If you were a student of Obafemi Awolowo University between the years of 2011 and 2018, there is a very high chance that the name “Virus Zamorra” rings a bell. Within the OAU community and Ile-Ife at large, Virus Zamorra was a staple name headlining shows and sharing stages with established acts such as Mayorkun, Ycee, Dremo and more. In a pool of talent that included acts like Blaqbonez, Kyle B (now known as Cheque), Jaido P, Asake, Chinko Ekun and the less known DML (now known as Fireboy DML), Virus Zamorra stood out as the most promising. His song TINA is what you describe as a certified banger, sure to get students raving. Now known as Zamorra, the artiste has grown from the party starter that reigned supreme in Ile-Ife to a more intentional artiste with a refined sound. His latest offering, an EP titled Storms and Rainbows is a chronicle of trial and victories, that bear testament to his artistic growth. We caught up with the budding star to talk about his music, his new direction, finding his sound during the lockdown as well as how the EP came to be.
Taiwo: Let’s meet you. Who is Zamorra? Who is the man behind the artiste?
Zamorra: My real name is Akinkunmi Oluwashina, an indigene of Ondo State, born and brought up in Lagos State. I had my nursery and primary education in Lagos State, with my secondary education in Ondo State. I studied Philosophy in Obafemi Awolowo University. I’m an only child. I’m a musician, songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist; I play the piano, drum and a couple of other instruments. I’m an Afro-Soul artiste.
Taiwo: What was the change like, leaving a small community like Ile-Ife where you were a big star and moving down to Lagos to join the mainstream music industry?
Zamorra: Campus music is a lot more easier than it is in Lagos. Back then, it was all about performing at different parties, dropping your songs at different occasions. It was more like a preparation, not like a total one because things became a whole lot different when I got to Lagos. But to a very reasonable extent, it was a grooming point. It wasn’t like a crown (being a big star) or something, I knew from the start that it was just a phase. So it wasn’t like I came to Lagos with this crown on my head or something, like “everybody else should know me”. I understood that I had to start from the scratch again, but based on the contacts that I already made from performing on big stages in OAU, it wasn’t so difficult to start in that sense.
So starting I had a lot of ups and downs, labels, managements and all of that. So that (label troubles) took the major part of my first few years back in Lagos, I’m talking 2015 to 2017 thereabout. During that time, things were a bit blurry, while I tried to figured everything out. In 2018, I met my current record label and things started making sense. We did “Better Dey Come”, “Importanter”; that went viral if you can remember, then we did Run Away. Then, Corona came and there was this huge break because I had to take time off. There was very little or no musical activity going on during that time, everybody was feeding on songs that were already there or songs that involved indoor challenges. I was off the radar through that period, and that was the point when I felt that there was the need for a change. Prior to the lockdown, I was doing a lot of sounds from reggae, pop to Afrobeats, because I felt that I could do everything. During my hiatus, I was recording a lot and I found a sound. On my Instagram, I have always recorded acoustic covers and that became my sound. My voice coupled with the piano and guitar, gave me a unique identity and I started building on that sound, and I started compiling my EP.
Taiwo: So did the difficulties that you have faced translate into the name of your debut EP, “Storms and Rainbows?”
Zamorra: Storms and Rainbows is a life series. I like to call it a life series because life is a constant circle of problems and solutions. As you live, you discover that everyday you are faced with a challenge which you are expected to provide a solution to, that is the essence of life, growth, promotion and levelling up. Life is a repetition of challenges and solutions. I had series of storms and rainbows like you witnessed in OAU, there was a time that it was Virus Zamorra everywhere, that was quite “rainbowic”. It got to a stage when I felt that I needed to take it to a professional level, and I got a record deal which is another rainbow. Along the line, the storm came again, things hit rock bottom and I started scrambling for survival. Again, I got a new record deal, that was another rainbow. We started doing it, and Importanter went viral, it went really viral. A lot of big brands reached out to us, such as AS Roma from Italy and other brands. It was so crazy then that everyone thought “yes, this was the moment”, that was another rainbow. The follow-up to Importanter which was Run Away had issues. The label and the management had issues which affected the promotion of the song, and then Corona came, another storm. It’s been phases of storms and rainbows, and it is like that in everybody’s life. No matter how big the storm is, or how small the rainbow is, life is a constant repetition of challenges and finding the solutions to them. Also, the EP is a personal tale that I feel a whole lot of people can relate to.
Taiwo: What was the artistic direction that you worked with on this EP?
Zamorra: The EP is a series of stories. I was intentionally looking for an approach, whereby my audience will not be distracted. I wanted them to actually listen to the words and the lyrics, get the message and melody in everything. I did not want the regular heavy instrumentals, the club bangers, because people will get distracted by the beat. The beat alone is another song on its own. The musical approach towards the EP was acoustic music, live music, because I love live music. Live music but not too loud, not too uptempo. Acoustic songs, so that people can listen and be in that mood. The ambience of the EP would put you in a mood whereby you can relax and listen.
