Ayoleyi Solomon, aka Reekado Bank, might be rocking the Nigerian music scene at the moment. But at a time, the ‘Oluwa Ni’ crooner was a shy person and kept to himself a lot.
He told our correspondent that he was not doing music in secondary school and nobody knew he could sing.
“In 2008, I graduated from secondary school, Barnfield College in Merian, Ogun State. In my school, I do not think anyone knew me as anything. I was really calm and I was the youngest in my class; I graduated at 14. I did not really mix up with people and I preferred to be left alone. But at home, I was a different person. My family members would tell you I was funny.”
He further added that Reekado was different from Ayoleyi Solomon. According to him, Reekado is funny, playful and he is always in the studio recording music and performing at shows.
Though he was born into a Christian home and his father is a pastor, The University of Lagos graduate said it did not stop him from pursuing a career in music.
“Luckily for me, there was no objection because my father had told my elder ones to do one thing or the other that didn’t work out as he had anticipated. So, when he got to my turn, he just said I should do whatever I loved to do. But he insisted I should always remember God.
“My growing up was quite fun and interesting. We were restricted from going out, but the little chances I had, I used them well. We are six children; I am the last born. I was born in Ejigbo, Lagos State and I spent 11 years of my life there before I moved to Merian. I later moved to Ketu and then to Ikorodu in Lagos. But when I got admission into UNILAG to study History and Strategy Studies, I moved to Akoka. I am a graduate now,” he stated.
He, however, admitted that it was never a stroll in the park to make a name in the music industry. “I am looking at when we started in 2008; it wasn’t so smooth. I knew I wanted to do music since 2008 and I recorded my first song in 2010. Then, it was all about getting a label and my music be heard. When I met Don Jazzy, things became better.”
