Reporters of thisday newspaper was in an exclusive interview with one of Nigeria finest mix and mastering engineer.
During the interview they were able to find a whole lot and today I decided to share with you all you have ever wanted to know about Indomix.
Read full interview below:
“Indomix is one of the most preferred mix and mastering engineer today in the industry. Since his inception as an artiste under the group, he has tactically grown and chosen the sound engineering path which he adopted after a fall-out of his music group. Indomix has worked with top notch Nigerian artistes such as Dbanj, Davido, Sound Sultan, Faze, Terry G, Vector and a host of others. In this Interview with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his growing up, career, challenges and future plans
I started with singing …
IIloyi Oluwole Adebayo is Indomix. I’m the second son of four children. I went to school in Sagamu where I was born and brought up. I later went to Moshood Abiola Polythenic to obtain National Diploma. I didn’t go further for HND because of money. So, I needed to face production. I started with singing and before I knew it, I found myself in production and I finally chose it as a life path.
I love two things. If I can’t be in the music industry, I would rather be a soldier. But I lost my dad in 1993 and there was no fund to do other things. I believed I can do music from the streets. I started that when I was young. Officially I kicked off in music in 1998 with a group of guys then and we were four in number. All of a sudden, we split into two, then I found myself in production and then paused the singing aspect and got into production.
I have ever worked with Faze …
I can’t remember the name of the first artiste I worked with; but the first known artiste I have ever worked with is Faze. That time I worked with him when he did one of his first single as a solo artiste. That time I wasn’t the main person because my hand wasn’t strong. But later when he started believing my hand was on ‘Kolomental’ as I was the co-engineer but on the remix I was the main engineer, and from there, the ‘Originality’ Album.
I’m a sound engineer…
I am a mix and mastering man behind the songs. A producer produces the song and to make the song sound clearer to people that’s where I come in as a sound engineer. We mix the song so you would be able to pick everything people are saying and the instruments in the beat. That’s what we do. Although I started with production, I stopped to focus on one thing; so that people would know me with one thing.
The name ‘Indomix’ was given to me by Faze. . .
Back then, I was called ID da weed, Indo, Indomie and all sorts of name. So Faze said I should pick one name that people would know me with. And he said since you mix and it’s very nice, why can’t you use the Indo and put the Mix behind; that’s how ‘Indomix’ came about.
That’s how Terry G and everybody started the trend. It wasn’t even moving then till Sound Sultan said that producers put their names in the songs and he was like you sound engineers have to be the first person to start it. I am the first sound engineer you would hear his name inside a song which was ‘Ole’ by Sound Sultan. I have worked with 75 per cent of the artistes in this country.
I have worked with Dbanj, Banky W, Sound Sultan, Faze, 2face, Terry G, Artquake, Tony Tetuila, MC Galaxy, Davido, DJ Neptune, DJ Humility and much more.
A few songs that the mixing got right…
I will say Sound Sultan’s Ole, King of My Country ft. Wycleff. Originality, W4’s Kontrol, Vector’s King Kong, Olu Maintain featuring 2face, Minjin’s Coupe Decale, Pepenazzi featuring Olamide and all his songs too. And I also did Terry G’s first album and four albums from Sound Sultan, Faze’s Originality Album and a lot more.
In the next five years I see myself bigger…
I’m sticking on mix and in the music industry you need to branch out into other things too. But mixing is not what you can partially be building because it takes time but you can rather invest in other things and find someone that can manage it for it. For mixing it has to sound well and even if you have people working for you, you have to tell them if it’s okay or not as it’s all about the ears. If I listen to it I know what I want.
Some songs made me to do a lot of work …
Some songs made me to do a lot of work. For example, when I was mixing ‘King Kong, because of the instruments used to produce the songs was much, I needed to ensure everything sounds out with the vocals too which must be heard. It was a little bit stressful and also Oyato by Dbanj because of some things.
