A Cyber Security expert turned gospel artist, Ayomide Oluwabiyi fondly called ‘Ayobiyi’ says music has been part of her since from the time she was born.
The talented singer and songwriter revealed that both her parents were choristers while they were growing up which further endeared everyone in her family to music.
In an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng, Ayobiyi said her journey into music started at age seven when she was asked to sing at a Police Award ceremony by Police Constable(P.C) Alain in Wellesbourne Primary School, Noris Green, Liverpool in United Kingdom.
The graduate of Computer Network and Security from Birmingham City University, disclosed how one P.C Alain unearthed the talent in her, in an environment where one could hardly find black people, adding Alain encouraged her to overcome stage fright and she will be forever grateful to him.
In her words: “I have been singing since I came out from the womb, the fact that my parents were both choir members while growing up, I think that just cultivated that habit of everybody in the family wanting to be a singer.
“However when I got to the age of seven, I started writing songs and I like to perform in school talents shows and when I got to the final year in Primary, I was asked by a Policeman to sing in a Police Award Show and I did. His name is Police Constable Alain, he discovered the talent in me quite early though the City I was, was full of Caucasians where one can hardly see black race.
“Mr Alain himself a Caucasian, though there were many people who were better than me but this man (Alain), saw the light within me and the call God Has placed in me and encouraged me to keep singing and I would be forever grateful to him.
According to the enigmatic singer, when she progressed to high school, she started organising concerts with her friends to raise funds for charities pointing out that such events also helped boost her morale and confidence to face crowds either in music or presentations.
The British citizen whose family are originally from Northern part of Nigeria stressed that the decision came to take music as her profession when she gained admission to university and her parents advised her to study a meaningful course to balance the equation.
“In my secondary school days, I organised concerts with my friends, we used it to raise funds for charity. It also help me to develop courage in singing in front of huge crowds and overcome stage frights.
” Eventually, I decided i want to do music all my life, I believe that was what I was called to do but my parents were like; i can’t just do music like that, i need to do another profession that will provide stability in my life. Although I am really good at Sport like sprints, martial art and Netball to mention but a few.
”When we were given assignment in school on Information Technology (I.T), I realised that I was good in computer that is how I developed my skills in computing.
“I have sang in few concerts since I was young alongside my younger sisters, then as I got to the University that was when it dawned on me that I really need to take music ministry seriously, I did not even know it could go full time, I just thought that ministry could be full time job, like a Pastor or ministers who are into full time ministry and God provide for them. The Bible says when you lift my name up, I will draw men unto thee”.
The enigmatic lead vocalist who left the shores of Nigeria at a tender age to Kingston, Jamaica before moving with her parents in the United Kingdom says she is learning Nigerian local dialects in order for her music to gain acceptance in her ancestral home music industry.
The Master degree holder in Cyber Security and a product Software Support Engineer has written many songs and released two tracks so far.
She has done collaborations with known gospel artists like United State gospel sensation William MacDowell, Jamaican born Khari Adom and Jeriah, Transformed Youths UK gospel group, Zimbabwean gospel singer Annatoria, Benjamin and House Worship UK just to mention but a few.
“For me personally, I did not grow up in Nigeria, I did not grow in Western part of Nigeria, I am a Northern girl even though my name is Yoruba name, I personally want to learn songs in Yoruba and Hausa languages and when God gives me inspiration to write songs, I would be able to tap from my ancestral language.
“Growing up in English society is very hard, in fact I don’t really want to learn Nigerian dialects because I was not surrounded by people who speak Nigerian dialects in school and when I got to the University I was surrounded by Nigerians, Ghanaians, Zimbabweans who speak in their mother tongues and that inspired me to write songs in local dialects”.
She hinted that gospel artist that she is looking up to in the African setup include: Dunsin Oyekan, Nathaniel Bassey, Victoria Orenze, Kosso Mambo of South Africa.
“I absolutely love her so much, Chevelle Franklin of Jamaica despite the fact she is not an African, they bring their own type of flair to gospel music, these people don’t make the music about themselves but how God is doing a new thing not for them but for everybody, they inspired me a lot and I pray by the grace of God I will collaborate with them,” said Ayobiyi.
“These Nigerian gospel artists I mentioned have really inspired me , they do these by inspiration ,they are people that bring their own type of spice and flair to gospel music.
“I think it’s good to study the artist that have Nigerian flair, in order for you to grow and be the best, you need to understudy those that have done it before you, because you can’t do it by yourself.
“That is why, one need to have a mentor to guide you through and gain better understanding on how to draw people in. For me, that is why I am trying my best to study the gospel artist that are already up there, those that have ministered around the world, the ones that can speak into the lives of people when the holy spirit drops word of knowledge, “ Ayobiyi emphasized..