Authority Magazine
Rising Star Abiodun Koya On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
“Be prepared to personally invest in your dreams, no matter how gifted you are. Allow your intuition to lead and guide you. Trust it ALWAYS.”
[as originally published on medium.com]
As a part of our series about rising music stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Abiodun Koya.
Abiodun Koya is a Nigerian-born classical singer, poet, and humanitarian who’s performed for the likes of US Presidents (Barack Obama, George W. Bush), Nigerian Kings, and World Ambassadors. The youngest of five children, Abiodun grew up in southwest Nigeria where she started her music career at age six playing violin and singing at church and birthday celebrations. She’s since gone on to perform in such iconic settings as The White House, Madison Square Garden, and the Democratic National Convention.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Iwas born and raised in West Africa (Nigeria). I am the last of 5 children. I had strong artistic tendencies and by age 6 I knew I wanted to be a singer-songwriter. I sang at birthday events, designed clothing patterns for my dolls, wrote song lyrics and played the violin.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
My dad had studied in both the US and the UK in the late 60s/early 70s. Coming home as an international student, he brought back with him many vintage vinyl records from the classical, country and gospel genres. He constantly played these records in the house so I was born into a home filled with music almost 24/7. By the age of 3, I responded to the music being played and would imitate the singers on the record by singing along.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
In 2017, a flash from my reckless creative side generated an intense drive to produce a novel sci-fi-themed operatic musical event in my native country of Nigeria. I incorporated several iconic Nigerian themes via the storyline of a heroine foretold 1,000 years prior to be born to save her people from an evil character called “Bilisi.” Nearly everyone told me I’d fail at it since no one had ever done anything like it in the entire African continent; hence I had no previous scenario to model it after. But I didn’t listen; rather, I focused on bringing my sci-fi musical imagination to life, rolled up my sleeves, and personally knocked on corporate doors for sponsorship. Thankfully, after developing the show, securing sponsors, lining up an orchestra and choir, designing costumes, implementing a marketing campaign and rehearsing it all, my Future Symphony, Days of the Avenger was brought to life and was very well attended and received. I was beyond proud. Even the current Vice President of Liberia, Madame Taylor, flew in to see the show.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
During my sophomore year in college, I was hired to sing for grade-school students at a late afternoon event. I arrived at the venue tired and hungry after a hectic day that started with morning and afternoon classes and bus and train rides. To pick myself up before my performance I drank two sodas in rapid succession. As I began my performance, the first several notes for the first three lines of my song were actually soda burps! I tried to control it but I couldn’t, the burps from the soda just kept rolling out instead of the song. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was dreaming. And the kids were intrigued and had this “What is going on with our singer” look! I wished at that point for Merlin’s dragon to appear, scoop me up, fly me far away and dump me in some jungle! It was both embarrassing and humbling, but all the students got a belly laugh from it all. From then on, I have been very careful about what I eat and drink before every performance.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Ramping up my core singing performance schedule post-COVID has been my principal focus. I am working on a reprise of my Future Symphony concert for 2022 here in Los Angeles and have also been putting the finishing touches on my book of poetry (The Moods of a Goddess) that I am to about to publish. I am also working on two wellness clothing lines: Gigantic & Strong Goddess.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
The arts can be experienced differently by different cultures.
Different experiences lead to different feelings and opinions.
Different feelings and opinions preclude stagnation, sameness and ignorance.
Diversity enables cultural exchange and appreciation and contributes to open-mindedness and tolerance.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”.
Be decisive and have a good sense of diplomacy with people.
Watch out for people who want to be close to you, and discreetly find out why. Quite often there’s an agenda.
Be prepared to personally invest in your dreams, no matter how gifted you are.
Allow your intuition to lead and guide you. Trust it ALWAYS.
You will be hurt a lot, but use music to heal your internal wounds.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Identify and surround yourself with positive individuals who genuinely love you, believe in you and want to see you prosper. Discover the types of music that cater specifically to your soul, not your head, and always have this playlist handy and use it to heal yourself during stressful and painful periods. Be willing to temporarily do other work (i.e., a Plan B) to make ends meet.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
To promote physical and mental wellness. Healthy bodies and healthy minds result in healthy societies.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Artists always appreciate supporters and mentors; they are like water for fish. A key jumpstart to my professional career was my college president who recognized my emerging talent and gave me several opportunities to sing during the school’s major events, including singing at the commencement ceremony for my graduating class.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“I’d rather be a glass of champagne than everyone’s cup of tea.” The reason why this is relevant to me in life is that I’ve never had the desire to conform to the norms of society, but rather, to stand out, follow my passions, be myself, and be unapologetically authentic. All my life I have had a mind of my own and have never been the type that succumbed to peer pressure.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them.
Astronaut and ocean scientist Kathy Sullivan. She is one of my few heroes! If I weren’t a musician, I’d want to first be an astronaut or in the military. I have an insatiable thirst and curiosity for the elements and worlds above and beneath me. I occasionally fantasize about traveling to other planets to experience the immensely stunning wonders there — and when there, to possibly open my mouth and sing out into the vast atmospheres, elements, and beings present there. I greatly admire Sullivan’s achievements in space and in the oceans. She has come very close to my fantasy and the career path I might have chosen.
How can our readers follow you online?
My personal website: www.abiodunkoya.com. And for Instagram and Twitter: @singabiodunkoya.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Thank you kindly!