#19 Lasko Blark: Self-Contained Old Skool Gemini with no time for Kompetition
As the child who always does the house chores growing up, music was one thing that kept me going... I am someone who loves building communities... I am trying to build that community
Hi, Thank you for joining us for today’s episode of StudentsWhoCreate Interview. Our Student Creative for today is a 500-level student in the Department of Building, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) who got into music at a young age because he wanted to keep himself entertained while doing his chores. How did he go from recording his first song with his mom's phone at the age of 9 years old to dropping bangers? How does he manage to get schoolwork done while pursuing his music career at the same time? What are the challenges he faces as a student artiste? What keeps him going? Read and enjoy!!!
Hi, Thank you for speaking with us. Can we meet you?
My name is Falana Fawaz Ademola with the stage name Lasko Blark. I am a 500-level student in the Department of Building, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
I am a recording and performing artiste. I also co-produce so I can say I am a producer. I am a PR strategist, I plan strategies for brands. Also, I am a developer currently focused on front-end development. I have always been tech and information-driven.
I grew up in Ibadan but also stayed between Lagos and Abuja.
How did you get into doing music?
I didn't know the answer to this question until recently when I asked myself; Why did I start music? The answer I found was that, as the child who always does the house chores growing up, music was one thing that kept me going. While washing the plates or sweeping the floor, I was always jamming to songs because they helped me through these chores. To date, I still listen to music a lot when doing stuff as it keeps me going. In those days, songs weren’t really as accessible as they are now, so at some point, I had to sing these songs to myself while doing the chores.
Listening to the likes of Chris Brown and Lil Wayne influenced me and I started to mimic their style of music to create my own version. I recorded my first song with my mom's phone when I was like 9 years old. So that was what really got me into singing and doing music. I started because I wanted to keep myself entertained while doing my chores. I began to enjoy the process and started learning more because I like to do the best in anything I choose to do.
I have been in the music scene for about 5-6 years, writing and making music for other people. I dropped my first song in 2018 and took a one-year break to learn but I will say that I started doing music officially and professionally about 3 years ago.
How have you been able to combine school work with doing music?
Honestly, it has been about me prioritizing. I took a time management course a while ago where I learnt to separate what is urgent from what is important. I have to do what is urgent first and not forget to do what is important afterwards.
For example, during my last exam, I was performing in clubs before exams and carrying school material to clubs but I did well and had good grades. Immediately after the session starts, I start reading ahead and practicing. If I have to pay someone to teach me, I will do that and make sure I'm ready before the exam period comes. I also make sure not to release my songs when I know school stress will be too much for me but for the last exam, one of my planned releases fell during this period because school went on a break when the exam was supposed to start which made the exam extend to my release date. It was crazy but I enjoyed it.
What are some of the challenges you face as a student artiste?
One is having to set priorities. When I have to choose and decide on what is urgent and what is important. There's usually a problem when what is urgent is the music. If I have a show to attend and a lecturer fixes the time for a test, I have to prepare and go for the test.
Another one is the fact that you're not taken seriously on both ends. People in the music industry don't take you seriously because you're a student and want you to drop out to face the music while people in school also chastise you and want you to just face your studies. Your family will also not take you seriously. It is even crazier when you're good at both things, that is, you make good music and are also good at academics.
Another big one is access to funds and time to build meaningful connections. For example, not being able to attend events where there's a possibility of meeting people that will link you up with investors and taking that risk may be you jonzing your academics. This can be the difference between you and someone who is willing to skip school and take the risk. Taking this risk may work out for someone and not work out for the other person.
How have you been able to navigate these challenges?
The best is to have people around you, I mean, people that are progressive, people that will make life easier. The saying by Davido that you rise by lifting others is good but you also rise by others lifting you. That has really helped me. While I have worked hard by myself, I can't come out to say I did this on my own because there are things I couldn’t have done alone. This is the reason every artistes have their personal manager and team. My friends have been a very vital part of helping me navigate these challenges. For example, if I am unable to attend an event and my friends are there, they are there pushing me and my music, while I am also building solid. Even on the academic end, having classmates who care about me and cover for me when needed has been of great help.
People care about and for you when you also care about them too.
Is there a community for music creatives in your school?
Yes, we just started one recently. Before, there was a community of creatives, not just music creatives alone during Yemolee and Fireboy’s era. You will find that when one blows another one does too and the person may not even be a musician, the person may be a stylist or photographer.
I am someone who loves building communities. I watch Naruto a lot and if you watch enough anime you will find out that the good guy never does it alone. He works with others who are also good at what they do and make madness together. So I incorporate this philosophy into whatever I do. As someone who is a chill person to be around, I try to link people together and bring them together. We work together and are currently recording an OAU-to-the-World collaborative album. This ASUU strike has really affected a lot of our plans but it also gave us more time to plan. Once school resumes, we will start executing our plans.
In my early days on campus, I witnessed the community of those who are now outside making raves so I am trying to build that community and bring people together right now. If not, people will do much more work to make it.
What is your creative process like? How do you go about a music project from start to finish?