I can’t go into the military again …
At this age I can’t go into the military again. As a teenager, if you have the drive, you would be able to adjust to things and do them better. But once you are above the age it won’t work out.
I would like to work with Akon and Wycleff …
Locally, have I worked with some artistes and a handful of them. I love working with 2face often, Davido, Sound Sultan and I like Banky W and also Praiz because he is a very good artiste and also Bez. Also, I wouldn’t lie to you but I would like to work with Akon and Wycleff. The person I believe I can easily work with is Michael Jackson but sadly he is dead now.
No proper recognition for sound engineers…
I don’t know why this is so. Award organizers will be hearing name like Indomix, Foster Zino, and others too. They know we are behind the success of the songs but they never remember us in awards. Abroad, they give sound engineers awards there but here, we are not recognised. They won’t say anything or even acknowledge with a single award. They need to do that seriously. There is no song you would hear in this country that won’t pass through sound engineers. They must encourage us.
Meet the popular Sound Engineer ‘Suka Sounds’
If you are a music lover in Nigeria, an artiste, a record label exec or just a pundit, you’ll surely be familiar with the signature sound ‘Suka Sounds’ at the end of most hit songs you listen to these days. But most people have not been able to put face to the name ‘Suka Sounds’. Let’s be the first to introduce you to the Plateau State-born Sound Engineer whose real name is ‘Suka Andrew’. As a sound engineer who mixes and masters songs, Suka Sounds has dominated the production and sound engineering sector in the music industry in the last two years. Some of his major works include Ara by Brymo, Caro by Wizkid, Ginger by Lax, Jasi by Banky W, Owo ni Koko by Davido, Ojuelegba by Wizkid, Shuperu by Orezi, My Woman My Everything by Patoranking, and countless others.
Suka has been active in the industry for eight years, he studied music at Lani Stephens Music Institute after which he got employed at one of the biggest studios in Jos (first-wave Communications) as an in-house music producer/studio manager where he worked for three years before moving down to Lagos to work with EME as an in-house sound engineer and today he’s built a brand for himself as the most sought after in the game.
Peace Hyde is New W’Africa Correspondent for Forbes Africa
British/Ghanaian TV personality Peace Hyde has just been unveiled as the new West African Correspondent for Forbes Africa. The African bombshell took to her Instagram to share the news. The monthly magazine, which has profiled great entrepreneurs from the continent, including the likes of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and Tony Elumelu among many others, is the number one read magazine amongst Africa’s affluent according to a recent EMS survey. The former education specialist has seven years of teaching experience specialising in teaching pre university students physics, chemistry and biology. During her tenure in the UK education sector, she rose to the level of senior management. Peace Hyde holds a 1st class degree in psychology from Middlesex University.
In addition to becoming a household name in Ghana with two prime time talk shows, the host of the largest talent competition in Ghana, MTN Hitmaker and her recent addition to hit TV Series MTV Shuga 4 which is set in Lagos, the screen Goddess found the time to acquire two masters, an MA in Communication and digital media and Masters in Journalism from the London school of Journalism. Over the past three years, she started an education consultancy called Aim Higher Africa, which provides expertise in education systems and policies, efficiency management as well as introducing the use of information technology in the classroom. Her initiative has seen her partner with the former first lady of Ghana and president of the 31st December women’s movement schools which consist of over 1200 schools ranging from early learning centres to secondary school.
Cardilly Entertainment Searches for the Best
After several months of a nationwide search for the best entertainment has to offer, having received over 500 song emails, 30 prospects invited to the studio, Cardilly Entertainment has now narrowed down to two acts who will have to battle it out for the coveted spot. After weeks of pushing them to prove their musical mettle by writing and making songs with top notch producers, the label went a step further to shoot a music video for both of them then let you music lovers make the choice on our behalf. This is the first time that a music video is shot for finalists to pick a winner.
