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Exclusive: My inspiration comes from my root – Victor Ademofe

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In this interview with WuzupNigeria, multi-talented instrumentalist, Victor Oluwadamilare Crown Ademofe shares a mind-blowing tale of how he kick-started his career.

Ademofe notes that he has performed with legends in the music industry, the likes of Sunny Nneji, Lagbaja and some others.

Ademofe in his interview, has these to say:

How did you become a trumpeter?

I arrived at playing the trumpet with my attachment to the boys brigade in the early 90s. I remember that the church I was playing the drums for as a child relocated to Ogun state and I had no choice than to join my family church (Holy Trinity Anglican Church Mushin) which was the foundation of whatever I am doing now.

How did you hone the skill of playing the trumpet and how long did it take you to know how to play efficiently?

I learnt to play the trumpet from the platform of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Mushin as church was the most viable place of learning music in those days and it is still a place of learning till date.

I remember going to virtually all good trumpet players around that time for lessons, learning one or two things at that time.

Taiwo Fakoya took me from inception and was later inspired by a brother called Sola of Ofada, Mr Gbenga Oyategbe who lives in the United State, Nathaniel Bassey and Mr Biodun Batik who I studied under at the Lagos State University in my undergraduate days.

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As a trumpeter, you must have been influenced by musicians, can you mention some of them?

As a trumpter, I must say that I’ve been influenced by many trumpeters, from Nathaniel Bassey, Biodun Batik, Bra Hugh Masekela, Fat Navaro, Victor Olaiya, Clifford Brown and so much more.

Many years ago when I met Bra Hugh Masekela for the first time in person, he listened to me play and later asked him while we were having a one on one discussion about what he thinks I should do.

He said, ‘you are fantastic and I love how you play but you may never have a voice’. He admonished me to find my sound by going back to my root and he said that this advice he is giving me was exactly what Fela Kuti told him many years ago.

What inspired you to take to music in the first place?

What inspired me to take on music? I must say that music chose me. I expressed such an amazing gift of music as early as age four and the rest is history. The gift is a path that lighten the way of a person and I embraced it. Though, my mother didn’t want me to become a musician not because music was bad in itself but because there were no credible subjects around us. She wanted the best for me but she didn’t know drifting me from my core purpose was an invitation to frustration.

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She later had to succumb after attempts of studying accounting at Lasu and business Admin at laspotech was futile due to lack of concentration as a result of lack of interest because my attention was solely on music. All she did was to encourage me to go study music as a course in the university which I did and we had rest afterwards.

How many songs and albums do you have to your credit? 

I have an album tagged Jehovah and other singles which are part of my new projects. I’m a live musician, recording musician and a speaking musician at seminars, events and workshops for over 25 years now.

Music is one of the finest things to do. It has helped me to know people at different levels and given me the freedom to be expressive as much as I could which has enabled me to help hurting people through my songs and do much more.

What has been the memorable moments in your career and life so far?

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Every event is memorable but one that stands out was when I travelled to Greece in 2006 with a band led by Sotiris Papadopoulos, we had a misunderstanding that led to playing on the street of Athens just to keep shape because we couldn’t afford a studio for rehearsal. We did this for over a week where lots of passerby’s stopped to watch us play and also appreciated us with lots of cash.

Ayun ile is one of your songs played on Africa Magic, how has that song brought you fame and what inspired the song? 

Ayun ile is a song of hope and encouragement for people who their loved ones are far away. The song has given me popularity in a way because of the good airplay it has enjoyed on African Magic Yoruba. I have seen the video of children singing the song and also a few musicians who did a cover of the song. I must say it has had an impact on my influence and reach positively.

How/where do you see your career five years from now?

I see myself being a musician of positive impact and joyful influence to the world with a couple of albums, awards, giant stride initiatives and witty musical inventions to my credit.

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