Making Yinka Okeleye's acquaintance was such a privilege. We have admired his passion for what he does for quite some time, so safe to say, we were star struck when he finally gave us audience.
The first thing that struck us, was his humility. He is indeed a lover of people, and obviously God. His first few words calmed our raging nerves and we knew we would have an awesome conversation, and that we did.... This is how the conversation went down.
RC: You are one of the few Artists who go by their full name... Was this planned?
Yinka Okeleye: My full name is actually Okeleye Adeyinka Olarewaju, I was never a fan of having stage names or nick names. So I just decided, it is still me, so why go with a pseudo name? So I just decided, Yinka Okeleye will be just fine.
RC: How long have you been doing music, I know I started noticing quite recently, but I'm sure you've been around much longer, Yea?
Yinka Okeleye: As a recording Artist I started in 2017 with my first song "Chukwu Mo Nso" but I started singing, not really as way back as some would imagine. I started singing during my NYSC days, I must say the NYSC scheme has kindled a lot of fire among youths.
RC: What is life as a musician like. to you.?
Yinka Okeleye: life as musician is interesting, I've been given a gift, and it is exciting that i am able to share my gifts via music to the world, and basically tell people about Jesus. So I'm humbled and privileged to connect to the world through music.
RC: For you, you are a worship leader as well as a recording artist, how do you draw the line, and where do the two meet? That's if they do.
Yinka Okeleye: We are called first to worship our king, so that is the first thing. Lead people in worship to the throne room, and obviously to take people there you need to have been there, however when we go to the throne room songs are birthed and then we can record. As a record Artist you record those songs and put them on platforms to reach a wider scope.
RC: So would you pick any over the the other? Worship leading and Recording Artistry?
Yinka Okeleye: No, like I said earlier recording songs helps you reach more people, it is exciting that you can put your songs out there and in one way or the other get remuneration for it, but that is not the goal.
RC: As a singer myself I can't help but notice the fact that there is a cry in your voice... I find it so endearing it makes every note you hit even more believable.. Is there an art to this? Can you give us the Hack??? Lol.
Yinka Okeleye: The thing is for me, I can't say for others, I sing songs that have been a blessing to me, so when I sing them it is from a place of experience and understanding. (Quotes Psalms 47:7) the hack is just soaking in the song and singing songs from a place of understanding.
RC: Is Mr Yinka Married, I'm sure our readers would like to know..
Yinka Okeleye: (chuckles) Yinka Okeleye is not married o, we are still looking unto Jesus ( laughs out loud)
RC: What are some of the challenges you have faced as an Artist /Worship leader?
Yinka Okeleye: One of the major issues that recording Artists face is, you know, not having your songs heard, having spent so much on recording. I have this opinion though, that, not everyone will be as popular as some of the A lists we know, but the fact that your song is a blessing to one or two people is enough.
RC: each time I hear you sir, I try to rack my brain to figure out who you sound like.... There's something familiar about your sound... Maybe it's the anointing?
Yinka Okeleye: (laughs out loud) I have had a lot of people say, you sound like this or that person, but also there is this uniqueness in my sound, it is just borne out of love and hunger. My ministry is centered on love and hunger. So when you hear me sing, you hear someone that loves the father and yearns for more of him.
RC: Which Recording Artist in your genre would you like to work with?
Yinka Okeleye: I have a lot of people that I would love to work with, Pastor Lawrence Oyor, he Is actually a friend of mine, also Dunsin Oyekan, who is also a big brother of mine, Pastor Nathaniel bassey on the long run, I don't know him personally, but I would love to work with him too. And probably some foreign collaboration with people like Todd Dulaney. I love Todd Dulaney a lot, he is someone I would love to do something with, so fingers crossed.
RC: Tell us about that production with Victor Thompson, how did you make that happen?
Yinka Okeleye: Me and Victor, Victor is my G.. We are tribes men, we love each other and we love the Lord as well. So we just connected easily based on our love for God. Victor called me one of those days , you know that session he does? And I was like okay... We got home told the producer, put on the strings, set the camera and it just started. We have a few more stuff coming up, something of about 44 minutes coming up, so just watch this space.
RC: The other day I saw this vintage song on your IG wall, that took me on a journey. What is your favorite of all time? And Why?