Taiwo: Your music touches on a lot of societal issues. “Better Dey Come” has the message of hope, “Importanter” has the message of having the right priorities. Even your love songs has the undertone of loving someone in the right way. What inspires your songwriting process?
Zamorra: The thing is, real life. Nothing beats reality, and a whole lot of people have different realities. When you are spitting out a particular reality, a set of people will be able to relate. When I say “money is important but happiness is importanter”. A whole of people have money but they are not happy, so when they hear that line they can relate. A whole lot of people are still dancing in the club, but most people will get the line and be like “okay wow”. Friends are important but family is importanter, because at the end of the day, your friends go japa na family go remain most of the times. So, real life experiences is the foundation of my songwriting. Things that have happened to me before, or my friends and family or even a story I heard, so real life. A lot of people are going through a lot in Nigeria now, and if you listen to “Better Dey Come” it motivates you to do more. Most of my songs have deep details in them, because I need you to understand what I am trying to put out. My creative process is a combination of message and melody.
Taiwo: The music on Storms and Rainbows has a traditional flavour, as with most of your songs. Is that something that you do intentionally? Also, on Aiku the opening track, you had kids singing in the form of an Ere Osupa setting. How much do you draw inspiration from your roots?
Zamorra: I grew up listening to a whole lot of “local” artistes, Nigerian indigenous artistes. The likes of Bisi Olawuyi, Tope Alabi, Bola Are and more. I also listened to a lot of Lucky Dube. I already had the fusion from the onset, because my dad listened to foreign music while my mum enjoyed local music. For my dad, it was music from Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. So I grew up with the fusion, listening to both sounds. So it is very difficult for me to separate these sounds in my music. Even when I’m trying to be very local in my sound, you still hear the foreign infusion. It could be in the progression of the song, the kick, the arrangement or the lyrics. It works the same way for when I’m doing a foreign, you still hear the local infusion, as they are both intertwined in my head. Speaking about the intro, I wanted to catch the attention of people with the children. There is this popular saying that the beings that get unconditional love are babies and dogs. There is an unconscious love that people have for children, especially when they are singing or exhibiting other talents. This is where the idea of children singing a Yoruba folktale came from. So I felt that if I used that, that will introduce the EP and the artiste as being African, not only African he’s Nigerian, not only Nigerian he’s Yoruba. So it was an introduction, as to where I’m coming from and what to expect on the whole EP.
Taiwo: Your love songs are always heartfelt and really touching. They capture a lot of emotions, with a good example being Deserve Better. Are you a lover boy? Do you write these songs from your personal experience?
Zamorra: It is a global world now, and it is easy to compile stories. If you are online now, you will understand that the major story about guys, is that most guys believe that they are not good enough, they accept to be “scum”. You know when you meet a girl who is so amazing and you feel like you are not worthy, and you keep messing up and she keeps forgiving you like “nah, you deserve better”. Not necessarily my experience but it’s a story a whole lot of can relate to. Most of my love stories are usually from real-life experiences or from a collation of opinions about particular issues. The songs on the EP, Men Are Scum, Like My Mother, Now That You’re Mine, are stories that people can relate to.
Taiwo: So is it safe to say that your degree in Philosophy comes into play in your music-making process?
Zamorra: Yeah, studying Philosophy kind of shapes your thinking, helps you analyse thoughts, and your creative process. It helps me to critically analyse issues that I want to sing or write about without being insensitive. I major in Philosophy in Music, and it is more like doing critical music, because Philosophy helps you think critically. So, you are thinking critically while doing music, so it is a perfect blend if you ask me.
Taiwo: What do you aim to achieve with Storms And Rainbows?
Zamorra: The plan is to establish a sound. Prior to this time, I’ve been doing different types of songs, I did Better Dey Come, Importanter and Run Away and these three songs do not fall under the same genre. The EP is aimed towards creating and establishing a sound. So when you think about Zamorra, you think about a particular sound.
Taiwo: How did you pick the producers, engineers and other professionals that you worked with on the project?
Zamorra: We were very strategic about picking those that we wanted to work with. We wanted to be practical about “feminism”. We wanted to show that we are not just in support of women empowerment by words, but by action. We had Dunnie produce six songs out of eight songs on the EP. We also worked with Ella who shot the video for Deserve Better. A female sound engineer also mixed the acoustic version of Now That You’re Mine. A lot of women were involved in the creative process and it was intentional.
Taiwo: Seeing that the EP is intended to establish your sound. What is next for Zamorra?
Zamorra: Videos will come after the EP, a couple of remixes and then we start again. We go back to the drawing board, see our progress, see how far we have come, set new goals. From now, it’s Zamorra, Zamorra and Zamorra.
Taiwo: Any final words for your fans?
Zamorra: Big shoutout to everybody supporting, streaming, sharing, playing and writing. Big shoutout to everyone that was patient enough for the EP because it took a long time. Big shoutout to 49th Street for this interview, God bless you guys. Thank you so much