Don Jazzy has recorded many successes in the Nigerian music industry. IMAGE/Soundit
The name DON JAZZY is an iconic brand when it comes to music in Nigeria. In this interview, the music producer tells FUNKE OSAE-BROWN about his upcoming concert and what makes his music.
Our meeting that hot Wednesday afternoon at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos was not a chanced one. Mavin Records and Access Bank had called a meeting for media men. Seated among his colleagues at Mavin Records, is the don himself, Don Jazzy. He was every bit himself, humble, no air of arrogance at all. He was at home with everyone present.
He looks quite older than his age as I interviewed him that afternoon. He is 33 years old. Christened, Michael Collins Ajereh, his stage name Don Jazzy has really stuck to him, very few people know or address him by his real name.
His foray into music started when he was a choir member at the popular Cherubim and Seraphim Church as a young boy. At the time, he never knew he would become a big time music producer in Nigeria growing up in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos cosmopolitan city.
As an award winning record producer, singer-songwriter, musician, former CEO of Mo’ Hits Records and current CEO of Mavin Records, Don Jazzy has recorded many successes in the Nigerian music industry. He has become a sought-after music producer. It is, therefore, not a surprise when he announced Mavin Records partnership with Access Bank to hold the AccessMavin Concert for Christmas on December 23th at Eko Boulevard at Eko Atlantic Lagos.
“It is a first of its kind,” he tells me. “It took us a long time to put together. I intend to do a show like no other. We all worked very hard over the years to think of something that will be mind-blowing not just the regular going to Eko Hotel sit on a seat. I need you to understand that it is not a banquet or reception dinner we coming to turn up. I was on YouTube some time ago, I was watching concerts around the world and people went to listen to music. They danced and not to just sit down to listen to music. That is what we want to replicate with this concert.”
He is brand that is loved by all and sundry.
Initially, Don Jazzy and his team decided to make it a free concert but they had a change of plan last minute for security reasons. “We decided to put the price free to nothing, N499 which is affordable to get in. I don’t know a concert in the last five years that charged that gate fee. We decided to put the 500 naira price tag to it. For people who have supported me over the years, it is my way of saying thank you.”
Don Jazzy is brand that is loved by all and sundry. This humble man who grew up in Ajegunle says it wasn’t easy for him to build his name into a brand.
“I have had God by my side, a beautiful team and I think I have had the best team in this industry. We are like family everybody is just having a time of his life. With God by your side; you work hard and you have a beautiful team; there is nothing you can’t do. I am also a leader that just don’t want to throw out chores or make everybody do things he says they should do. I listen to everybody, if you like be a gateman. If you say this and I tell you this is what I think we should do. In the end, we all debate what we will do.”
One cannot dispute the fact that Don Jazzy eats, drinks, lives and breathes music. He is a man who understands the art of music. He is a master at knowing what beats to mix that will lead to a sellable music to his fans. He is man who lives the kind of music he sells. And he loves to promote his artistes and not himself.
“I am not anybody. I am trying to sell different products to you, so if I am in the fore front stealing all the shine there is no point. You won’t see the product I am trying to sell to you. For example, if I am a baker, I am selling bread you are not coming to the shop to buy the baker. You are coming to buy the bread that is what I am selling. Most times, I just be like to be in the background. I know if I should come out there the media will want to talk to me. I know they will leave my people and focus on me.”
For Don Jazzy, music is like a spirit. He senses it within which one will be a hit and which one will not. This is what guides him in making a choice of artistes he works with.
“I kind of know a good spirit when I encounter one. When I want to make my music I consider that. I make music because I feel it suits you, your person. I sit with my people in the studio and I can tell the kind of music that will be a hit. I study and know how to read spirit. I think that is all about it, if my spirit and your spirit gel, fine; and if not there is no point in starting what we can’t finish.”
He tells me his family, fans, team drive him as an individual. Those are the people he lives for. “A very good team have supported me. I am a strong believer. Once there is life, I come out today and produce music. I have done tracks that people didn’t like. I have life. I have my artists and I got my studio. I produce music every day. If I make a music you don’t like it, I go back to the studio and produce another one and bring it out. It does not cost me anything to produce music since I own my facilities and own my company. What I just do is go to the studio and work.”
For this lover of highlife music, the beat or lyrics may not necessarily make the song.
“It depends on the kind of song. There are songs that don’t necessarily need beat. In that case, it is the person’s lyrics that will make the song or vocal but it depends on the kind of song, really. For instance, the kind of song Timi Dakolo does, it is good music. But it has to do with the vocals. But if you are looking at a music that will turn up in the club then that is about beat.”
A shy man most times, Don Jazzy wears his sunglasses to conceal his shyness. So when next you see him with sunglasses on stage, just know he may just be nervous.
About The Author
