameraman were there. I was scared. Those guys were very rough. I can’t forget that experience.

Young male artistes seem to be notorious for flings, so what is your love life like?
For now, I have no love life. I am seriously working on my career. I once had a great relationship but we broke up. 

What is your advice for the youths?
I don’t really like answering this question because I feel I also need advice, but still a word or two for them. Whatever you’re doing, please be serious about it and do it well. There was a time I wanted to delete the video that eventually brought me up because of the low storage on my phone. If I had deleted it, I would probably still be struggling. Whatever it is you’re doing, don’t give up as long as it is for a good cause. 

When should your fans expect your next album?
I should drop it this year but before I do, a lot of people will have to listen to the songs. The songs are ready but they have to be selected. I will soon drop a new single.