Olawale Ashimi
Before last year’s Project Fame, Olawale Ashimi was an undergraduate
and music director in a school’s choir. Soon after his rise to stardom
following his victory at 2013 Project Fame, he set out to produce his
first album. It has now hit the streets and titled “Almost Famous”. In a
chat with Tosin Clegg, Olawale shares his dreams and aspiration
I have been patient and hardworking…
What happened was that my very first photo shoot was after I released my first single. During the photo shoot, I had on a shirt captioned ‘almost famous’ and instantly this was what we decided should be the album’s title. I think right now, I am not where I want to be and that doesn’t mean I am desperate. I have been patient and hardworking. I am sure that with the help of God and with my management, things will work out well.
The fact that I came through Project Fame doesn’t mean I am not hustling…
The fact that I came through Project Fame doesn’t mean I am not working or doesn’t mean I am not hustling. But the platform is something no one can take away from me. When you mention Project Fame, you will mention Iyanya, Chidinma and Olawale. So that’s it.
The journey hasn’t been easy…
The journey so far hasn’t been easy as a lot of people expect too much from me as a winner of Project Fame. They think because I won, I have to just come out and be a super star within a year. I believe it’s a process. I am patient and working very hard. I believe with God and my fans, I know things will work out in due time.
Before Project Fame, I was a music director in a church…
I was just a normal boy before Project Fame. I was a music director in a church in my school. But after two years, I left and I had more music knowledge and all that. During the long strike by ASUU I decided to do the audition for Project Fame and it worked out for me.
I am not someone that sits on one genre of music…
When you listen well to songs in my album, you will discover that I am not someone that sits down and stays on one genre of music. I learnt that from Project Fame as we did a lot of different genres from different acts. Everything I learnt from project fame is what I am doing now and on my album you will see a blend of R & B, Fuji and mix of everything.
For now, I am promoting my album. I am just trying to push all the songs out so that people will get to listen. This is just the starting point for me. I have not started yet.
It’s just an introduction and I am set to work for my fans to see what Olawale is capable of doing.
I have been through a lot of stuffs…
I think one thing is constant in life and that’s growth. So I think after one year since I won Project Fame, I have been through a lot of stuffs. I have performed on a lot of stages. If I remain on the same level, people will complain but I am growing. I have seen a lot of stuffs and am growing. It’s not going to stop here. I am going to move forward. I am learning from the past winners of Project Fame. If you look at the Chidinma of today, you will no longer see the Chidinma of three or four years. That means that she is growing and a lot of stuffs have happened.
I am a gentle and reserved
person…
Your music is different from your personality. When you are on stage it’s a different thing. A lot of artistes out there when you see them personally they may be quiet but when they are on stage, it’s different. I am a gentle and reserved person but when I am on stage, that’s my job. So I have to give my best and make it work. My selling point is my versatility. If you listen to my album, you will just think this guy is a Fuji guy. But when you listen to the R & B songs in the album, you will see that I am versatile. I have 13 songs in the album. I did songs with Skales, Tiwa Savage and LIL Kesh.
Working with the different artistes wasn’t very easy but basically I will say working with them was a blessing. I am so grateful to God and I say thank you to them for coming to look for me and all that
My musical influences…
I listen to a lot of artistes. I listen to R & B and any kind of songs. I listen to every artiste.
Olawale is from Ekiti State…
Olawale is from Ekiti State but I was born and brought up in Ibadan. I think that contributed to the Fuji music in my head right now. Ibadan is like the origin of Fuji. I grew up like a normal guy and I was stubborn when I was young. I am still a student at LAUTECH in my final year studying Agronomy.
Combining show biz and school…
It hasn’t been easy combining show biz and school because I do a lot of travelling. I know that where I am right now comes with a lot of responsibilities. So, I can’t afford to be mediocre. I am just balancing the two and with God’s help, trying my best to pull it off.
What happened was that my very first photo shoot was after I released my first single. During the photo shoot, I had on a shirt captioned ‘almost famous’ and instantly this was what we decided should be the album’s title. I think right now, I am not where I want to be and that doesn’t mean I am desperate. I have been patient and hardworking. I am sure that with the help of God and with my management, things will work out well.
The fact that I came through Project Fame doesn’t mean I am not hustling…
The fact that I came through Project Fame doesn’t mean I am not working or doesn’t mean I am not hustling. But the platform is something no one can take away from me. When you mention Project Fame, you will mention Iyanya, Chidinma and Olawale. So that’s it.
The journey hasn’t been easy…
The journey so far hasn’t been easy as a lot of people expect too much from me as a winner of Project Fame. They think because I won, I have to just come out and be a super star within a year. I believe it’s a process. I am patient and working very hard. I believe with God and my fans, I know things will work out in due time.
Before Project Fame, I was a music director in a church…
I was just a normal boy before Project Fame. I was a music director in a church in my school. But after two years, I left and I had more music knowledge and all that. During the long strike by ASUU I decided to do the audition for Project Fame and it worked out for me.
I am not someone that sits on one genre of music…
When you listen well to songs in my album, you will discover that I am not someone that sits down and stays on one genre of music. I learnt that from Project Fame as we did a lot of different genres from different acts. Everything I learnt from project fame is what I am doing now and on my album you will see a blend of R & B, Fuji and mix of everything.
For now, I am promoting my album. I am just trying to push all the songs out so that people will get to listen. This is just the starting point for me. I have not started yet.
It’s just an introduction and I am set to work for my fans to see what Olawale is capable of doing.
I have been through a lot of stuffs…
I think one thing is constant in life and that’s growth. So I think after one year since I won Project Fame, I have been through a lot of stuffs. I have performed on a lot of stages. If I remain on the same level, people will complain but I am growing. I have seen a lot of stuffs and am growing. It’s not going to stop here. I am going to move forward. I am learning from the past winners of Project Fame. If you look at the Chidinma of today, you will no longer see the Chidinma of three or four years. That means that she is growing and a lot of stuffs have happened.
I am a gentle and reserved
person…
Your music is different from your personality. When you are on stage it’s a different thing. A lot of artistes out there when you see them personally they may be quiet but when they are on stage, it’s different. I am a gentle and reserved person but when I am on stage, that’s my job. So I have to give my best and make it work. My selling point is my versatility. If you listen to my album, you will just think this guy is a Fuji guy. But when you listen to the R & B songs in the album, you will see that I am versatile. I have 13 songs in the album. I did songs with Skales, Tiwa Savage and LIL Kesh.
Working with the different artistes wasn’t very easy but basically I will say working with them was a blessing. I am so grateful to God and I say thank you to them for coming to look for me and all that
My musical influences…
I listen to a lot of artistes. I listen to R & B and any kind of songs. I listen to every artiste.
Olawale is from Ekiti State…
Olawale is from Ekiti State but I was born and brought up in Ibadan. I think that contributed to the Fuji music in my head right now. Ibadan is like the origin of Fuji. I grew up like a normal guy and I was stubborn when I was young. I am still a student at LAUTECH in my final year studying Agronomy.
Combining show biz and school…
It hasn’t been easy combining show biz and school because I do a lot of travelling. I know that where I am right now comes with a lot of responsibilities. So, I can’t afford to be mediocre. I am just balancing the two and with God’s help, trying my best to pull it off.
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