•Reveals The Inspiration Behind Her Songs
Onoriode Ebiere Ariyo, professionally known as Onos Ariyo, is a singer and songwriter. Her songs are popular in Christian music circles. She’s especially popular for having sang “Alagbara” and “Everything Has Changed”.
Both songs were written and produced by Nigerian Music Producer, Wilson Joel. But, Onos gave them vocal expression, and, they’ve been such a blessing to humanity!
A French graduate from the Delta State University, Abraka, Onos is married to Kunmi Ariyo, CEO of Mirus Events, a leading event management company operating out of Nigeria. Her first official single, “Dance” was produced by FLO.
Sequel to the successful release of her debut single “Dance”, Onos has gone on to headline several gospel concerts in Nigeria, including The Experience – Lagos, which has been described as the biggest gospel concert in the world, where she has shared the stage with a number of notable international gospel artistes, including Travis Greene, Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin.
Onos has been nominated for a number of awards since her debut into the music industry. In 2012, she won the award for the Best Female Vocalist at the Nigeria Gospel Music Awards as well as at the Crystal Awards in 2013. In 2015, she won the Wise Women Awards in the Woman in Music category and Female Gospel Artist of the Year at the Eloy Awards in the same year. She also won the Female Artist of Excellence Award at the African Gospel Music Awards AGMMA in the UK in 2018.
City People’s Contributing Editor, IYABO OYAWALE recently caught up with the mother of two and she revealed the inspiration behind her songs and how she has been singing for 30 years. Read for more!
Before you released it, did you think “Alagbara” would fly like it did?
I didn’t really think it would fly like it did. Before I released the song, I’d already started singing it at different occasions where I had an opportunity to sing. I noticed people responding to the song very well. What I now did after that was to record it properly and I went to the studio to record “Alagbara” but I’m grateful to God for how far the song has come.
What inspired the “Alagbara” song?
This is how “Alagbara” was born. Firstly, Wilson Joel was the one who wrote “Alagbara.” I remember he sent me a voice note that he had this song that he wanted me to listen to. I listened to the song and I thought it was brilliant and I started singing just the chorus at different functions that I had. Afterwards, he put together the verses and sent to me. From there, we went ahead to record the entire song. I basically interpreted in my way. I’m just grateful for what “Alagbara” has become. The song has transformed so many lives.
What about the “Everything Has Changed” song?
For “Everything Has Changed”, I’d say these songs were released 2012/2013 and the period marked a shift in my musical journey because these songs brought change. These songs brought change from “Everything Has Changed” to “Alagbara”, every other song I put out has just been amazing. From there, God gave me “Jehovah Ebenezer”, “Ogheneme”, “I call you Jesus”. It’s just been going from glory-to-glory after the release of those 2 songs.
What generally inspires your songs?
God inspires my music. The God-factor and also, my music is meant to inspire, transform, and bring healing to as many who listen. So, majority of the time, I’m sharing with the world in songs my journey with God and the truth is, you share with the people the revelation of God that you have in you. So It’s that which He’s revealed in me that I’m sharing with the world; that I’ve put in words, to share with the world. God, yes, is a major factor in the songs that I write and how I write them. His inspiration is always behind my songs and voila, the world receives that which He’s revealed to me.
As a graduate of French, do you work with your degree or it’s music full-time?
It’s full-time music. I worked with my degree at the early stage when I started but as time went on, my ministrations and everything got more intense. I got more occupied with a lot of ministrations, so, I started giving music my all.
Who are the musicians that influenced you early in your journey?
I would say Cece Winans, the Mary Marys, and Fred Hammond. I listened to them in my early years of growing as an artiste. Then along the line, as I began to release songs, I began to find myself. I found my sound and when I found it, I just stuck with it and I’m grateful that who I am today and what I do inspires a lot of young girls; a lot of emerging artistes out there.
You started music at the age of 8, does that mean you wanted to do music all your life?
