Mike Aremu is one of Nigeria’s foremost saxophonists who have travelled far and wide to show off his talents. He’s a prolific saxophonist and his musical ideology has endeared him to many of his fans. He started jazz music when Nigerians knew little or nothing about what Jazz music is all about. But today, his name, uniqueness and perseverance have opened ways for him in so many areas. In this exclusive interview with Music Excellence, the cool dude neither denied the fact that he has relocated to London or not but stated the reason why people have not been hearing his music lately.
Excerpt.
There is this rumour that you’ve relocated to America, how true is this?
I won’t say I’ve relocated but I believe I’m a world citizen. So, it doesn’t matter where I stay. You can reach me now. Maybe I’ve been in the United Kingdom for the past one year but Nigeria is still home for me. And the world is my space.
After ‘Coat of Many Colours’, we’ve not actually seen anything from you, what is happening?
‘Coat of Many Colours’ is my latest album which I haven’t launched in Nigeria. I’ve done the UK launch; it was on the 6th of May, 2013. It was tagged The London Jazz Café which was what you saw us watching when you came in. But I’m coming for the Nigeria launch and to release it officially to the Nigerian market.
It was said that you relocated to the UK because Jazz music is not active like hip-hop music?
Well, Jazz is really gaining its ground in Nigeria. It wasn’t gaining more ground before but now people have come to understand what Jazz music is all about especially when we started Sax Appeal that I do every year. The first one was in 2009 and since then, there has been Jazz Concert like Lagos Jazz Series, Smooth Luxurious Jazz Concert, so it’s really gaining more grounds in Nigeria. And surprisingly, Sax Appeal was done like a mainstream event where I have Kenny G in Nigeria. Also, a lot of Jazz and instrumentalists are coming up. So, I believe it’s gaining its ground Nigeria.
Looking at the Jazz industry at the moment, I can only mention you and Yemi Sax as the only active saxophonists in the country unlike hip-hop that we have a lot of acts, what is the cause?
Jazz music might not be a mainstream at the moment like every other genre of music but the truth is that, there is Jazz music in Nigeria which was what we were trying to do, to take it out from the certain age of people. We don’t want people to see it as music for the elite alone but for everybody on the street. And Jazz is something that is interesting. I remember at one of my concerts, Sax Appeal at the Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos where somebody walked up to me to tell me ‘you know I never liked jazz but I’ve started liking jazz’. With that, you will know that jazz is not meant for some people, it is also for everyone. So, I believe that Jazz is coming up in Nigeria.
Your latest album is titled ‘Coat of Many Colours’ could you tell us the concept behind the title?
First and foremost, it is because the album consists of different genres of music. It is a combination of Jazz, Hip-hop, Afro Beat, Apala, Alujo, Salsa, Ballad, Tugba and the normal Praise and Worship. So, it’s an all encompassing which was the reason I titled it ‘Coat of Many Colours’. Secondly, in the past eight years, I’ve been facing different challenges and tribulations. I’ve been through my greatest and lowest moments which helped me to write most of the songs in that album. These experiences prompted me to give that title. Also, the title came from the story of Joseph in the Bible who was his father’s favourite and as such got a precious gift of a ‘COAT OF MANY COLOURS’. God has truly favoured me with multiple blessing.
For the past eight years that you released your last album, you have scaled several hurdles, some people said your career had a downturn because you left Kennis Music, what is your view?
Nothing like that, I will be grateful to Kennis Music in my life because they took me up when not too many people had interest in my kind of music. And they did it, it was very great and I’m enjoying my career now. My career has not nosedived since I left Kennis Music. My contract ended with Kennis Music, it wasn’t like we fought or something bad happened. And I’m happy anytime to acknowledge them as part of my success story. I’ve been doing greatly well since my contract ended with Kennis Music. I’ve done series of international tours. I’ve attended Grammy award several times. I’ve done my own concert not just in Nigeria but other parts of the world. So, I don’t think that has anything to do with my career. I believe I’m doing wonderfully well with being under Kennis Music, I thank God for the way He blessed me. I may not be one of the Hip-hop stars because in Hip-hop, you have to make noise but I’m very happy. Of course, it can be better but it’s not that, I’m not doing well. So, I don’t think it’s right to say everyone that left Kennis Music at that moment is not doing very well and if that’s what happened, that’s not my own case at all.
