Why I have refused to sing—Music producer Tee-Y Mix

Famed music producer and judge at MTN project fame West Africa Tee-Y Mix is a man who looks like a boring fellow on the surface. But, a little scratch will send you straight into an exciting, compassionate and intriguing world uniquely created by the hit maker. In this interview with MERCY MICHEL Tee-Y talks about his new found love for blind students, love for Yoruba movies and the moments that helped him appreciate the physically challenge. 

HAPPY New Year, Happy Valentine everything put together. How has the year been for your studio and for your person?

Yeah, the year as just started but we are hopeful. There are little signs here and there that it’s going to be a very good year.

We will like to share in the signs you are seeing here and there?

One of the signs is the fact that we are alive. Once there is live there is hope and the fact that you are here to share this moment with me. Basically, as we all know, its Valentine season and in the spirit of Valentine, sharing love and reaching out to people I decided to invite some kids that I’ve been working with for a while now. I decided to invite them to the studio for us to have fun together, sing songs, be happy, eat, and have fun.

They are kids from the Pacelli School of the Blind in Surulere. I’ve been working with them for a while trying to revamp their music department. We got them a music teacher who has been teaching them and a guitar trainer who has been taken them on guitar lessons. And one of the things we also did was to help them…the school has been existing for 50 years and they don’t have a school anthem so what we did was to help them put together a school anthem which you are going to be hearing later today. We are going actually going to be recording it here today. Those are some of the things we are doing now in this season of Valentine, in this season of reaching out.

The way you sound, it seem like it’s a one man effort and we know that in this industry, one of the finest music producers we have is visually impaired . Have you tried reaching him to be part of this project?

Of course, I think he was also a student of that school at some point so am told and I’ve spoken to him about it. In his own way he always reaches out to them. He has other project his handling as well. So he said. It’s just a personal thing to me.

Was he a motivating factor in anyway?

No! Actually I heard about their story. Pacelli School of the blind used to be known for their effective involvement in music. In fact that was what they were known for. They were very active when it came to music, singing, playing of musical instrument. But after awhile it died down.

So when I heard the story, I said to myself if this is what the kids can do. If it’s what gives them excitement, what gives them joy; I can come in as well. We share the same passion. Music gives joy. Music gives me fulfillment. So if these kids also find fulfillment in playing music, playing one instrument or the other then we can always put efforts together. That was what actually caught my attention to be honest. It didn’t have to do with Cobhams or anybody else. I felt that they are kids they should be given the same opportunity as every other child.

Have you spotted any bright star amongst them yet?

To be honest those guys are one of the most brilliant set of kids have seen in my life because they been able to make up for the visual say in quote defect that they have. They are very smart. They are happy people. And they’ve been able to adapt to this world that we all live in and trust me, they can do almost everything that someone who is not visually impaired can do. For all of them that I’ve met they are brilliant people. They know what is happening in the system. They know all the songs that are raining. They know who sang what. They know everything. And sometimes I just wonder.

Every now and then when I go to spend time with them I just wonder how…in fact there was one particular day when we were there and one of them was dancing Kukere for me. I actually recorded it on my phone. I probably will give you to see later. One other one was dancing and I was like I do you know about this. They know everything. They know the songs that I’ve produced. They know the artistes that I’ve worked with. It’s just amazing. They are lovely kids.

Any plans in adopting one or two if not now probably in future?

I don’t have the capacity right now to go into adoption. I’m not really sure. But it will be my joy to see something good come out of this. It’s a man effort but at the end of the day, it’s just our own little way of giving back to society. It’s doesn’t really cost much to do these things for those who might be interested. It just the dedication and time that is most important as far as am concern.

You’ve shared their world; Could you share one of the intriguing experiences with us?

The one was the first time I actually got to meet them one-on-on. I was amazed at how they’ve been able to adapt to their environment. I remember the Headmistress called one of them; I think it’s the Head Boy or something. We were on the field so she calls him and says go to my office and get me the key to the music room. I was shocked at how the guy ran, a blind guy, he ran and was dodging all the poles; he was dodging all of them and ran straight to the Headmistress office and ran back. I was shocked. I was just looking at him. I now called him and was like how did you know you way. I can’t even remember his response. I think he was laughing. You know, they play football.

They play hide and seek. They run around in their classroom. As in they do everything like normal kids. I think that was really, really…in my mind I just thought about it that there is really no excuse for failure in life. And for some of them they were not born blind. Some of them it happened along the line. I think there was one that one medication was wrongly administered. I think one other fall and something happened to the eye. So some of them were not actually born blind but in the midst of all of these they are set of happy children and it’s amazing.

It’s common trend now for producers to double as artiste but not you. Why?

Well, they are just for personal reasons one of which is I find fulfillment in what I do. And then again, you know your strength and you know your weaknesses. I don’t think I have the capacity to be a performing artiste. I could probably be a recording artiste where I just come to the studio and sing because I sing as well and because I’m a producer I know some of this tricks that could make you sound good. So I know what to do to sound good if I have to but I don’t think I’m a performing artiste. Most of all, I think I like it where I am.

Are you sure you are not just scared of trying something new?

I’m not scared. In terms of trying something new even as a producer am trying different things. One of the things I started out recently and I just got certified on his sound design for movies. I actually trained for that so now I can design sound for movies from the dialogue to sound effect to ambiance whatever it is. I can design sound for a movie from top to bottom. So if it’s a question of me being scared I wouldn’t even try that.

What kind of production equipment or software do you use in treating your sound?

The same software that we use for music productions have the capacity to actually do like proper sound designs for movies. But the point is that most people don’t know how to do it. I just found it interesting because I got tired and sick of having distorted sound in our movies I just thought about it and I became interested in learning how to do this thing properly especially now that you have a lot of brilliant movie producers who are going beyond DVD marketing to actually do films for cinemas. And if you’re doing films for cinema, everything has to fall into place from picture quality to sound quality. So basically that’s one of the reasons why I decided to go and learn sound design for movies.

You sound like a lover of Nollywood movies. When was the last time you saw a Nollywood movie?

To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of Nollywood movies but I’m huge fan of Yoruba films. One of the reasons is most of the Yoruba I speak right now I learnt from Yoruba films. Then for me, I think the stories make a lot of sense. I think the acting is real. It’s genuine. If you see an Iya Rainbow trying to express anger, it’s not every time she screams sometimes the looks she gives you alone; you will know that this woman is angry, that kind of thing. I think I’m just able to connect more with them.

I want to know, do you play any instrument?

Yes I do. I play the piano very well. Play the drums very well. I started out with the drums actually.

At the last Headies you won award for producing one of those tracks, I can’t remember right now. Over the years you’ve not won any award so how did that make you feel. And why now if I may ask?

Well I felt good to be nominated and to win because I’ve had several nominations but I’ve not won anyone. So I felt good that came through. I was happy. And to answer your answer I just think it takes someone who is relevant to be nominated so winning is another level which I’m grateful to people who have voted, people who believe in me, people who believe in what I do. It’s a continuous process so we are working towards the next level, towards a higher calling.

Are you in a relationship?

Yes I am.

When are you tying the knot?

I don’t know but if I’m ready for that I should tell the girl first now not you (laughs). When I tell the girl and she has accepted then you will know (laughs).

What’s your idea woman like?

Someone we can understand each other. When I say A, you know it means A, you are not thinking it is B or C. Someone we can grow together. Someone who is smart and intelligent and like they always say God fearing.

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