Dance wonder and entertainer, Wilfred Utere, popularly known as RAVE, winner of the Maltina Dance All Season eight (2014) and budding multi-talented rap sensation, Onyedikachi Samuel aka DI CACCI made two songs “In Da Mood”, and “King Mum” respectively. The record label is looking forward to signing one of these arts depending on the performance of their songs online.
Brain: Music Runs in our Blood
24 years old Magikal Entertainment artiste, Adeleke Victor Matanmi with stage name Brain, bagged two nominations for the Most Promising Artiste to Watch at the 2014 Nigerian Entertainment Awards, New York and Best Mainstream Hip-Hop Video at the Nigerian Music Videos Awards. Not resting on his oars, the graduate of Industrial and Labour Relations from Olabisi Onabanjo University in this chat with Tosin Clegg speaks about his passion and his take on the Nigerian music industry
What have you been up to?
Well, I have been working and recording, pushing my stuffs and all that. I am also trying to get myself out there more. So, basically that’s what I have been up to but I’m planning to drop a new single soon titled Ileke. The Ileke single is my own way of connecting to the ladies out there and appreciating their keen support all through the beginning of my sojourn into music.
What was growing up like for you like?
Growing up was fun. It was odd but fun. I came from a very humble family; my dad and mum tried to give us the best life we could have. We had the best elementary education. We went to the best schools around and presently we are doing them proud in all ramifications.
Barely spending two years as professional artiste, you were nominated for the NEA and NMVA in 2014. That’s Music for you, how did it all start?
For me, music is a passion and it runs in the blood, my father also loves music and plays music whenever he’s around. My brother is a professional dancer and my younger sisters are choristers in the church. It started when I was in the secondary school, where I would sing for my classmates to cheer me until I joined a group in 2005 where I did my first recording.
What difference are you out to make in the music industry?
I am original and true to myself, my voice texture, the way I rap and sing brings out the uniqueness in me.
What inspires you to write?
I’m greatly influenced by happenings around me because I tried to be as realistic as possible with my songs.
Indomix: I Fight for What is Mine Without
Depending On Anyone
Indomix is one of the most preferred mix and mastering engineer today in the industry. Since his inception as an artiste under the group, he has tactically grown and chosen the sound engineering path which he adopted after a fall-out of his music group. Indomix has worked with top notch Nigerian artistes such as Dbanj, Davido, Sound Sultan, Faze, Terry G, Vector and a host of others. In this Interview with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his growing up, career, challenges and future plans
I started with singing …
IIloyi Oluwole Adebayo is Indomix. I’m the second son of four children. I went to school in Sagamu where I was born and brought up. I later went to Moshood Abiola Polythenic to obtain National Diploma. I didn’t go further for HND because of money. So, I needed to face production. I started with singing and before I knew it, I found myself in production and I finally chose it as a life path.
I love two things. If I can’t be in the music industry, I would rather be a soldier. But I lost my dad in 1993 and there was no fund to do other things. I believed I can do music from the streets. I started that when I was young. Officially I kicked off in music in 1998 with a group of guys then and we were four in number. All of a sudden, we split into two, then I found myself in production and then paused the singing aspect and got into production.
I have ever worked with Faze …
I can’t remember the name of the first artiste I worked with; but the first known artiste I have ever worked with is Faze. That time I worked with him when he did one of his first single as a solo artiste. That time I wasn’t the main person because my hand wasn’t strong. But later when he started believing my hand was on ‘Kolomental’ as I was the co-engineer but on the remix I was the main engineer, and from there, the ‘Originality’ Album.
I’m a sound engineer…
I am a mix and mastering man behind the songs. A producer produces the song and to make the song sound clearer to people that’s where I come in as a sound engineer. We mix the song so you would be able to pick everything people are saying and the instruments in the beat. That’s what we do. Although I started with production, I stopped to focus on one thing; so that people would know me with one thing.
The name ‘Indomix’ was given to me by Faze. . .