People keep wondering where you get that energy from whenever you are performing on stage; could you tell us the secret behind your stage craft?
(Laugh and said Mo ti fa nkan ni (meaning I’ve smoked something). I’m just kidding. First of all, most musicians have too many personalities. One is when they are not on stage and the other one is when they are on stage. But whenever I’m playing my Sax, I also see it as a time to give it all to God. I don’t hold back at all. I don’t hold back in praising God and I’m playing sax, I make sure I give my best. I want people to enjoy my music for them to know that, it’s a serious business. It’s something that means a lot to me.
You always talk about God, how spiritual are you?
Well, there is no way to mention spirituality but I’m a very spiritual person, I believe in God so much. I’m a Christian and I believe in the principles of God, so I think that’s enough. I have a relationship with God. I owe everything about my life to him. My life is about God not mine.
Some people said you are even planning to become a pastor, how true is this?
What I’m doing already is a ministry but not to become a pastor, No! God has not called me to do that. I think that’s where the problem starts from. People believe once you are in the limelight; then you have to be a preacher, there are many ways you preach to people. Just by gesture of love, you have to minister to them. Many people preach on the pulpit and they don’t practise what they preach. I don’t think being on the pulpit or starting a church is what it means to have a ministry.
We learnt you grew up at Cherubim & Seraphim Church but you later left the church for Pastor Adefarasin’s Church, some people said you left because they are not grounded in your kind of music, how true is this?
Not really; in life, things happen and there are stages you will get to in life that you start changing some certain things in your life. My mum used to attend C&S church and automatically, I was born into C&S. And I learnt virtually everything that I do today except the sax at the church. And it contributed to the major factor in my sense of creativity and it shapes most things that I do. I’ve got the foundation from C&S, so I will never forget where I’m coming from. The world itself is changing and everything in it is also changing because change is a constant thing. So, I was born in C&S, I had my foundation there and I went through that in my life and that was part of what made me who I am today. So, when I sing song like ‘Atewo ni fi a mo bi o ba more’, people will know where it came from.
What has your genre of music taken away from you and what has it impacted on you?
Hmmm, that’s a deep question. I won’t say it has taken anything from me but it has added everything to me. The uniqueness is something that it has added to me because most of the upcoming ones that I’ve spoken to want to go mainstream because Jazz is not selling according to them. But there is a saying in Yoruba that we cannot all sleep and face the same direction. There is always uniqueness in everything. It is the uniqueness between you and I that makes the difference and that’s what makes the world to keep growing. There is always a market and that’s what I realized. So, when I did Jazz Appeal, I realized that people came out and not just anybody but well-to-do personalities. And that showed me that, people have been waiting for that kind of music. So, it has not taken anything but added to me. There is nothing that I will say it has taken from me.
Are you fulfilled now?
Yes! I am fulfilled but there can be more fulfillments and which is why I haven’t stopped doing what I’m doing. I want to be able to reach out to a larger audience and many people through Jazz music. I also want to make people feel that Jazz is not just about playing the instrument. There is communication in Jazz; it’s deeper than any other music when you talk about classical music, it’s a bit deeper because most times there is no talking or singing, there are no lyrics but the tunes have so many messages that you can interpret the way it means to you.
Was this part of your childhood ambition or you just embraced it along the line?
In C&S churches, every child is usually encouraged to learn one particular instrument or the other, I don’t know the way it is now but that was the way we were brought up in C&S. So, I think that experience was part of what shaped my life in music.
Could you tell us the fond memory of your growing up days?
I constructed a guitar and I played it to thrill the people.
No doubt, you play virtually all the instruments, which of the instruments do you cherish most?
