Interview: Toluwani

 Life and its dualism. As some fruits rot, some lilies blossom. We just have to choose where to look. Please join me as we look at a blossoming lily: Toluwani Obayan, a young and upcoming Gospel music talent. In this interview, she talks about her music and person. Enjoy.  

Toluwani

1.      Why Music?

I've always loved music (smiles), even when I was too young to know I had been blessed with a good voice I still sang everywhere I went. God overtime has given me different songs and I can’t hoard these songs selfishly. If God blessed me with these songs, I've got to share the blessing with the world. Music is a very powerful medium; it has the ability to communicate emotion to the listener. When a person talks to you, you could understand what that person is saying but when what the person says is sang, you can feel what that person feels and at the same time understand. Music is not all God wants me to do, and He keeps leading and guiding me each and every day. I don't have it all figured out, but He does. (smiles).

2.      How would Toluwani describe herself?

Toluwani

I'm the Lord’s (smiles). That's the meaning of my name, and I take it very seriously. I'm a person who really loves God and knows that He is all that matters. I owe everything I am and ever hope to be to Him. I also love thinking deeply, I hardly ever stop at face value, and I can analyze things that seem to have no need for analysis. I love being a blessing to people, in other words I love it when I can make people smile or add positively to their lives. I've been told by my friends that I'm predictably unpredictable, in other words they can predict I'll do something only "Toluwani" would do (Lol), they mean this lovingly (smiles). I'm Toluwani, ask God about me, He knows me best (smiles).

3.      How would you describe your music?

I would describe my music as "Gospel folk-soul jazz", It’s a mixture of all those genres. In my demo, the genres were captured to an extent but not totally. By God’s grace when the album itself is released, the genre I described will be understood (smiles). Be expectant, I am (smiles).

4.      What do you think you can create out of music? Does your music have capacity enough to cause positive changes?

I believe it does through God’s power. One thing about music is that it just sticks in your head and continues ringing and ringing until the message of the song becomes a part of you. The Bible says in Colosians3:16 "Let God’s word dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs..." all the methods used to make the word of God indwelling from this scripture are music related. God gave me these songs, I didn't write them because I said "Today I must write a song." Many times they just dropped in my heart or I would hear it almost ready made. And the songs have affected me positively, so I believe they will affect the world in the same way.

5.      Your mom is a Professor. Stories have it that academics dismiss such ventures as music, as flimsy. Would you add your voice to such stories?  Do you have your Mom’s support?

God blessed me with the best parents in the world (smiles). My parents are a hundred percent behind me. They are the ones who sponsored my demo and they did this with a lot of enthusiasm. I couldn't have asked for better parents. From the time I was born, they dedicated me to God (Toluwani) and they are always very cautious to not stand in the way of what God’s will is for my life. They know He gave me this gift and so they support me with joy. Since my demo came my parents have played it nonstop in their cars. They know all my songs really well, lol.

6.      Which do you prefer, meaningful lyrics or danceable tunes?

I would choose meaningful lyrics any day. I mentioned earlier that I'm a person that likes philosophizing and this comes in even when I listen to music, so if I listen to something that is almost meaningless, it gets on my nerves (smiles). The truth of the matter is that the two do not have to be in Isolation. There are songs that have danceable tunes and beautiful lyrics at the same time, so if I feel like dancing I'll listen to one of those (smiles).

7.      They say Nigerians prefer danceable tunes because life is so hard here, and they don’t have the serenity to listen to meaningful lyrics, so they take refuge in mindless dancing. Do you agree with this?

I think this applies to the whole world. People are different. While some people just want to dance to forget their troubles, others want songs that will meaningfully encourage them. I can’t make a generalization for Nigerians. I know songs that are not filled with meaningful lyrics sell a lot, and the stress of living might be a cause for that, but I believe that generalizations aren't really the best for analyzing people, even though they are the most practical for research and all. Every individual preference should be treated individually.

8.      What should we expect from Toluwani on the music platform?

Expect something different, not like anything anyone has seen, heard or thought about. Not just in music, but in many other things that God will be doing.

9.     There are young people who struggle to find a place in life. You seem to have found yours. Share a nugget.

Seek God, He's the answer. He says in Isaiah 48:17b "I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” And also Proverbs 4:20-22 says "My son pay attention to what I say, listen closely to my words, do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart. For they are LIFE to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body."