Multi-talented Aremu Opens New Chapter In Nigeria Music Scene

The artistic and distinctive performances of Nigerian international act,  Bukola Elemide popularly called Asa and that of Poet & Song-writer, Segun Akinlolu famously known as Beautiful Nubia is what a new kid in the block, Aremu  seems to be churning out selflessly to the excitement of his listeners with ease. With performances primed to take over its genre of music by storm, 

 Oladayo Joseph Opadoja born in Gbagada, Lagos, Nigeria on the 4th of December, 1986  

has chosen  Aremu as his stage name because of it’s  “calmness”  and the relaxation it gives him. Bringing up music that consists of love, socio-political messages, Yoruba adages, the perspectives of others, (or essentially lessons learned from talks with his mother), Aremu’s song lyrics are built around these aspects. Dance, according to him, is what has inspired his music as he ” i wanted to create deep, soulful, music that i can  dance to”. Yet before he will dance or sing, most of his music always begins first as poetry. He pens his thoughts, then later picks up his acoustic guitar and expresses those lines musically. “This is when it becomes alive,” he says. To accompany his lyrics, (that tend to become metaphorical as the artiste says he is not much of a talker), is a sound that some do not find quite easy to label. Aremu himself, however, says if he had to describe his music, he’d give it its own genre, one he calls “Yoruba Classics.” 

Although Aremu has lived in the world of inspiration and creation from an early age, it was only a few years ago the artiste was able to let the rest of the world hear one of his creations, a haunting electronic song with Yoruba lyrics called ‘Ebora’, which was a specially chosen collaborative tune done by the vocalist and songwriter, Aremu, and producer/DJ Sasha Perera for a musical project with a Lagos based programme. Yet even though Ebora was a song that was originally written and chosen for a musical project with the programme, it was later taken by the producer of the song for her own album. Although having participated and winning a few song competitions including the Rain Gold competition and a Black Heritage competition, and performing periodically in public gatherings, Aremu has become mindful of where and when he performs as he says it is all based on “feelings. My guitar will remain in one place for months unless my spirit says I should pick it up.” The artiste has a deep love and respect for art itself, and therefore considers himself more of an artiste than an entertainer.

Simply appreciative of all areas of art, Aremu has taught himself how to play both the guitar and interestingly , the Igbo Flute. Although these are two things Aremu does not acknowledge as talents of his. “I’m just an artiste,” he said. “A medium. I play the guitar and the Igbo flute, but I don’t know what some would call professional. I just use it to express myself…  thoughts from my mind.”

On ‘Felicia’

“Felicia,” a tune of rejected love and classicism, is Aremu’s “first” official single and was only recorded when director and producer of the song, Olatunde Obajeun, heard the singer playing the tune alone with his guitar. When asked about the song, Aremu wants to be purposely evasive so as to leave room for individual interpretations of his art. “It’s about status, but ‘Felicia’ is political and personal. It’s just a mirror of the society, so it’s interpreted differently by whoever stands in front of it.”

Here is a link to https://youtu.be/SQUygQ1Y_oM