For over 40 years, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, otherwise known as KWAM 1, has been holding his own in the music industry. Even when it seems that the fuji genre is losing its ground, KWAM 1 is waxing stronger.
But he has not achieved this staying power in his art by happenstance. In an encounter with our correspondent, he said he does not play with his voice and endeavours to give it adequate rest.
He said, “I rest my voice very well and do not overload it. This has worked me for over 40 years and my body system is used to it. I have the control of my voice by the normal exercise that I do. There is no point damaging your voice by taking certain things you feel some people do take. When you are tired, everything about you would go back to sleep, including your voice.
When you overwork yourself and you have to perform for four days, your voice would be up there cracking. I also ensure I go on vacation in January and during Ramadan.”
To him, teaming up with younger artistes for collaborations is a vital way of keeping music from one generation to another. KWAM 1 rubbishes the insinuation that he is shifting focus to Hip-hop.
While insisting that he gets inspiration from what he sees and happenings around him, he says music is a gift from God. According to him, once you are gifted, love for music keeps growing inside of you and no one can take it from you.
With little education, it is amazing that K1 De Ultimate speaks the English language fluently. But, he says it did not come easy as he had to train himself.
“One of the greatest achievements you can give yourself is to train yourself to be able to face challenges ahead of you. We learn from people, things around you and I have a lot to learn from. That is why they say ‘show me your friend and I would tell you who you are.’ I am in a society where people learn and it is a duty for me to learn as well.”
Inasmuch as he has interest in politics, for now, he does not think of seeking elective position. He, however, acknowledges that everyone is a politician in a way or the other.
“If you have a home or establishment or you run a business, definitely you run politics. I belong to a political party; I am card-carry member of the All Progressives Congress.”
KWAM 1 frowns at the misconception that fuji music is for troublemakers, insisting that people also fight in night clubs and bars where they don’t even play fuji.
He said, “Fuji is never a troublesome music, though people can tag anything as they want. If you say this where people who derive eve r y t h i n g good about fuji are, they would fault you. Other m u s i c i a n s or their fans fight also. Go to night clubs or bars where they do not play fuji, they fight as well.”
