Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Oliver: Well, I grew up in Ibadan city, Nigeria, was born and brought up there. As my dad was a police officer, we lived in the police barracks and I gotta say, it’s pretty rough and tough out there, but my Mom did her best to keep us out of the street life. I also had my primary and secondary education there before I later moved to Ilorin, University of Ilorin for a Bachelor’s degree in Geography.
Music for me has always been there, it’s an everyday thing for me but what actually got me started was simple, “Boredom” haha.. I remember I used to mimic Dagrin, DMX and other artistes popular songs but it was really nothing serious not untill my first year in Unilorin, early 2011 to be precise, i was hospitalised due to a spine injury and while recuperating, i was bored so bad I started writing visible things about the hospital just to while away time and before I knew it I got more personal with it.. My DJ brother then updated my music playlists with hits from foreign hiphop OG’s like Eminem, Drake, LilWayne..among others..
I had all the time to listen to these rappers and used them to brush up my writing skills.. So in short I wrote my first rap Verse on a hospital bed and the rest is history today.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Oliver: Actually I was already way too deep in writing rap verses then that I forgot to pick a name. Haha.. Not until I freestyled for my brother one evening and he encouraged me to record it. Then it dawned on me that I didn’t even have a stage name. As at 2011, the hit song “Oliver Twist” by Nigerian singer DBanj was very popular so I chose the name “Oliver Tee”. The “Tee” is actually a short way of calling my real name”Taiwo”. In my third year in Unilorin, I was already maturing into this music thing and I wanted a short and simple name that people can easily remember so I scrapped out the “Tee” and stuck with just “Oliver”. Moreover most of my friends call me “OLIVER” without the “Tee” so it became a norm and I still use it like that till date.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Oliver: The whole concept to me is simply amazing. I love it. Being an independent artist, it’s a great platform because the Nigerian music scene is simply put as a “Jungle”. At a time till now if you’re not popular enough or without the necessary funds, you just won’t get heard and that’s a fact. But online music sharing gave indie artistes the ability to reach a large number of audience at once, known or unknown. That means you can stay in the comfort of your room and promote your stuff on websites and social networks, both locally and internationally, build a fan base and before you know it with the right people, steps and network, you’re on the path to success.
The whole idea of giving music away for free as a Nigerian upcoming artistes is something you must do. The music scene is simple and complicated at the same time, if you are not buzzing enough people are not even ready to listen to you. But you know what they say slow and steady wins the race so me as an example started with word of mouth, close friends, online groups, countless free shows and what have you. It’s a steady race and with the right song and right push to create the right buzz, you get your core fan base who are ready to buy your materials.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Oliver: Well, for starters, believe in your God and pray, it’s really important. Believe in yourself, keep working on yourself in everyway possible. It takes time though but ensure you keep improving your skills. Also make sure you promote yourself in everyway you can. Don’t just record a lotta stuff without pushing them out. In the Nigerian music scene, it actually costs more to promote yourself than to record your songs. Even real talents without promo is nothing here. Stay “Hungry” like me. There is no place too small that i cant perform although we all want the big stages, flashing lights, cameras and all that but the journey always starts with small steps. The music scene here is a “Jungle” and if you don’t get into the action by actually doing something, you won’t be heard.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Oliver: During performances, anything can happen, it just depends on how you handle them. If mistakes happen, I just go with it and make it seem it’s all part of the performance. I remember one time like that while performing my song at a dinner party, i think the DJ’s laptop went off but the mic was still on.. While the DJ was struggling to get it back on, I went and sat down among the audience and started freestyling, the atmosphere was so turnt up that before the DJ could get back on, the audience were all excited and though I later performed my song, I probably wont have impacted the audience as I did if the DJ’s laptop hadn’t gone off.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Oliver: At this stage of my career, I haven’t toured yet but I’ve turnt up shows, concerts, Street jams, Competitions, Carnivals, Events and what have you. I look forward to touring states and countries by God’s grace.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Oliver: I get inspired by the slightest possible things you can imagine, everything around me inspires me. Any situation I’m going through can make me say a word or two to it.
