Seun Olota: A steady growth from Janvier, Dotcom to ex-Tasl Band
Oluwaseun Ayomide Olota popularly known as Seun Olota is a known name in Nigeria’s musical circle. His entertaining prowess and creative mind were further accentuated when this music star performed at the Freedom Park in Lagos, recently, attracting an elated crowd pleased with the antics the powerful and skilled songwriter and saxophonist.
The famous musical group-ExTasI Band which Olota leads was not formerly known by that name. In the late 1990s when he started out, it was known as Janvier Band. It transmuted to the Dotcom Band eleven years later in 2011. During the Janvier era, it was strictly African Jazz even though his original compositions started with Dotcom.
With that steady growth, Ex Tasl Band has become a household name in the industry, fortified with a sizeable number of band members working with him for over a decade. From years of playing together, the 10 consistent members of ExTasI Band have become so organised that fans keep yearning for their performance, particularly on Wednesday’s shows at Freedom Park in Lagos.
According to Olota, he has recorded three powerful musical works at different times. The first album-‘Home Made was released in 2006’. His second album, ‘Home Brew’ was released in 2013. Two years after in 2015, he recorded ‘Free Spot Show-Live’. Apart from the musical series in his kitty, Olota also finds time to teach music to private students, rent musical instruments and also buy and sell musical instruments for people who had built robust trust on him over the years.
With his wealth of experience, Olota believes that there are no boundaries in music, when it comes to geographical areas. “I just want to play whatever that comes to my mind. I am exposed to other world cultures. Cultures are similar. You may be in Brazil and hear sounds that transport you to Isale Eko”, the musician narrated, Olota pointed out.
Explaining why some Northerners in Nigeria are in love with Indian music, Olota pointed out that “We have all migrated from one place or another. I am from Kwara State. I am a student of history. Through my journey in music, I have been exposed to different world cultures. You do not have one type of music that you can call African music. There are so many ethnic nationalities in Africa. It is the tribe that describes the music, not the language. It is the environment that describes the music.”
With his education coupled with exposure to different environments all over the world, Olota easily gained popularity and patronage from his fans whom he puts through in music.
Although, Olota used to be a science student but, through the waywardness of fate, the young student found himself in the music arena which according to him has not bring any regret to his life.
He said “I wanted to study in Lagos but Unilag had stopped full time music program at that time. I kept studying and going for seminars. Music is something that hit you. My background, my exposure, my pedigree, talent, my parents exposed and encouraged me in music”.
On women, the musician said “I am an advocate of women as well as the men who put on full attire while the women would now be left with scarf. It has never been my orientation to represent women as such. I dont want anybody to tell me that my daughter is less intelligent than my son . I think when we think in that line, I hope some men will now start to restructure their minds So even if I want to have women but not as that”.
On what inspires him in music, Olota added ” Sometime, when something happens, it would be like, let me use my music to illustrate that situation. There should be a rationale why you are taking a step. There must be a reason why you are taking any step. There must a reason in any movement”.
Describing himself as an entrepreneur, he said “I am an entrepreneur as well. These are part of social development. I was at faith foundation business school and i have gone through business courses. Apart from mainstream music, I do some other things; I teach music to private students , I rent musical instruments and we also buy and sell musical instruments for people because they like people they trust their credibility.
The musician however, lamented that he is not satisfied with the kind of feedback he is getting from fans stressing that “I am not satisfied hundred per cent because we don’t want to relax. Sometimes you need some people in your life, that will look to your face to tell you that you messed up.”
