FIDO’s sweltering rise through Afrobeats’ corridors, last year, following his release of the smash hit, Awolowo, stirred the talented singer on a short-cut to stardom.  While his widely acclaimed Awolowo remix with Tiwa Savage stretched the momentum, his celebratory anthem dubbed, Joy Is Coming, positioned his ascent through Nigerian pop culture as the year drew its curtains.

Born Awosika Olayemi Josiah, the young pop-fusionist grew up within the gritty Matogun suburb, in Ogun State, where he learned how to sing and play instruments at his church’s choir.  

His relentless musical ambition as a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, in Ogun State, pushed him to consistently release new music, leading up to his eventual discovery, and countrywide breakout, last year. 

Melding influences across afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and afro-pop, Fido’s discography thrives for his hedonist themes and hyper-melodic compositions.

On his just-released eponymous debut EP, the young bard brushes through his experiences with love, survival, hustle, and self indulgence. The EP also features a groovy remix with afrobeats star, Kizz Daniel.  

Waltzing into our studios at Guardian Music, Fido opens up on his grass-to-grace journey, sharing his come-up story; musical influences; muses; candid memoirs from his biggest hits so far, and his mission to create timeless classics.  

Congrats on your debut EP, Olayemi. How’s your vibe today? 

The vibe is always classic and just normal. 

And what’s your normal like? 

Like, on a day-to-day basis, it is just me looking fresh, and I’m always making sure that Fido comes out unique.

What does this EP embody?

It speaks more about my story, my struggles, and it draws inspiration from my name, which is Olayemi. Olayemi refers to wealth, as well. It actually means wealth befits me. When you listen to the project, you would hear me speaking a lot about making money.  It captures my story, from the beginning of my music journey, my experiences in the industry, to how we got here, and so on.

When did you decide to begin your music journey?

I started music a long time ago. I was 14 years old at that time. I knew I could sing, because I was in the choir of Foursquare Gospel Church and I mostly sang backup.  I knew I had the talent to sing. 

What area was that?

My childhood church was at Matogun, in Ogun State. It was there I joined the choir. It was then that I found the zeal to make music and explore it. 

So, what was the convincing moment to do this full-time?

That was when I finished my National Diploma at Ilaro. I studied Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, in Ogun State. After I left, I stayed back at home for a year. The following year, my dad advised me to go for the higher national diploma (HND) and I refused. I just decided that I was going to venture deeper into building a music career. So, I went to Pefti Film Institute, in Lagos, to study music technology. 

Were you recording at that time? 
Yes, I was recording music at that time and I was building my brand, with help from some of my guys; there was a guy called Sankey. Another called Shuki, and some others too. So that was a phase where I was focused on building myself to this point that I am today.

How did you adopt the name, Fido?
The name came from my secondary school mathematics teacher. At that time, I had just gained admission into the school. On my first day in class, he saw me and said, “Ah, this guy, you look like Fido Dido, the 7up cartoon character.” So, that’s how the name just got stuck on me. It made sense because I was tiny back then, like the character, because hunger been dey during those years.

Were you the jovial type of kid at school?
I often made people laugh at that time, and I even thought I was going to be a comedian. Anytime I said little jokes, people just loved the humour. I’m the type of person that was fun to be around.  

Okay. Give us the backstory to your countrywide breakout, Awolowo?
There’s a lot involved, especially because it highlights the herbs, you understand. It’s a spiritual song to me. So, the inspiration just came on a random day I was in the studio with my producer. He played the beat to me, and I just picked the mic from there. 

So it was a freestyle
It was not completely a freestyle. I just took the mic. I just started recording and the inspiration just came. So, it was divine.

How do you typically make music?
It’s easy for me. Sometimes, it might be an existing beat that will take me to get to the realm I want it to be. Other times, I could bring my beat ideas and discuss them with my producer. We talk about the idea and find a way to bring the vision to life.  

Tell us, how did you make Joy Is Coming?
Joy Is Coming was a song I made with my guys during a music camp at that time. The producer came and played the beat for the song, and I blurted out Joy Is Coming! So, actually, I never even read the song. With the way I felt when I heard the beat; I just knew the song was made to spread joy.

What inspires you generally?
My inspiration is divine. I honestly don’t know how I do it sometimes. Sometimes, I ask myself, ‘Fido, how did you record all this?’ I just know that it’s inbuilt. God gave me the talent. 

What about the Kizz Daniel remix on Joy Is Coming? 
Shoutout to Biggest! Vado!! He granted that massive feature. I’ve been a very close boy to Vado, since I started my journey into the music industry, and the relationship has been 100 per cent. That’s how we got connected.

What were the songs that shaped your childhood?
I enjoyed listening to different music genres, like hip-hop, RnB, fuji, apala, highlife. I’m talking Fela Kuti, Sunny Ade, Lil Wayne, Tupac and so on. 

What sound did you initially decide on when you started singing?
I didn’t start with any particular genre in mind. I just let it flow naturally. It’s just the Fido sound, for me. It’s African.

I can also hear a bit of dancehall in your fusion.
It is just natural. So, I like mixing genres. I might start with an RnB flow and then I switch to Afrobeats. So, it all depends on how the sound connects with me at the moment. Afterwards, I just do my part and record. 

Speaking of doing your part, there was a recent row between you and some of your former teammates that broke out on social media. How was that experience for you?  

I would rather not talk about it, because it’s been in the past, and I’m focused on moving on with the future. I feel blessed. I am grateful to God for the journey so far. 

Who are some voices on your radar for collaborations? 

There are loads of artists I’m willing to work with in the future. I can’t list them now, because I haven’t really organised that list in my mind. 

So, when you’re not making music, what are your pastimes? 

For me, it’s always music. However, if I’m not making music, I’m chilling with my guys, probably by playing video games, or either researching something. Although most of the time I’m making music. 

Finally, what is the vision for Fido?  

Yeah, the vision is higher than what I can even envision as of now; because I see myself tapping into the global space. I’m making sure that I become a good ambassador of Afrobeats worldwide.