+How He Chose Gospel Music
Mike Abdul is one of Nigeria’s leading Gospel artistes. He is very talented and shows passion in his craft. He recently turned 40 and spoke to City People magazine Publisher SEYE KEHINDE about his life and career. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Congratulations on your birthday. How do you feel? What went through your mind?
Thanks a lot. It’s a beautiful feeling. I spent the eve with my parents and it seemed liked they had gave birth to me all over again. We shared cherished memories and i started the day with Thanks Giving to the DESIGNER OF DESTINIES.
Mike has always been someone who is forever busy working on several projects in the studio. How do you juggle all these?
My passion for what i do drives me. The first thing i had was love for music which developed into passion to practise. Setting goals helped give direction and purpose so that my career doesn’t go away as a mere hubby.
You are an accomplished music star. How easy was it to attain the height you’ve reached.
By universal design, nothing comes easy. I’ve had my fair share of struggles and hustles. And i do not intend to stop. Success requires Diligence and Consistency.
How did music start for you?
Music started with my dad playing a lot of records in the house. I just could not resist admiration for the singers whose records daddy played. The craving to sing like them was innate, it seemed like destiny. As I grew older, I joined choirs and singing groups to find expression.
When did you get professional?
I got professional with MIDNIGHT CREW. My love for Music kicked off professionally on the 8th of November 2001 when we founded MIDNIGHT CREW.
Talk us through the journey of your career, step by step.
The journey started inside me. The discovery of my love for music as a child is priceless. Then I sang to myself first before singing for others to hear. People’s approval of my singing encouraged me as I grew older so I joined choirs at different points in life. This went on till I met members of Midnight Crew and we later founded the group in 2001. We grew together, recorded great songs with four albums to our credit. Several awards and reviews from around the globe, we enjoyed graceful slide that exceeded the efforts we put in. Then in 2011, we starting nursing the idea of individual expression. That decision was like I just finished training in the MIDNIGHT CREW institution of Learning and asked to go into the labour market. It was the moment of truth, you either swim or sink. We all took the challenge and I moved using the MIDNIGHT CREW discipline as a guide. The response to MORIRE came to me as a gift and gave me the confidence to make my story happen. I’m still here, still writing the story.
What made you go into Gospel music? Why not hip hop?
My mother is a godly woman. Since i was born, all she communicated to me and my siblings was godliness. I believe she successfully got me induced, so much that every faculty in me only accepted Gospel Music . I’m at peace with myself that way.
When I see you in musical videos I see you put in a lot of passion, energy. How did you develop that?
The visible energy comes my passion for what I do. Every word I sing is deliberate and true. When I sing them, I truly feel them. I love to perform for people, I also truly love to express my gratitude to GOD. I’m the only one that truly knows my praise.
You perform with a group. You also perform solo. How do you cope?
MIDNIGHT CREW operates with systems and proper management. We have our contracts and the organisation has successfully over time built distinct channels for all operations. So we cope well. We found out that contracts help define relationships. We’re doing just fine.
Keeping the group and expressing individual brands make us fulfil and enjoy the beauty of diversity.
Do you feel fulfilled?
I am fulfilled to a point and I’m grateful to God for it. I still have a long way to go and I’ll definitely get it.
Is Mike married?
I’m married.
Tell us about your private life?
Please permit me my privacy.Thank you, sir.
What keeps you going?
The joy of life keeps me going.
The joy of fulfilment encourages me to move on.
Tell us where you were born, your parents. Where did you grow up? Which schools did you attend?
I was born in Lagos. I grew up in Lagos and partly in Ogun State. My parents grew up in Ijebuland. My father, in Ago-Iwoye while my mum grew up in Ijebu-Oru .
I attended A-Z International Nursery and Primary School then went on to Mayflower School Ikenne. I studied Electrical Engineering in Yaba College Of Technology.
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