Meet Ayooluwa Owolabi | Digital Artist & Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ayooluwa Owolabi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ayooluwa, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
To be honest, a creative career is what I chose because art is something I have been familiar with since I was born. I started sketching when I was still young, learning from my brother and at first, I just did stick figures and cartoons. I was exposed to a lot of cartoons, animations, animes and comics growing up, which is why I would draw characters from sources like Cartoon Network, Super Strikers, Naruto, and Marvel. I recall doing some life drawings when I was younger, not for practice but because I wanted to. Many of the back pages of my notes contain sketches since when I am in class and get distracted or feel a certain way, I draw. Besides that, I enjoy crafting. Whenever I am not drawing, I am likely to be making something from the items I have around me. I am quite curious, which has led me to create 3D art on Blender and even produce beats. I started creating digital art on Picart and making music posters and covers for others, then I progressed to 3D because of 3D architecture rendering. Music has been a major influence in my life, and during my childhood, I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson and afro music, especially Olamide. In high school, I was part of a music group/label called YMM (Young Money Makers), where we used to rap and sing a lot. I enjoyed writing lyrics and composing rhythms. Eventually, I desired to learn beat-making and music production. My brother took me to his buddy, Modest, a producer, and told him of my interest in music. This was the beginning of a wonderful journey in producing music. Modest taught me a lot, and I would be at the studio observing and learning from him. Later, I watched YouTube videos and devoted hours to making beats, aiming to be as good or even better than Modest.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artistic work is comprised of pieces of my inner self; it is usually based on my thoughts and emotions, and can be created sometimes without any specific design or plan in mind. I’m just in a state of creativity (the zone) and then I turn a blank canvas into a brilliant work of art. Sometimes I analyze my own creations to understand them. What sets me apart from others is my ability to tell stories in my art; often it carries a message and it reflects situations around me. You can’t simply glance at it for a few seconds; well if you do it’s alright but i would love if people took their time to appreciate the finer details in my art. My Inferno series and my Intro. To the Madhouse collection are some of the best examples of this. I’m really proud of the fact that I didn’t give up and kept pushing forward, even when I have gone through dark times that made me genuinely feel like giving up. I’m also very proud of the progress I have made as an artist and the art I have created so far – sometimes I can’t believe I made them, it’s exciting to think about what is to come.

It took a while to reach this level although I know I still have a long way to go and alot to accomplish. It long time for me to start posting my art, it is a vulnerable thing to do, it is like confessing your feelings to others. I’ve always made art for myself or for a select few to see. The first time I sold a track, I was sad, because I cared so much for it, it felt like my child found a new home. I began making beats for others, but it gradually lost its fun. I had to come to terms with combining passion and work, letting go and appreciating people who appreciate and value my work and create something beautiful out of it, eventually the fun came back which pushed me to have collaborations with other producers.

I realized that in order to make people aware of my artwork, I have to take action and put it out there. I am confident that my art is extraordinary, but it is a mental challenge to how people understand and accept it. So I have learnt the importance of having faith in my work, maintaining consistency, being humble, and creating positive relationships.
I wish to make an impression on the world with my grand visions and show them what my creative mind is capable of. My story may have its ups and downs, but I dream of becoming one of the greatest of all time, in fact this is the story of one.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Lagos is an enormous and gorgeous city, and with so many fabulous places to visit, it can be tricky to choose. One of my favourites is the “Bon Appetit” restaurant on Lagos Island, which has exquisite and remarkable food selections where they can sample the excellent cuisine. Then we go to Rufus and Bee, a game arcade, and play numerous games, like bowling, it’s a lot of fun. Before playing, we ascend to the rooftop and have a stunning view of the ocean. I also like to take them to “The Good Beach”, which is my preferred beach in Lagos. The tranquility there is peaceful, and the DJ is really great. Going to the seashore at night is comforting, emotionally satisfying, and helps to clear the mind. These are the places I will definitely hangout with my best friends, though there are plenty of other attractive places in the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and friends have been a huge support to me, continuously believing in me even when I don’t have faith in myself. My mom is my biggest fan, she is always up for participating in any craft I make, be it a personal or school project. Moyin always encourages me to share my work and Dotun reminds me to believe in myself and keep going. I love my guys, I spend a lot of time with them, so I’m always surrounded by positive vibes and energy. A special mention to my friend Baale, he came through for me in a critical moment of my life, and I even made an artwork that was inspired by him. Z4 helped me launch my web3 journey and I’m thankful for him. Aleruchi, who is a beautiful and special friend of mine, was my first collector, and she constantly provides me with support and encouragement.
A lot of my web3/artist family, such as Vanny, Bryan, Shay, Angel, DD, Imit0r and all the rest, inspire and motivate me, sparking me to do more.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayzi.i/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeofAyzi?t=_hkTWvrceVytgVA-gNM1rw&s=09

Other: https://opensea.io/Ayzi