LAST WEEK, top music producer Michael Ovie Hunter best known as London, during an interview with The New Times, called on Rwandan music producers to explore the art of music without limiting their skills or setting rules for their sounds. The 22-year old producer, who is behind several hit songs like Bloody Samaritan, Electric, Koroba among many others, was in Kigali with an afro star Rema, who performed in the all-star game that took place on November 20. In an interview with The New Times, London said that making music is something that one doesn’t limit, which also provides a space for creativity. The British-Nigerian also advised all music producers to make unique sounds, and get out of their comfort zone. London is a producer and DJ behind some of the famous hit songs . He graced the All star game concert alongside Rema last weekend. “Music producers should try new things every day, and not limit their sounds. Music has no rules,” said London. In addition, London said that he fell in love with Rwanda, from the culture he saw at the king’s palace to the amazing weather of Kigali. “Rwanda is dope and the energy is crazy,” he said. Who is London? Many who attended the all-star game last weekend saw two young men namely; Rema and London who showed up on stage in masks, and turned up the heat at the Kigali Arena. The young British-Nigerian DJ and producer first introduced himself at the all-star game through his disk jockeying session that welcomed Rema on the stage, by playing songs like ‘Champion Sound’ and ‘Sad girls love money.’ Born raised in Kaduna State by a British father and Nigerian mother, London is one of the producers taking lead in the new afro wave sound which is taking the world by storm. Having produced some of the top hits like ‘Fashion Killer’ and ‘Bloody Samaritan’ by Ayra Star, and being signed under Sony, one wouldn’t underestimate the fact that London is one of the best kid on the block when it comes to music production. In 2019, afro-star Wizkid appreciated London’s music after he made his song dubbed Electric which is still played around the world and since then, the tag ‘London’ kept on appearing on hits up to date. Starting his music career, London told The New Times that he was a graphic designer but music kept calling him and in 2018, he started using Fruit loops, software that made songs, and started creating beats. “I started receiving a big audience and people were appreciating my work, because I introduced a wave that I had in my thoughts,” he said. Talking about how he went to Lagos from Kaduna, he shared that as a church boy, one would have expected him to end up as a gospel music producer, but because he wanted something more challenging, he decided to make afro tunes and posted them on Instagram where music consumers and professional producers took interest in him and began to accord him some attention and respect. According to him, he got his break when Mavin producer, Baby Fresh began looking into what he was doing and always gave him guidelines on how to better his art. Asked how he came about the name “London,” he remembers fondly how his light skin propelled the team at Mavin into calling him ‘London Boy’ because he used to say that his father was from London. The-22-year old said that money is among the things that attracted his attention for production, and the need to make a change in the music industry. He is currently signed under Sony music and works closely with Mavin record, a top music label in Africa led by Don Jazzy. He has proven to be a force with chart-topping records like Crayon’s So Fine, Tiwa Savage’s “Koroba” featured in the remake of ‘Coming to America,’ Rema’s ‘Ginger Me,’ Johnny Drille’s ‘Mystery Girl,’ Wizkid’s ‘Gyrate’ off the singer’s critically acclaimed album dubbed Made in Lagos among many others. The renowned producer didn’t only perform in all the all-star game but also played at an exclusive party on Sunday that was held at the villa of Century Park.
