My Interview With Sound Sultan In 2014: “I Don’t Want My Children To Cover Their Ears When My Music Is Playing”-Sound Sultan
The death of popular musician, Sound Sultan came as sad news to me. I kept remembering the interview I had with him back in 2014. He is one of the most humble Nigerian musicians I have ever met. Nigeria indeed has lot a great talent as his music can be said to be prophetic and he makes sure he impacts the life of his listeners with the lyrics of his songs.
So in honour of him, I decided to go through my archives and dig out this simple interview that still echoes his beliefs and the love he has for his family.
Rest in Peace great icon!
Below is the interview:
“I Don’t Want My Children To Cover Their Ears When My Music Is Playing”-Sound Sultan
Olanrewaju Fasasi popularly called Sound Sultan became a popular name in the music industry when he released his first single ‘Jagbajantis’ in 2000 which went on to be an instant hit and a classic song in Nigeria. He told VANESSA OKWARA his staying power in music, his love for fashion and the loving relationship he has with his wife
You’ve been in the music industry for a while now, how have you managed to stay relevant?
The most important thing is to be happy doing what you do. Being fulfilled, seeing your seed generating into a forest. From one line of music, one song, when you see people refer to your music and telling you how it has imparted on their own life. That is what makes me feel fulfilled as a human bring. It is like a cycle of achievement, when you get it, it keeps you going.
What has been your high point in your career?
I don’t record high points because I know I can still go higher.
What do you make of the content we see in Nigeria music today?
It’s all about variety. People prefer different styles and genres of music. People just want variety. Having said that, my own point of view is that whether negative or positive content, it is all different points of view. For me, I think music is a big tool we should not misuse. It can tell a lot on a generation. So I try my best not to misuse it. I make music everybody can listen to. I want to be able to play my music where my kids are. I don’t want them to cover their ears when my music is playing.
How did you propose to your wife?
It was not like the things you see these days where a guy proposes to his girlfriend on top of a helicopter. For me and my wife, it was nothing like that. In fact it was more or less a telepathy thing. You know how you and your best friend want to go and do something together; you wouldn’t have to beat around the bush before telling them. So before we knew what was happening, we have gotten married. We courted for like seven years before we got married and we have been married for five years, so I have known her for twelve years.
What is it about your wife that made you to propose to her?
She is my best friend. She is a very natural human being and everybody that knows her can testify that she is very respectful. My wife has everything I want in a woman. She is not even a fan of my music, can you imagine? She likes Black Face and Bob Marley. She is the kind of person that really likes helping people. If you have a partner that helps you to help people, then you are a winner.
How have you been able to sustain your marriage so far compared to what goes on in the industry?
Five years is not much compared to how our parents were able to uphold marriage and its values. For me, I am a very conservative person and also my parents were a wonderful couple as well as good parents; so I just decided to turn a blind eye to how marriage is fashioned nowadays and just emulate the good qualities I see in their marriage. It’s just a stereotype people have about the marriage of celebrities collapsing. You will be surprised how many marriages of stars that are doing well today. If you can stay away from the paparazzi with your family, you will be good but when you want to make a star out of all of them, the more the paparazzi want to find out about them and spoil things for you because nobody is perfect. The minute you start hearing things about your partner, problems will start from there.
How do you cope with female fans?
I think over the years, they have understood my stand point that this person is no go area for flings. So they don’t really over step the boundaries I set up. I think they have even shared the information among themselves and I don’t get harassed like that anymore.
Taking a peek into your closet, what kind of clothes are we likely to see?
I have lots of beautiful clothes in my wardrobe. I used to have a fashion line because I create and design clothes as well but time couldn’t help me to keep it running. In fact I want to hand it over to someone I believe in their fashion prowess to handle it. I’ve I tried a few people but nobody could handle it the way I actually wanted, so I let it rest for now and just focus on my record label. I still do my own designs and wear them but I cannot design for anybody else for now till I get the fashion label right and running.
You wear hats a lot. Is that your signature fashion piece?
Not really, I started wearing hats because I was very shy in school. Everywhere I go on campus I wore my cap. Today, I have lots of hats in my wardrobe. Hat is the least expensive thing I have in my wardrobe.
You like to wear lots of colours as well in your dressing; any particular reason?
I like being vibrant. I think creativity is ingrained in me. When you see a creative person, just leave him alone with his artistic nature. He is the only person that knows what he/she has on the inside. Sometimes, it would look as if the person has gone crazy. So sometimes when I do colours with my dressing, it just shows how colourful my mind is.
What are the fashion errors you have done?
I have done quite a lot. If you go and look at my old pictures, you will see quite a lot of fashion errors. In those days, it was what we have that we put on. It is now that we can call it fashion error. In those, we were on top of our game with those things you call fashion errors now and people were simply admiring us.
What is your greatest asset both in fashion and life?
That would be my mind. It is what dictates everything I do. My mind is what dictates my music and fashion sense. My mind is the most priceless thing that I have. If you are thinking it is my watch, my mind is really where my money is stored.
Apart from music and fashion designing, what other things do you do?
I am also into basketball and I also lie. I mean who no de lie? (Laughs)
