Rising artiste, Pepusi speaks on Dubai concert experience

Olayinka Oluwaseyi Fashola, is a arising Nigerian artiste, with stage name, ‘Phashyo Pepusi’. In this interview, the Olabisi Onabanjo University graduate of Public Administration spoke about his experience at the recent 1975 Live Concert in Dubai. What was the exposure from the Dubai concert like? It’s a concert and not really a show. It’s the […]

Olayinka Oluwaseyi Fashola, is a arising Nigerian artiste, with stage name, ‘Phashyo Pepusi’. In this interview, the Olabisi Onabanjo University graduate of Public Administration spoke about his experience at the recent 1975 Live Concert in Dubai.

What was the exposure from the Dubai concert like?

It’s a concert and not really a show. It’s the 1975 Live Concert where I met different kind of people. The exposure was great, meeting people like they say, travelling is experience and the experience is exposure. I was able to deduce one or two things from every other kind of song, then put it into the kind of music I do, which is, Afro-pop, RnB; for me, that was exposure.

It was my first trip outside the country. Seeing me at first, a black guy in the midst of white guys, I went to the event in my native attire and everybody was like wow, wow, where are you from? Nigeria, I responded. A lot of people complimented me saying, we love your outfit and they asked if they could take pictures with you?

 

When did you begin your music career?

I do Afro-pop, RnB and professionally, I started my music career five years ago. I don’t have an album yet, I have singles. Many of my tracks are out there. I have the likes of Expensive, Bobo Love, Some Senses and others.

I will drop another single soon. I just came back from a trip and I’m looking to drop my new single; it’s going to be something big, it’s titled ‘SUSH’, Yeah Sushi is a food. I don’t want everybody to know where I’m going, so keep your fingers crossed.

How do you get inspiration for your songs?

Inspiration comes from anywhere, for example, when I am seated at the back sit of the car, I usually get a lot of inspiration, as such, I always have a pen and paper with me on the back sit and I write as they come. Mostly, my inspiration comes from writing alone that’s just it, looking at the atmosphere, the natural vicinity, inspiration comes.

 

What are your thoughts about the music industry?

The whole world is accepting African music and everybody is appreciating the kind of music we do especially from Nigeria and it’s doing well. Now, every investor wants to invest in our kind of songs because it seems they see a lot of potentials coming out of there. So I think it’s doing very, very well.

 

Have you had an opportunity to feature with any of the top artists?

Not really, but I am looking to work with Davido or Vector the Viper. I would love to work with them. Vector is known to be a lyricist, he raps, I sing, so we can complement each other.

 

Your dad is your manager. How do you feel about this?

Yeah I’m lucky, what happened is that actually they didn’t want to support my kind of music initially. So, I believe they saw the passion inside of me burning, because they had wanted me to be a lawyer. They always told me to go and read. But the passion kept burning, so he had to support me. I feel blessed, I feel lucky and I appreciate my parents for supporting me.

 

What are the challenges you are facing in building your career?

Challenges are when you go to shows and have to beg to perform. You want to perform but people would look down on you like you’re not up to the task. I have tried as much as possible to do my things, my own way and people like it, and sometimes confess that ‘wow! we looked down on you’. So I have been to shows like that where people looked down on me. A lot has happened.

 

What would be your advice to other upcoming artistes?

They should put God first in whatever they do. Secondly, I will advise them to keep doing what they know how to do best and what they feel in their heart is good irrespective of criticisms from different quarters. Although, sometimes, I listen to critics, like why don’t you do it this way? Because you can’t know all but at least just satisfy yourself and leave the rest to God.