I’ve always known I’d use the singing gift. What I did not know was how I was going to go about it. I’ve always known it was something that I was going to do. Like I would always say, I take one step at a time. Put one foot in front of the other, as I go along, I just follow how God leads me. I’m grateful to God for how I’ve evolved from that girl to who I am today and yes, I’m thankful that I’m doing what my heart has always wanted to do, which is sing songs and make music that edify and glory God.
How has your musical journey been?
It’s been great. I started singing quite early. At the age of 8, I joined the children choir in Delta state. I grew up in Delta state. I came to Lagos in 20024 when I did my youth service and it’s been a glorious journey. That’s all I’d say. There’ve been rough patches, so many learning along the way, but the truth is, it’s those rough patches and those things you’ve had to go through that make you a better version of yourself. So, I’m grateful to God for the rough roads that I’ve had to go through; pass through and I’m here today.
As an artiste who’s always on the road, how do you manage family and music?
Firstly, I’d say it’s not an easy one but with wisdom, grace, and a supportive spouse, everything is possible. And, I’m thankful for Mr. Kunmi Ariyo, my husband nd CEO of Mirus Events With his support and help, I’ve been able to manage. So, with wisdom, grace, and strength from God, support system on the home front, all things are possible and of course, with the help of God.
Do you still do BREATHE, your live worship experience?
Yes! BREATHE is a monthly platform. I started it years ago, 4/5 years ago; It’s a monthly worship portal where I have people coming to worship. It’s a one-hour session. I started it way before IG LIVE, way before a lot of people started doing IG LIVE. It’s been on for years. It’s once every month. The testimonies from the platform are incredible. There are so many people that God has healed, delivered, transformed through that platform and I’m grateful to God to be someone who carries that vision and dream. It’s a pleasure to see lives being transformed through that platform. Yes, BREATHE is still on and kicking.
So, for how many years have you been singing?
Oh, wow! I’ve been singing for practically more than 30 years. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember.
How has music been for you? Has it been fulfilling? Has it been challenging?
It’s been fulfilling. For me, what makes it fulfilling is when I put out a song and I get to read testimonies from that song, especially in this Social Media age, you can put out a song and go back there to read testimonies. When you see testimonies of healing, testimonies of deliverance, stories of transformation, like my song ‘Jehovah Ebenezer’, the testimonies form that song have been amazing. And people have testified of how God has come through for them, healed them, they play it when they’re having surgeries and God just show up. Their helper shows up. The testimonies from doing what we do make it a lot more fulfilling. Yes, music has been fulfilling for me.
“New Dimension”, your latest album dropped in January 2022. How has the reception been so far?
It’s my 5th studio album. It dropped January this year. After it dropped, it’s been amazing. I’ve been on tour since after the release of that abum. We’ve had “New Dimension Concert” in Abuja, “New Dimension Concert” in Port Harcourt, “New Dimension Concert” in Lagos, and we just concluded “New Dimension Concert” in Onitsha. 4 locations and it’s been mind-blowing. Testimonies have been phenomenal. Yes, the album is doing well. It’s streaming online. The response has been incredible. God indeed has been giving me, just like I titled the album ‘New Dimension’, new dimensions on all fronts.
How was growing up for you?
I grew up in Delta state and I came to Lagos in 2004 after my University. I grew up in Delta state, my University was in Delta State University. Then, I did my Youth Service in Lagos. I started music professionally in 2009 when I released my first single titled “Dance.” So, from 2009 till date, it has been from glory-to-glory. It’s been an incredible journey. I have 5 albums, the first is “Keep Moving”, the second is “No Limits”, the third is “Songs in the Place of Prayer”, the fourth is “BREATHE”, the fifth is “New Dimension.”
How do you relax when you’re not working?
I run, I do sports, I swim. At other times, I’d go see a movie. I do some window-shopping. Those are the various ways that I relax.
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