I don't have one specific one but I have one that I use a lot. I either start with the beat or with writing the lyrics. I reach out to my producer to send me a beat or they play different beats during studio sessions. I make melodies on the beat and then proceed to write lyrics which is easier that way. Knowing what a song should sound like makes writing more easier. When the melody is right, one can easily change and fine-tune the lyrics. The melody serves as the framework. If I create a melody for a rap song and the beat I like most is RnB, it can easily flow on it. You can either increase or decrease the tempo and speed for it to fit into the new beat. You can also change the spacing, I learnt this from Zaman. It's what artistes like Fireboy and Nicki Minaj do. Nicki mentioned that this is what she does in one of her interviews. She said that once she has created what a song should sound like, she just has to change the lyrics when needed.
After this is done, I use the dictionary to check for some words. I have a slang dictionary that I use. I used to read slang dictionaries a lot before I started doing music. After the lyrics are done, I then record and do the other necessary things in the studio. This is followed by planning the release of the song.
For the release part, I learned a lot on YouTube about the whole planning, promo, and distribution process. Artistes can learn a lot about that on Smart Rapper Channel on YouTube
In summary,
Listen to the beat > Make melodies > Write the lyrics > Record > Studio Production > Planning, Release and Promotions
What are some of the tools you use in your creative process?
The most important one is my phone. I also use this particular website, rhymes.com, it's like a cheat code for writing rhymes. It's a pretty useful tool that helps with storytelling. It's very important to my music writing process.
For recording, I use basic recording equipment like a mic and sound card.
Food is another important tool in my creative process for energy.
How would you describe the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on you and your work as a creative?
The lockdown was very pivotal for me. I have learnt not to focus on the negative. A big shout out to Punk and Junk, they thought me to focus on the positive. Instead of worrying, I started using the internet to my benefit by creating content and writing songs. I started recording the songs I wrote with my phone and this whole process improved my songwriting, delivery and how I structure my music. I took online courses on how to make better music.
I was able to meet new people online who invested in my music. This helped me to be able to push my music and also learn. A lot of people think once you have the money, you will blow but then it's not just money that makes you blow. There's so much to learn.
I also got some of my biggest songs so far during that time. Kompetition was on about 50 playlists across different streaming platforms. Geng was on Apple Music’s Africa Rap Now playlist for 3 straight months and other major editorial playlists. The whole of Africa was listening to my music. My apple music dashboard showed me I had people all over the world listening to my music. I had people around the world using the sound on IG too. I also reconnected with one of my old friends, Anointing, who put me through so much and assisted me too. I also made money during the lockdown.
Have you ever felt like quitting?
Yes, I do a lot.
How do you usually get over it?
I just keep going. That is why I love Bella Shmurda, his lyrics are inspiring to me. I look at this from the perspective that no one ever enjoyed playing a game that is easy. That's what makes life fun. Also, that's why I do other things outside of music to keep me going. I just keep going.
Another thing is that there are people that will be disappointed and discouraged if I quit because I serve as an encouragement to them. So I just keep going.
The algorithms on social media platforms are built in such a way that the algorithm gives you more of what you show interest in so I show interest in things that will motivate me. I watch videos of Kanye West, Tyson furry, and Jordan Peterson that inspires me. I try to curate my timeline, this way, I am exposed to motivating content.
What are your proudest projects?
I'm like a father that is proud of all his children.
There are some projects that I still doubt and wonder why people like them. I recently discovered that my first song has about 100K streams and I'm like how?
I have only dropped about 5 projects so far but I have recorded about 60 songs.
How do you stay creative? What keeps you creating?
I change my environment a lot. I just keep changing a lot of things. I change the people I talk to and all.
What do you do for fun? How do you relax when you're not actively creating?
I talk to people. I play Chess, CODM and DreamLeague. I started to upload videos of me playing CODM recently on my Tiktok.
Who are the people that inspire you?
Bella Shmurda, Inglorious MOB, Dr Jordan B Peterson, Blaqbonez, A$AP ROCKY, Olamide, Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Debruyne, Elon musk and Vigil Abloh all inspire me.
Who are the creatives on the top of your list of creatives you would love to work or collaborate with on a project?
Walter Banks, TG Omori, Bella Shmurda, Leoni, Dr. Dre, Don Jazzy, Pharrell Williams and Gyakie.
Top brands would you love to work with?
Mercedes Benz, Empire, Louis Vitton, Flux, Push IT, Hennessy, BAPE and Disney.
What advice do you have for people looking to start or in the very early phase of their musical journey?
Try to quit early if you're not sure you will take it to the extreme. It's all or nothing. You can't give half energy because of the number of times you will question what you do or put out so you have to put all so it's better to quit early. A good example is Asake who has been in the music grind for over 10 years but just blew recently.
You will learn a lot on the journey, so just keep going.
Who would you like us to interview next?
Genesys and FÌRÍYOYÖ
How can people reach you?
Just Google Lasko Blark, haha. I have done a lot of work to curate my Google presence. @laskoblark on Twitter, Instagram and @playboilasko on Tiktok.
You can also find the link to all my songs here https://linktr.ee/Laskoblark
Thank you for sharing with us!!!
Takeaway Nugget: Quit early if you're not sure you will take it to the extreme. It's all or nothing. You will learn a lot on the journey, so just keep going. People care about and for you when you also care about them too.
Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share the story
See you next time!!!
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