The modern music scene thrives on a crucial individual, the producer, who can expertly blend different genres to create entirely new sonic blueprints. Leading this exciting charge is Inioluwa Atere, popularly known in the professional music world as Kleros, her production and DJ name. Although she officially kicked off her career in 2019, Kleros has already developed a signature sound that stands out in a crowded industry.
Her style is a vibrant fusion of African elements drawn from Afrobeats, mixed with the emotional depth of R&B and Soul, and finished with the rhythmic bounce of Hip-Hop. What makes this unique sound even more impressive is that it is the result of persistent curiosity and a completely self-taught journey into the complex world of music creation.
Kleros’s initial interest in music production did not begin in a high-tech professional studio, but rather in a humble multipurpose building at her high school. The spark was lit when the graduating class, the SS3 set, decided they wanted to create a mixtape. To make this happen, they enlisted the help of Mr. Ken, who served as the school’s computer teacher but was also a talented gospel artist and producer. Kleros was drawn to this project because of her close relationship with the creative minds involved, so she decided to attend a recording session.
During that session, she watched Mr. Ken work his magic on the computer. For Kleros, seeing the process of digital sound production was a revelation. It was far more intriguing to her than the standard live instrumentation she was accustomed to seeing. This was a new experience, and it unlocked a fascination she hadn’t felt before.
Driven by this newfound interest, she began spending hours in the school’s studio. She spent her time trying to navigate the audio equipment and find her way around the studio. Her commitment to observing and learning by watching others was so deep that she admits her academic results for that term shifted, as she struggled to balance her new obsession with her schoolwork.
The actual breakthrough in her journey came when she changed schools during SS2. Around this time, she finally secured a personal laptop from her father, which gave her the freedom to explore. During rehearsals for a school event, Kleros found herself assisting Elektra, the school’s dance coach. It was through her connection with Elektra that she obtained a copy of FL Studio 11, a popular digital audio workstation commonly used by emerging and established producers.
This was the defining moment that drew her closer to her production skills, turning her interest into a practical reality. She immersed herself in the FL Studio application, even breaking school rules to download vast amounts of music on her school laptop so she could study the production steps for her practice sessions. She began learning by listening, deconstructing, and recreating tracks by ear.
Her determination to master the software led to many intense sessions of remaking songs. Kleros vividly recalls trying to recreate Falz’s hit song, Soft Work. She had to navigate the complex melodies, the chord progressions, and the arrangement structure entirely on her own, without any formal training. While she humorously describes some of her instrument choices at the time as “nasty,” the process of listening repeatedly and picking the music apart brought her immense enjoyment.
These early struggles established the foundational skills that define her polished production output today. This period of intense self-study, driven purely by passion, solidified her commitment to the craft.
The transition to a professional career took off in 2019 while she was attending Bowen University. While mixing academic life with her social life, she naturally attracted like-minded creatives who recognized her talent. Kleros formally dedicated herself to production, and in just a few years, she has amassed a highly respectable list of production credits. She has demonstrated her versatility and her ability to work with a wide range of sounds.
Her growing production portfolio includes work with notable names such as Goodgirl LA, Mavo, Amakarh, and Tsuni. She has also collaborated with Killervybez, Adam Srae, Musta4a, and Dap TheContract. Her releases, such as the collaborative track Reasons, the instrumental drive of Montego Riddim, and the distinct vibe on Loose Canon/Off The Pill, further cement her reputation.
She is proving to be an emerging force who is just as comfortable creating hard-hitting riddims as she is laying the smooth foundation for soulful vocals. Kleros is a self-made architect of sound, poised to shape the future of African-influenced global music.
