Fiokee talks music industry, Fender Artist Playbook, and inspirations - Interview
Quickly seeing an immense amount of success within the music scene, we got the incredible opportunity for a quick Q&A with Fiokee! Check out all of his thoughtful answers below.
Before we get to our interview though, there’s something incredibly cool coming from Fender at the moment. If you’re unfamiliar with Ari Herstand, he’s a professional musician, artist, best-selling author, and host of the New Music Business podcast. Recently he teamed up with Fender to create the “Fender Artist Playbook” helping up-and-coming artists navigate the changing music landscape. In order to support artists on their musical journey, Fender and Herstand, the Fender Artist Playbook (download it here) provides a step-by-step guide for emerging artists to tackle the new frontier of music, effectively release their music and build their career on their own terms. From cracking the TikTok algorithm to leveraging alternative revenue streams, digital marketing tips, NFTs, and more, it’s a comprehensive resource for “making it” in the music business in 2021.”
Here’s our Q&A with Fiokee, enjoy!
WWAM: Fiokee, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions, how are you doing?
Fiokee: I’m doing fine
WWAM: To begin, you’ve made quite the name for yourself due to your impressive guitar playing skills, what does an average day of practice look like for you?
Fiokee: My early stage as a guitarist, I used to practice from 4 to 8 hours but now I do practice like 1 to 2 hours daily. Reason being that I’ve added the business part of music to my career. Most times tracking guitars for artists is part of my rehearsal, so I needed to find a balance.
WWAM: Were there a group of artists/musicians or apromotionny specific band that drove you to start the learning process on guitar?
Fiokee: I started from a children’s choir with solfa notation then became a sales boy in shop, I decided to rent the guitar to keep me busy in the baby shop due to the lack of customers and also because that acoustic guitar was affordable compared to a keyboard and I wouldn’t need to power it with electricity to play it because of lack of constant electricity. I came across a taxi driver on my way back home at the mechanic workshop waiting for his car to be fixed. He called me and said “Hey young man, can I see your guitar?” I gave it to him and then he started playing, that’s how I found my teacher. I learnt under him for just 2 months then started going to church to play as a volunteer because I couldn’t rent the guitar anymore and also could have access to the guitar too. I joined a circular band a year after in 2001. I started playing with the band which really helped to build myself and also helped in understanding how to play different genres of music.
WWAM: If you could master the use of another instrument, which would it be?
Fiokee: Keyboard definitely. I can play the keyboard to some extent but would love to have more flexibility. I have a good knowledge about bass guitar as well. I could teach someone how to play both the guitar and bass. I know about chords formulas || chords applications/functions || scales/modes and more.
WWAM: In the ever changing world of music and creation, is there a single tip you’d like to pass off to the readers?
Fiokee: I can tell you that playing the Guitar (your craft) is now just 20% of the whole work. The business part involved is now 80% which include promotions like PR, media, branding, influencers, radio/tv, Ads, music platforms, licensing, publishing, and others. These are the things you need to do to push your brand/music .. If you don’t do so , your reach for a song would be limited .
WWAM: Was there a specific album in your life that inspired you to take this path as a musician?
Fiokee: George, Norman Brown, Slash and Carlos Santana brands inspired me to do more. Now I’m almost done with my album . That’s massive for me. I’m the first ever Afrobeats Guitarist to be releasing an album with mainstream artists.
WWAM: What’s your process? How do you go about creating a song?
Fiokee: Sometimes it starts with melodies in my head then I will record it down. Sometimes in the process of my practice, an idea would just come up. So it depends on the atmosphere and the vibes I get. Some of the ideas come from artists coming up with a hook, then I can create a rhythm and build up from there.
WWAM: What do you enjoy the most about being an artist and creative?
Fiokee: The fact that I’m doing what I love doing is why I enjoy it and that gives me joy.
WWAM: Aside from music, what are some goals you’ve set for yourself for the rest of 2021.
Fiokee: To venture into other businesses that would generate more income for me .
WWAM: There've been so many incredible releases this past year, what have you been listening to in your free time.
Fiokee: I listen to all genres. My style of music is not limited. It really helps in my creativity. My forthcoming album will tell you about that.
WWAM: Lastly, what opening message would you like to pass off to the listeners? Where can they find your music and is there anything else they can look forward to?
Fiokee: I have some amazing records out there with great and top Afrobeats artists. They’re all on my digital platform’s pages. Kindly stream and share. You’ll be so proud of me. Expect a very huge album dropping from me soon sometime in October
WWAM: Regarding the Fender Artist Playbook, what have you pulled from it that you've been able to successfully implement into your music releases?
Fiokee: The collaboration with Fender is a huge one for me from this part of the world, because I’m a very influential Afrobeats Guitarist. So it helps in connecting my brand to a wider audience.