Back then, I was called ID da weed, Indo, Indomie and all sorts of name. So Faze said I should pick one name that people would know me with. And he said since you mix and it’s very nice, why can’t you use the Indo and put the Mix behind; that’s how ‘Indomix’ came about.
That’s how Terry G and everybody started the trend. It wasn’t even moving then till Sound Sultan said that producers put their names in the songs and he was like you sound engineers have to be the first person to start it. I am the first sound engineer you would hear his name inside a song which was ‘Ole’ by Sound Sultan. I have worked with 75 per cent of the artistes in this country.
I have worked with Dbanj, Banky W, Sound Sultan, Faze, 2face, Terry G, Artquake, Tony Tetuila, MC Galaxy, Davido, DJ Neptune, DJ Humility and much more.
A few songs that the mixing got right…
I will say Sound Sultan’s Ole, King of My Country ft. Wycleff. Originality, W4’s Kontrol, Vector’s King Kong, Olu Maintain featuring 2face, Minjin’s Coupe Decale, Pepenazzi featuring Olamide and all his songs too. And I also did Terry G’s first album and four albums from Sound Sultan, Faze’s Originality Album and a lot more.
In the next five years I see myself bigger…
I’m sticking on mix and in the music industry you need to branch out into other things too. But mixing is not what you can partially be building because it takes time but you can rather invest in other things and find someone that can manage it for it. For mixing it has to sound well and even if you have people working for you, you have to tell them if it’s okay or not as it’s all about the ears. If I listen to it I know what I want.
Some songs made me to do a lot of work …
Some songs made me to do a lot of work. For example, when I was mixing ‘King Kong, because of the instruments used to produce the songs was much, I needed to ensure everything sounds out with the vocals too which must be heard. It was a little bit stressful and also Oyato by Dbanj because of some things.
I can’t go into the military again …
At this age I can’t go into the military again. As a teenager, if you have the drive, you would be able to adjust to things and do them better. But once you are above the age it won’t work out.
I would like to work with Akon and Wycleff …
Locally, have I worked with some artistes and a handful of them. I love working with 2face often, Davido, Sound Sultan and I like Banky W and also Praiz because he is a very good artiste and also Bez. Also, I wouldn’t lie to you but I would like to work with Akon and Wycleff. The person I believe I can easily work with is Michael Jackson but sadly he is dead now.
No proper recognition for sound engineers…
I don’t know why this is so. Award organizers will be hearing name like Indomix, Foster Zino, and others too. They know we are behind the success of the songs but they never remember us in awards. Abroad, they give sound engineers awards there but here, we are not recognised. They won’t say anything or even acknowledge with a single award. They need to do that seriously. There is no song you would hear in this country that won’t pass through sound engineers. They must encourage us.
Meet the popular Sound Engineer ‘Suka Sounds’
If you are a music lover in Nigeria, an artiste, a record label exec or just a pundit, you’ll surely be familiar with the signature sound ‘Suka Sounds’ at the end of most hit songs you listen to these days. But most people have not been able to put face to the name ‘Suka Sounds’. Let’s be the first to introduce you to the Plateau State-born Sound Engineer whose real name is ‘Suka Andrew’. As a sound engineer who mixes and masters songs, Suka Sounds has dominated the production and sound engineering sector in the music industry in the last two years. Some of his major works include Ara by Brymo, Caro by Wizkid, Ginger by Lax, Jasi by Banky W, Owo ni Koko by Davido, Ojuelegba by Wizkid, Shuperu by Orezi, My Woman My Everything by Patoranking, and countless others.
Suka has been active in the industry for eight years, he studied music at Lani Stephens Music Institute after which he got employed at one of the biggest studios in Jos (first-wave Communications) as an in-house music producer/studio manager where he worked for three years before moving down to Lagos to work with EME as an in-house sound engineer and today he’s built a brand for himself as the most sought after in the game.