Saxophone but I play a bit of every other instrument but saxophone was the last instrument that I picked up. I play a bit of guitar, talking drum, keyboard, piano and trumpet was my major instrument before I switched to saxophone.
When are you going to stop playing sax?
I will sing as long as I have blood in my veins. If I need to train my voice to be able to sing, I will definitely do that. Even if it is to play another instrument, I will do it.
Tell us about your family
My family is something private to me but I’m married. I have lovely kids and I’m very happy with my family.
The woman in your house now, is she the first wife?
No, she’s the second wife. This was part of my past experiences that made me title that album “A Coat Of Many Colours”. And since then, I’ve been a better person; it has made me a better man. Now, it is clear to me why God took me through everything that happened to me.
We’ve seen several Hip-hop artistes coming together to do something but nothing of such is happening between you and Yemi Sax despite being the major saxophonists in the country?
Well, I believe it will happen one day. To an ordinary man, if two of us are playing together, you won’t even know who is playing what but I think we would reach a point that we will do something together. It is not because of anything, it is just how things happened. In this album, there are MI, Chidinma and Wole Awolola from UK.
Have you ever thought of giving up in this career?
I think focus has been my major driving force. I also look on to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. I know there is something I was looking for and what I was going through were mere distractions and if I can just get through them, I will definitely be a better person. There is nothing that is permanent; it is just for a while.
How do you marry your fatherly role with your musical career?
It’s been very interesting. I love my family and I spend a lot of time with my family. When I’m not playing, I’m always in the house with my family. And sometimes when I’m playing, they come around to have fun with me.
The fact still remains that, ladies always want to be identified with success, how do you manage ladies that want more than your music?
It’s focus and determination that can sustain you. It is something that can never end but when they see that you are focused, they would withdraw.
Which craziest thing has a female fan done to you?
There have been so many crazy things but I can’t even say it to show you how crazy it is.
Tell us your most memorable day in music
To be honest with you, there’re so many memorable days but I think, one of them was playing at Experience before over 500 people. Another one was attending the Grammy Award. So, I’ve got moments. Another one was the Festival called Green Belt Festival in the United States.
Did you envisage your present status?
Yes! I saw it coming to be honest with you and this kept me through the hard moment. I’m coming close to it and I know where I can see myself in the nearest future. I see my music in the world, I see my music being listened and danced to by every race.
In a nutshell, what does it take to be a successful saxophonist?
Consistency, practice and innovation; trying to do something different.
Do you compose your songs or somebody writes for you?
I composed all my songs especially my latest album. Though, I featured some of the songs that people know which is just to carry them along because that’s what people know. But most of the songs like Life Goes On, Holy Ghost Fire, Maker Of All, Magnificence, Doxology and other wonderful tracks were composed by me. I’ve got 16 tracks in the album and 80% of the tracks were composed by me.
So what’s the concept behind the album?
It’s to have different genres of music. If you pick the album, you will definitely find what you like. And in terms of message, the album preaches hope and encouragement.
If someone wants to become a saxophonist, what are the things to put into consideration?
The first thing I will advise you to do is to get a saxophone. If you spend money to buy a saxophone, I’m sure you won’t just keep the saxophone inside your room.
If I get a saxophone, I will become successful like Mike Aremu?
Laugh! Once you get a saxophone, then you need somebody to teach you and be committed to it.
What’s your message to your fans?
I appreciate and urge them to support us more to make Nigeria a better place. They should try and contribute their own quota in order to change this country. This country is so blessed and we cannot afford to let this nation derail.
Who are the people you look up to?
One major person that I look up to is my pastor, Paul Adefarasin. Also in the music industry, I admire the life of King Sunny Ade. I’ve known him since I was younger and this man is still relevant, I think a man like that deserves a lot of respect. This is the kind of person I want to emulate.
What do you have to say about the death of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar?
We just lost a legend in the musical world. I’m happy for him because I believe he lived a fulfilled life.