Don Jazzy

Q: As a successful producer who has produced a lot of hits, do you feel burdened that your next project might not really be as big as your last?
A: I never let such things bother me. I am a staunch believer in what would be would be. I never believe every song that I produced must be a hit or expected that everybody would like it. Yes, I have recorded a lot of popular songs but I have equally done couple of others that people didn’t like. So, I don’t let that bother me. There is no way you would be producing hits for the rest of your life. But I have life, I have my artistes and I own my studio, if I produce a song today and people don’t like it, I’ll go back into the studio to produce another one and push it out. There is nothing hindering me from producing, I have my company and I own my facility, all I have to do is to wake up, come to the studio and produce.

Number one is to have passion for music. If you initial plan was to come into music production because of money, you won’t go far. You should be ready to do this job even when you can only afford to drink gari or have nothing at all.
Number two, you should try as much as possible to be original. There are temptations to want to sound like others. When you heard a particular producer did certain music and you went and follow the pattern, you are courting problem. Also, you must try to create a name for yourself; create a style for yourself and do things differently.

Q: From the standpoint of a producer, between beat and lyrics, what would you say make a song a hit?
A:It depends on the kind of song. There are some songs that don’t necessarily need a beat. In that case, it is the lyrics or the artiste’s vocal that would make the song. It all depends on the kind of songs. There are some songs a Timi Dakolo would do and you won’t care who produced it or what kind of instrumentation follows it. If you are thinking of a song that would turn up people in the club, then you have to look at the beat.

Q: You have experimented with different genres of music, which one is your favourite?
A:I like highlife. I infused it into many of the songs that I produced.

Q: With the numbers of collabo you have done lately, are you likely to release a Don Jazy full album?
A: I am not doing any album. Everybody keeps seeing it but I don’t have any plans of releasing my own album at the moment. I probably wouldn’t want to do an album that people would not see me perform the songs in it. But the truth is that I actually don’t like performing on stage because I am shy.

Q: Is that why you always wear dark glasses while on stage?
A: Not really but as you can see my eyes are red. And don’t think my eyes are red because I smoke Igbo (Marijuana). No, I don’t smoke Igbo at all. They are reddened simply because I haven’t slept (prior to having this interview). I have been in the studio all through the night. So, I have to wear this pair of glasses.

Q: You are a member of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement
A: Yes. I was born and named in that church. I am still a member.

Q: How much of influence does the church have on what you do today?
A: The church has a lot of influence on my music career and you can feel that in some of the tracks like Eminado, Doro Bucci, Janta Mata and others. You can hear some kind of C&S vibes in those songs and my other musical works.

Q: How do you feel been honoured by the Church?
A: I was very happy. I didn’t expect it because I wasn’t aware of the event until a day to the main anniversary. What actually happened was that my branch is in Ajegunle, Apapa and I stay in Lekki. So, it has not been convenient for me going to my branch in Ajegunle every Sunday. Some time, if I worked all through Saturday night till Sunday morning and I need to go to church, I worship at House on the Rock which is directly opposite my house in Lekki. But on this particular day, it was Banky W’s manager who called to inform me that our church was having an anniversary and they were saying they hadn’t seen me for a while. That’s how I got to be aware and didn’t even know I would be honoured. On the day, I went there with Korede Bello with intention of performing ‘Godwin’ during the event. But after our performances as I was about to leave, they gave me the award and I felt so happy. More importantly, I was happy because I saw a lot of people I grew up with in Ajegunle at that particular event.

Q: How true is the report that Don Jazzy said to be scared of marriage. Are you truly scared of getting married?
A: Scared of marriage? I won’t say I am scare of getting married but what I said was that I don’t want a scenario where I would go into marriage and rush out of it.

Q: But do you have an immediate plan to tie the knot soon?
A: Maybe next year. But I have kept saying next year every other year.

Q: Where do you see Mavins in the next five years?
A: Beautiful places.

Q:Many people have been anticipating a reunion with your friend and former business partner, D’banj. How soon should we expect collaboration between both of you?
A: It is God who can determine when. But by His grace, very soon. Right now, I am so busy with our project, Access Mavins Concert, and working on my children (artistes). Tiwa (Savage) will be dropping an album soon. That’s what is cooking at the moment. But when our schedule permits us to, we will agree on when we want to do it. He is busy doing his own thing and I am also busy with Korede, Reekado and Dija. We live in the same vicinity. By the time we sit down and plan it, we would create something. We would probably work again. As long as there is life, there is nothing impossible.