Gbemiro Tokunbo, popularly known as GT Da Guitarman, is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and a graduate of Economics from LASU (Lagos State University). He recently chatted with YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine on his journey so far in the music industry, his forthcoming album and other issues.
Who is GT Da Guitarman?
Well, GT is the artistic side of Gbemiro Tokunbo. Gbemiro is a very vast person because he is into so many other things. There’s a freak aspect of me, which involves production and sound engineering. Then, there is the acting part of me. I act, I also MC. I do all sorts of things, but GT Da Guitarman is the musician part of me. That’s the difference and it’s just my initials- Gbemiro Tokunbo.
How long have you been into music?
Professionally, I’ve been into music for 8 years now. I started in 2005 when I got signed to Storm Records.
Can you tell us about your educational background?
Primary school was at Community School, in Amuwo Odofin and secondary school was May Flower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State. And Amuwo Odofin High School in Lagos. I didn’t finish at May Flower. University was Lagos State University (LASU); studied Economics.
What got you interested in music?
Music has always been part of me; I’ve always been a fan of music. So, it’s safe to say music chose me because I’m a great fan of music. At a point in my life, people felt I could actually do the kind of things they hear on radio, so I gave it a shot and here I am, doing it. Like they say, it’s what you want you think about most times and that you eventually become.
So, at what stage did you take that step and say okay, let me give it a shot?
I really can’t pin-point when, but then, I wrote my first song in 1999. And I started playing the guitar in 2001-2002. I taught myself though, and I joined several musical groups. I eventually started my own thing before I met Storm. When I actually decided that it was going to be music all the way, I can’t remember.
How would you describe your kind of music?
My kind of music is a fusion of rock, soul and African rhythms. You know I rap, I raga, I sing. You might wanna note that down, but the kind of music I push out most times; that I want to be known for is afro/rock/soul.
Which Nigerian artistes do you like what they’re doing?
I love every Nigerian artiste and that’s the truth. There’s something to learn from every Nigerian artiste. But then, musically, musicians that I enjoy listening to are musicians who do alternative music. Not the regular gbagbagba that you hear on radio today. People who have content in their music. People like Asa, people like Femi Kuti, people like Nomoreloss, people like Korede Bello. People with content in their music would definitely wow me. Aside from content, the music too. Someone who plays flute for example, if he writes a piece on a flute, it’s called music, not a song. It’s when words or lyrics come into it that it’s called a song. What Nigerians do these days, most Nigerians, I can’t really call them songs. Because music writing is really poor these days.
What sets you apart from the pack; what differentiates your kind of music from others?
I think what differentiates a musician from an artiste is that artiste is the family name. I think people who do arts are called artists and musical artistes are called musicians. You might be an instrumentalist, you might be a singer, you definitely are a musician. If you do all these things, you’re a musician. I won’t get to that point where I would categorize people based on what they do. I mean, we’re all musicians because we all play with notes at the end of the day. But there are good musicians and there are bad musicians, and there are the not so good ones and there are the okay musicians. So, that’s what it is.
What makes GT different from the other artistes?
Things that are unique to my own style, for example, include my voice, my musical background, and my lyrics. I’m a deep thinker; I just don’t write songs. If you hear a GT song, there’s something to learn from it, there is something to hold on to at the end of the day. I think those are the qualities that set me apart- my voice , my musical background and obviously, the writing aspect of me.
What’s the secret of being a good singer?
The secret of being a good singer is keeping it simple. Being yourself. Trying to pass a message is not a competition. You’re trying to pass a message and you should stick to that. Keeping it simple makes you.
Where do you think that musicians get it wrong, especially the up and coming ones?
They forget the environment we’re in. It’s a crazy environment that we’re in right now. It’s all about money, money and from radio stations wanting payola to Alaba people wanting a larger percentage of your work, to show-organizers turning music into paddy paddy thing. I think where people get it wrong is that they forget that it’s not going to be a bed of roses; you have to fight your way through. In the industry, we actually don’t have structures. And we’re the branches; not the leaves. So, when they see themselves as the leaves, then we wouldn’t be able to do so much. Where they get it wrong is not knowing, not understanding how the industry plays.
What makes a successful musician?
I think it depends on how you see success. Success for some people is about writing a good song and connecting to people; being able to touch people’s lives. And some other people would say success to them is getting money. If I’m a brother to a show organizer, you can always put me on shows and I’ll get my funds. I’ll get paid for all these shows without even considering whether my song is good or not. So, success for me is about touching lives with your music.
What role do musicians play in the society?
The role that a musician is meant to play is that of an agent of change. We’re meant to help people voice those hidden emotions that they can’t voice out. And sadly, in Nigeria, the whole industry is being run by probably the government and corporate bodies. There’s no independence for the musicians. We can’t sell CDs and survive off it. So, Nigerian musicians are being put in the corner whereby their next meal is dependent on playing those government shows, their next meal is dependent on doing that corporate gig and the corporate world. So, they can’t be agents of change because that is where their meals come from. If you talk bad about the government, you won’t get all these shows, and the corporate bodies won’t call you for events. That said, we are meant to be the agents of change; we’re meant to be the voice for the voiceless.
What has been GT’s most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment was a particular day my car broke down at Orile, and I came out to check it and some of my fans were singing ‘when am I gonna be what I wanna be’. That was quite embarrassing . I wished the ground could swallow me that moment.
What is GT’s relationship status?
I am in a relationship. GT Da Guitar man is in a relationship with his guitar.
I mean, are you single or married?
No, that question is addressed to who? Is it to Freak, who is the producer or to Gbemiro, who is behind the name, GT . If it’s GT Da Guitar man, yes, he’s in love with his guitar and music.
How about Gbemiro Tokunbo?
Gbemiro Tokuunbo is not the one you want to interview. I’m very sure you want GT(Laughs).
When is your next album coming out?
The next album is called BAKED. It’s coming out November 11th. And that means that (the title) when you go through fire, it either burns you to ashes or it bakes you; makes you a better person. So, I’m baked. It means I’m a better person, a better artiste, a better writer, a better singer and a better business man too.
Is there anything peculiar about that date you chose to release the album?
Well, I chose November 11 because that was the day Ember Entertainment was born.
Where should your fans expect to see you in the next five years?
Five years is a bit too long. There’s a whole lot that we’re working on right now and by God’s grace, God willing, you guys would be able to see. But then, GT is gonna be here for a long time and that’s what I need people to know. We intend to put structures in the industry that most of these people have refused to put in. You hear of people getting endorsements, corporate bodies organizing talent hunts, but at the end of the day our CDs still sell for 30 naira, which is very embarrassing. So, basically, GT is going to be here for a while and GT is going to be part of the practical solutions to the problems that the industry faces.
NB: First published November 2013