Peace Hyde is New W’Africa Correspondent for Forbes Africa
British/Ghanaian TV personality Peace Hyde has just been unveiled as the new West African Correspondent for Forbes Africa. The African bombshell took to her Instagram to share the news. The monthly magazine, which has profiled great entrepreneurs from the continent, including the likes of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and Tony Elumelu among many others, is the number one read magazine amongst Africa’s affluent according to a recent EMS survey. The former education specialist has seven years of teaching experience specialising in teaching pre university students physics, chemistry and biology. During her tenure in the UK education sector, she rose to the level of senior management. Peace Hyde holds a 1st class degree in psychology from Middlesex University.
In addition to becoming a household name in Ghana with two prime time talk shows, the host of the largest talent competition in Ghana, MTN Hitmaker and her recent addition to hit TV Series MTV Shuga 4 which is set in Lagos, the screen Goddess found the time to acquire two masters, an MA in Communication and digital media and Masters in Journalism from the London school of Journalism. Over the past three years, she started an education consultancy called Aim Higher Africa, which provides expertise in education systems and policies, efficiency management as well as introducing the use of information technology in the classroom. Her initiative has seen her partner with the former first lady of Ghana and president of the 31st December women’s movement schools which consist of over 1200 schools ranging from early learning centres to secondary school.
Cardilly Entertainment Searches for the Best
After several months of a nationwide search for the best entertainment has to offer, having received over 500 song emails, 30 prospects invited to the studio, Cardilly Entertainment has now narrowed down to two acts who will have to battle it out for the coveted spot. After weeks of pushing them to prove their musical mettle by writing and making songs with top notch producers, the label went a step further to shoot a music video for both of them then let you music lovers make the choice on our behalf. This is the first time that a music video is shot for finalists to pick a winner.
Dance wonder and entertainer, Wilfred Utere, popularly known as RAVE, winner of the Maltina Dance All Season eight (2014) and budding multi-talented rap sensation, Onyedikachi Samuel aka DI CACCI made two songs “In Da Mood”, and “King Mum” respectively. The record label is looking forward to signing one of these arts depending on the performance of their songs online.
Brain: Music Runs in our Blood
24 years old Magikal Entertainment artiste, Adeleke Victor Matanmi with stage name Brain, bagged two nominations for the Most Promising Artiste to Watch at the 2014 Nigerian Entertainment Awards, New York and Best Mainstream Hip-Hop Video at the Nigerian Music Videos Awards. Not resting on his oars, the graduate of Industrial and Labour Relations from Olabisi Onabanjo University in this chat with Tosin Clegg speaks about his passion and his take on the Nigerian music industry
What have you been up to?
Well, I have been working and recording, pushing my stuffs and all that. I am also trying to get myself out there more. So, basically that’s what I have been up to but I’m planning to drop a new single soon titled Ileke. The Ileke single is my own way of connecting to the ladies out there and appreciating their keen support all through the beginning of my sojourn into music.
What was growing up like for you like?
Growing up was fun. It was odd but fun. I came from a very humble family; my dad and mum tried to give us the best life we could have. We had the best elementary education. We went to the best schools around and presently we are doing them proud in all ramifications.
Barely spending two years as professional artiste, you were nominated for the NEA and NMVA in 2014. That’s Music for you, how did it all start?
For me, music is a passion and it runs in the blood, my father also loves music and plays music whenever he’s around. My brother is a professional dancer and my younger sisters are choristers in the church. It started when I was in the secondary school, where I would sing for my classmates to cheer me until I joined a group in 2005 where I did my first recording.
What difference are you out to make in the music industry?
I am original and true to myself, my voice texture, the way I rap and sing brings out the uniqueness in me.
What inspires you to write?
I’m greatly influenced by happenings around me because I tried to be as realistic as possible with my songs.
How did you come about the stage name Brain?
The name Brain was born out of the fact that I realised that most of the songs we do usually come forth through the brain after series of thinking must have been done.
The name Brain was born out of the fact that I realised that most of the songs we do usually come forth through the brain after series of thinking must have been done.”
Source: thisday.com
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