Olumide Okesanjo is the Chief Executive Officer of GAMiE. He is one of the notable artistes in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. In this interview with OLUWAFUNMILAYO DARAMOLA, he discusses his sojourn into the entertainment sphere, the change COVID-19 pandemic is effecting on the entertainment industry and other issues. Excerpts:
Olumide Okesanjo
Can We Meet You?
My name is Olumide Okesanjo. My company's name is GAMiE. I am a multifaceted artiste: Rapper, Singer, Poet and Filmmaker. My Creative Vision is Live, Love and Inspire.
How Did Your Sojourn Into Music Start?
My journey into music began with my love for drums. I would beat on any surface as long as it produced sound. This allowed me to express and explore various music genres. Before long, I joined a church choir and learned to play the drums properly.
Being in the choir equipped me with the skills needed for a music career, from vocal training sessions to scoring different song arrangements. These experiences were pivotal to my development as an artiste. I later joined a music group where I learnt the art of songwriting and stage performance. While in the group, I encountered hip-hop/rap for the first time and fell in love with its use of words. This was how I decided to use 'rap' as a major form of expression in my music, other expressions such as spoken word and singer came later.
I also started learning how to produce music, this led to a self-produced EP (Riverside EP) which was released in 2012 and a double album debut release in October 2015 (Beyond Words and T.T.S.S).
Music has allowed me the opportunity to create my own path, to tell my story and inspire the world. My vision is to Live, Love and Inspire.
How Is COVID-19 Changing The Face Of The Entertainment Industry?
Due to the safety measures in place- social distancing, no physical contacts and less social gatherings, a lot of content creators and artistes now engage their audience via social media and other digital platforms. COVID-19 is making everyone think out of the box, creatives are forced to find new ways to engage their audience without restrictions. Many have lost their source of livelihood due to the ongoing pandemic while new opportunities have emerged.
What Are The Challenges In The Entertainment Industry?
Structure is one of the main challenges in the entertainment industry, although its much better today as artistes are now taking the responsibility of being informed on the business side of music and arts. With a structure in place more and more artistes and performers will be able to earn well from their works.
Do You See The Entertainment Industry Thriving In Years To Come Looking At How Things Are Evolving By The Day?
Yes, I see a bright future for the entertainment industry in the years to come. Over the years the way of doing music business has evolved. Today, we have easier access to music distribution platforms where artistes can place their music and sell. More artistes are going the independent route by using an entrepreneurial approach. They are able to put a structure to their music, build a team and earn a good income. Also with easy access to social media and other digital tools, it has become easier to share your music and reach a broader audience.
