BEEJAY: The Messenger of Melody and Bliss
For BEEJAY, music isn’t just a career—it’s a calling. With a voice that effortlessly weaves emotion and melody, and a message rooted in soulfulness, BEEJAY has been steadily rising through Nigeria’s music scene. In this exclusive conversation, the singer-songwriter opens up about his creative beginnings, breakthrough moments, unique process, and his mission as an artist. Music found BEEJAY before he found it. In 2003, a random studio session introduced him to a world he’d eventually make his own.
“The guy randomly picked some kids, and I happened to be one of the kids he picked. He took us to the studio and asked us to record. It was a very amazing experience for me.”
Though he wouldn’t call it a turning point, something within him changed that day.
“I’ve always loved music, but at that point, I knew I wanted to do this for a long time. Hearing my voice back from the speaker, I was like, I’m definitely doing this for a long time.”
Raised in a creatively inclined household, BEEJAY’s parents played key roles in shaping his artistic instincts.
“Although my dad was into politics, he used to paint. I paint too… My mum writes music too. She’s a choir mistress, so I was privileged to watch and learn how to create things from scratch.”
BEEJAY’s career picked up traction with the release of his single Chokomilo in 2019. But even before that, he had a strong buzz during his university days, despite the absence of streaming platforms.
“Back then in university, there were no streaming platforms; it was more of Bluetooth sharing. Imagine your song gaining ground just from people sharing it through Bluetooth… That moment shaped me, Chokomilo took it to another level.”
The song gave him affirmation and visibility.
“Every artist knows that their song is good, but they can’t know the impact it’s going to make on people until it starts… People liked Chokomilo, and it gave me more assurance that I was doing something right.”
Sound, Process & Studio Rituals
One thing that stands out about BEEJAY’s artistry is his genre-bending sound. But he doesn’t try to be different—it’s simply how he’s wired.
“No, I don’t aim for it, it’s just the way I feel… I believe melody is a universal language… I can do a song now and sound like I’m from India or anywhere in the world because it’s universal.”
Every song he makes captures a moment in time, like a musical diary.
“Whatever I create at every point, it just shows my state of mind. Any song you listen to, you will be able to connect with BEEJAY.”
Surprisingly, his favourite song is one the world will likely never hear.
“Man! I will never release my favourite song, that’s the truth… There are some things you will create that only make sense to you.”
When it comes to recording, he has a peculiar pre-recording habit.
“There’s this thing I do with my tongue… When I want to record, I roll my tongue around my teeth. It’s like a subconscious thing.”
ONIKAKA: A New Chapter
BEEJAY’s latest single, ONIKAKA, represents both emotional honesty and artistic growth. Inspired by his producer’s personal heartbreak, BEEJAY stepped into someone else’s pain to craft something real. “My producer, Bounce, had this relationship problem at the time, so I just tapped into his energy… If you listen to some verses… ‘Omo, I don’t know myself again. Man in the mirror, I’m lost again. Man living and dead again.’”
Their creative synergy made the record one of BEEJAY’s most powerful yet. “We are really close, and we have that synergy. I was able to tap into that frequency and express the record in my own way.”
For BEEJAY, ONIKAKA marks a transformation in how he approaches music.
“Now you can see the flexibility in my vocals, and my intention is to be very intentional. Now I’m more connected to melody, it’s something that preaches to me.”
His creative process is as spiritual as it is technical. Sometimes the melodies come through freestyles, other times—dreams. “Most of the time, I freestyle melodies, then the song comes after. But sometimes I get the chorus from dreams… That was how I created Oleku… a small girl was backing me and singing the song, so I woke up and recorded the song immediately.” His studio session with Bounce, where they created ONIKAKA, stands out as the most memorable. “One session I will never forget is still the one with Bounce… That night was crazy. It was a very special season for me.”
He draws influence from African legends and global icons like Adekunle Gold, Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti, and 2Baba.
“There’s this force that makes you feel like you can make people happy, you can help them express their feelings” … Look at Fela now… When you listen to Michael Jackson, especially Thriller… The art created at that time showed the state of mind of people.”
BEEJAY doesn’t just sing—he connects. Performing live is one of his greatest joys.
“It’s beautiful, very beautiful. I don’t get nervous.” The impact of his music becomes real when he hears how it affects his listeners. “I met this person… and he was like my sister listens to your song. That made me know the level of impact that my song has… He loves his sister, definitely so that felt really good.” BEEJAY’s devotion to music runs deep—it’s not something he can switch off. “I’ve actually not been in any situation that tested my passion because I just feel like music is in my soul… If I don’t do music anymore, then it has to be death.”
He recalls near-death experiences while trying to chase his dream in Lagos. “I remember coming to Lagos and we escaped lynching like 3 times… It didn’t make me give up instead, it made me want to do more.”
For those who give up on music, he believes their “why” plays a crucial role.
“The reason they started music matters a lot… If you know you are a messenger… If you see it that way, you won’t quit.”
Final Words for Fans
BEEJAY has one message for his fans and upcoming creators: stay true to yourself.
“Just be yourself. Create what you love and keep it going. Don’t let anyone pressure you.”
With a clear sense of identity, a unique sound, and a story that continues to unfold, BEEJAY is not just another artiste, he’s a messenger, using music to heal, connect, and uplift.