And for my writing process, Most times I prefer the beat to be ready, I listen to it over and over again and kinda form words together, sometimes I have a topic and if I don’t, my hook or chorus would be definitely about something. I also write my lyrics too except when I freestyle. Sometimes I write a whole song in just an hour plus and sometimes it takes me days. It all depends on my mindstate.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Oliver: For a website, it’s not ready yet but as for my online platforms I’m on Twitter {@Emini_Oliver}, Instagram {@Emini_Oliver}, Facebook {Ojediran Taiwo Olusola}, Snapchat {@Emini_Oliver}, SoundCloud {https://m.soundcloud.com/
ojediran-taiwo-olusola/ following} and Reverbnation {https://www.reverbnation.com/ olivertee}.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Oliver: Lol.. In my opinion, i don’t think any song can be embarrassing. I listen to a lot of music genres. In fact I take my music collection very personal and I don’t joke with it. I might be listening to Fuji music today and later you catch me listening to some good Juju music. I love me some old school gangsta rap and I listen to Jazz and Rock music too.. Haha.. If I like a new musician, I search for his/her Album asap. When my friends check my music playlists, they hope to see only hiphop music but they are proved wrong with my collection which they termed as “Awkward” haha..
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Oliver: Whoa!! That’s big.. I’ll open a sound engine and electronics business, build a house, invest in my music career and invest the rest in real estate and landed properties.. You know, more money must be made. #Boss levels…
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Oliver: Well, I’ve got my producer 2Show Beatz doing most of the production, strictly FL Studio, Cubase and those softwares.. You know how it is, I bring a song idea, we kinda connect and make fire together. But I’m also dabbing into being a sound engineer myself, haha you can call me an aspiring producer too. I play the Keyboard often but that’s just about it.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Oliver: As I said earlier, it is strictly through online promotion and sharing. I’ve got my PR, that’s Ngwide.net that handles all the online stuff. My close friends do the promotion too, they share whatever material I put out via social networks and word of mouth. I also go to performances and club, I conducts interviews like this and radio promo too.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Oliver: Haha.. I’ve got a long list for that.. I mean both foreign and international, dead and alive, rappers and singers.. From Beyonce, JayZ, DMX, Bone Thugs and Harmony, to MI, Olamide, DonJazzy, Asa.. We can’t be through with this interview today if I should continue it. I adore them all so it’s very simple.. I hope to perform with most of them in the nearest future.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Oliver Yes, my EP, “Thank Me Now” is still out online, it’s an hiphop material and really raw. But asides that, i have a new single coming up shortly with a video too. I’m working on getting a deal with a management company and pretty soon the song and video will be out. This new single, I will say is dope and will be out in a while as soon as talks are concluded.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Oliver: It’s funny you ask, but I’m currently rounding up my National Youth Service and will go for my Master’s programme after that.. I’ll probably be working a 9-5 job after that but, hey, whatever happens, the passion for music is insanely strong and it’s not something I’m abandoning for anything.. Nah..
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Oliver: At a time I really don’t need to buy albums cos my big brother was formerly a DJ, so his room was always filled with the latest materials. Buh later on the search for new stuff was strong, being a hungry music lover, I get new materials online like Eminem MMLP2 and many more.. And it feels really good being able to do that.. I remember me growing up, hearing a song on the radio and praying that they play that same song again. Haha.. But right now, if I like a musician’s work, I get his/her album or EP straight up.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Oliver: It was pretty tough while still in Unilorin, I mean running from lecture halls down to the studio, reading and preparing for exams and still hustling to get and perform for shows and all that.. One time I had to perform at a dinner party and the new week was the start of my semester exams.. But I thank God I was able to cope with the stress. I think it’s just my mindset which is “I gotta do what I gotta do” that keeps me going most times. I plan for everything and I must say, I don’t crack.. This road of ours is not only bumpy but dangerous, some folks lose their mind, but just do what you can and pray make God pick up..
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Oliver: My project “Thank Me Now” is still out and fresh. A new single with visuals is coming up so look out for that. I hope to get more shows, concerts and performances. Also a management deal is in the works which is to be through soonest.