Yinka Okeleye: Yes! Darling Jesus, i did a birthday worship for a friend, and we were done then the song came out, i don t even know where it came from, it just did, and it is doing so well now. it has over 50 thousand views on tik-tok right now.
RC: Do you write all your songs?
Yinka Okeleye: Yes, i write all my songs, the funny thing is, i really don t think i am a good writer, but the fact that i stay with the holy spirit makes up for it, i listen to some of my songs, and i am like, "did you write this"? No! i did not, the holy spirit did.
RC: What is your take on Having others write for you, or you writing for others... Especially in Gospel music.?
Yinka Okeleye: I am not against people writing songs, if you have tried writing songs and you feel it is not good enough, there is nothing wrong with having others write it for you. Only thing is, if someone writes a song for you, give them the proper credit.
RC: How would you rate, "song writing" in Africa, or let's bring it home to Nigeria. Compared to the global situation.
Yinka Okeleye: Honestly African song writing is really good, especially in gospel we have the lyrics we need, which is in the word of God. When you stay with the word and have the spirit breathe on it, it is being enlightened to you. If you look at some of the songs from the "Popular acts" they are really good. People like Moses bliss, Dunsin, Benjamin Dube, Solid stuff.
RC: Music Competitions what do you think of those... In your opinion are they helpful, and how does it contribute to development of the industry?
Yinka Okeleye: in a way some people garner confidence and experience via competition, but for someone like me, I wouldn't do so well if you said impress me ( chuckles) so I wouldn't do well in a competition. However I have been a judge on a few competitions and it was fair enough.
RC: What is your best love song, one that you consider the perfect wedding song? And why?
Yinka Okeleye: I like Timi dakolo's love song, Iyawo mi, Ed sheeran also has some nice songs that are pretty good. I was talking with a certain pastor the other day, who was like , gospel ministers, you guys should write love songs, not just love of the father, there is also love your neighbor and love your wife. So i think it is expedient that we gospel ministers write love songs, ones that are not vulgar and are edifying.
RC: With social media , the fast pace of the world and all the many distractions, I think it is sometimes hard to differentiate between Gospel Singers and Secular Singers. Do you agree, and in what ways should a Gospel singer differ from other singers.
Yinka Okeleye: I think it is pretty clear, a Gospel song, talks about Jesus and the love of the father. Any song that doesn't center on this, is secular. So it is really more about the content of the song.
RC: There's this general belief that when it is Gospel, it should be free.. I don't know if you've heard that? Do you agree?
Yinka Okeleye: Brother, this is so true, we need to change the narrative, it is adorable that we still have people that do this for the love of the kingdom. But the truth is, to put out a song is not cheap, and it shouldn't be treated with levity. I know people are gonna come after for this but it is what it is.
RC: So how do you deal with people who want it all for free, without coming across as self obsessed or materialistic.?
Yinka Okeleye: Honestly, this is something we face a lot, you go to some places and they go like, ah! we cannot pay you sir, sometimes you spend more to places where you go minister, and some other times you go to places and the honor is amazing. I think it is value, if they value you, you will be treated Right.
RC: We have seen scandals about Gospel ministers some bigger than others, do you think the church handle these scandals well? What can be done to better handle them?
Yinka Okeleye: hmmm... this scandal talk, i just want to say, the best of men are still men, we need to understand that men will fail, whoever puts his trust in man will definitely be hurt. so it is important that we focus on the person of Jesus, that will make us less antagonistic. once you focus on the person of Jesus, then, that is what it is.
RC: Lastly : Singing in a Band or as a solo Act , which do you prefer and why?
Yinka Okeleye: hmmmmm, i woild rather sing as a solo act, i find more expression that way, even though i love to sing in a band, cos you know the diversity of gifts coming together makes it beautiful, but we all have different sounds, and my sound may not resonate well with other person s sound. so i prefer to do it as a solo act, that is with me and my band.
RC: Are you currently working on anything that you would like to share with our readers.?
Yinka Okeleye: So i am working on a live recording here in the city of Abuja, also i have a song that i am recording, it should be done by the end of the second quarter, then i have a collaboration with..... i will not let the cat out of the bag yet, but it is with someone we love and honor in the ministry. So that is what i am currently working on
RC: Thank you so much sir, we really enjoyed every bit of this moment with you, thank you for making out time for us. Thank you Sir..
