Yinka Bernie is one of Afrobeats’ best kept secrets. After debuting into the scene with his 2015 Soundcloud release, Fela Obsession, the Jazz and RnB fusionist paced himself on the road less traveled, belting out self-produced classics over the years.
When his Euphoric Sounds From Within extended playlist, collaboration with Niyi Okeowo, dropped in 2021, Afrobeats enthusiasts fawned over the therapeutic sound style championed by the singer. The record, lush with Lofi and psychedelic RnB, Soul, Afrobeat and Jazz fusion, became a fan-favourite for his teeming audience who prioritised music as a form of mental health therapy. His follow-up record, Something New, stretched this legacy with even more depth in his musicianship, and it housed one of his biggest songs till date, It’s Okay To Cry, featuring fellow indie maverick Joyce Olong.
Born Yinka Reuben Onaduja, the 26-year-old record producer, composer, sound designer and web developer is soundtracking a wave of therapeutic music that’s still largely uncommon in Afrobeats. Similar mainstream contemporaries in his niche include, Brymo, Linsdey Abudei, Falana, Tim Lyre, Tems, among others, with a lot more still on a sturdy rise to the limelight. His production credits on Amaarae’s Sad Girls Luv Money equally shone his dexterity and talent as a multi-talented musician.
A month ago, the young maverick assembled his new band, Surround System, on the heels of soundtracking Anthony Azekwoh’s There Is A Country, live art exhibition. He follows carefully in the halo of Fela Kuti, his longtime icon, as he continues to prioritize a unique sonic approach he deems as making “chill music.”
In today’s Guardian Music, Bernie takes us into a deep dive into his alternative music artistry, peeling back memories from Ibadan, his childhood suburbs; self-developing his artistic talents; his latest love record, Miniskirt, featuring Suté Iwar; creating music for healing; and spreading the gospel of soothing Afro-fusion, among others.

How did you get into music?
It was from high school, in Senior Secondary (SS2). I started making beats and I got a laptop. I recorded on a friend’s beat at one point and he said that it was dope. The sound we made at the time was dope. I grew up around a lot of music. My dad used to collect CDs, so there were a lot of them in our house. There were a lot of speakers on the wall. I started as a producer then got into singing, that’s pretty much it.
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Why did you start releasing music?
Just my dad telling me what I did was dope, and I believe it was dope. That was the conviction; I just feel if I make something and I myself say that this is good music, I think that’s enough. But when someone else says oh this is dope as well, it is more ginger to my job. I was probably like 14.

What does music actually mean to you?
Music to me is the best way I express myself. I can’t do without trying to make something or make a sound, or just express myself via sound. That’s how music is to me.

So as a teenager where were you picking up these influences from?
I would say a lot of Timberland, and Kanye. He was a producer as well. I think that was like my first intro and inspiration as well. One person I actually listened to was Lagbaja. I like Lagbaja’s songs a lot. I think Lagbaja was a big influence in how I make songs. Also, my dad used to play a lot of Fuji songs, like Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and others.

Your record, Euphoric Sounds From Within, was a very therapeutic experience. What inspired it?
Niyi Okeowo had done a merch collection. He had like a small video, and he wanted me to do the soundtrack for the video to introduce the collection. Instead of doing this video, we talked about just doing a project, and at the time it was called ‘Euphoria’. Euphoria means a very exciting feeling, a very happy feeling. He and I just worked on the project and I made different sounds and also I was trying to challenge myself in terms of me getting a brief or someone telling me an emotion and I can easily translate it via sound. So that’s like a challenge to me as well, but it was better from the collection.
Your music is very emotive, is that intentional?
On that, it’s just an extension of who I am at the end of day. I sing with motive but I don’t think I do it intentionally, maybe I’m in the studio and I want to make an innovative song or I want to talk about this way. I feel it is just the way I feel, and this is the kind of person I am quite introspective and chill, and calm. So, that reflects in music, it’s just a reflection of who I am to be honest.

Do you produce all your music?
I would say 80 per cent most times.

What’s your usual creative process when you want to make a new project?
Usually, I don’t let the project theme form the music I make, I just make different songs. The song I would make throughout a month or two months, would be around that same subject. Usually that way it works, but now I’m trying to get more people into my space. I will just invite people who are mixed up, but usually I start making beats and come up with melodies after. That’s usually the process.

Tell us about one of the most challenging projects you have worked on in recent times.
I think it’s something I deal with these people, they are called Dyelab. It’s like a brand. I did a song for them last month. I would say it was challenging. I got a brief that they were having an exhibition where they just wanted to show people their process on how they dye clothes, how they make tailoring, all that process. But then they wanted to pass this information, or pass this message via sound and I was supposed to make that sound and decide whoever that’s going to be on it. I would say it was challenging because I went with the owner of the brand, we went down to the dying place. I did like three recordings of just different sounds that were in the process of making these clothes. When I wanted to start working on it I was just confused on what direction to go. I think it took me a while to properly put it together; it took me three weeks to decipher how I was going to go with the direction. I started the beats, it took the longest to make and eventually I liked it, I think that’s my best work yet.

Are we expecting any body of work soon?
I’m working on an album, more collaboration, definitely more songs and more visuals. Also more shows, I would be performing more doing more experiential stuff. That’s for now, more music to be honest and ultimately waiting for the album.

You recently formed your band, ‘Surround system’, what inspired it?
I did that for an exhibition on October 1, and the thing essentially was about Nigeria, about the country, about Biafra and different parts of Nigeria. When I was thinking about how to make that, I was wondering what is the best way to go about this? I just felt the best way is to do some nostalgia in terms of bringing sounds people are familiar with. Create a sound and make sure the exhibition space feels familiar when they enter that sound. The only thing I could think of was a live band; I wanted it to be a live band who is rehearsing in the exhibition space. When people walked around it left like there was a live band somewhere outside, but that was pre recorded. So, I just directed the band, I played the drums and did different things. In that moment, it was one of those moments where the session was so good. And I asked them to be my band, just be part of my band and we were about eight of us, let’s just do this. Because I was also going to be doing more shows, I just formed the ‘surround system’.

Are you going to be performing more shows with your new band now?
Yeah, we have a private show. I have done a private live show this weekend for those people on my merry list. I actually have a rehearsal in an hour; I should do a couple of shows in December as well. I might not have my private live this year; I wouldn’t even have it this year. We are looking to do more, travel more, probably go on tour next year.

How many instruments do you know how to play?
Just two, base guitars and drum.

If you could define your own artistry in a phrase, or a word what would it be?
I would say just chill, chill is the word.

What’s the vision for the music moving forward?
For the music, it’s just to keep creating timeless songs, good music, connecting with the listeners, the supporters, forming something bigger and growing the audience to be honest. And to keep making, never to stop making.
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