From getting a nomination alongside Angelique Kidjo for the 2022 Grammys Award for Best Global Album to being the mixing/mastering brain behind countless Nigerian hit songs like Adekunle Gold’s High (featuring Davido), DJ Tunz’s Pami (featuring Wizkid, Omah Lay and Adekunle Gold) and songs within albums of highly rated artistes’ projects such as Kizz Daniel’s Barnabas EP, BNXN’s Sorry I’m Late EP amongst others, Victor “VTEK” Kpoudosu’s unique style of contributing to the afrobeats sound is slowly becoming a standard to be met in making great music and guaranteed hit songs both in Nigeria and outside the shores of Africa.
This conversation with him is a privileged ride within his mind as we have him speaking on his life, career and his unobtrusive rise to peak in the Nigerian Entertainment Industry.
Good evening VTEK, how do you feel tonight?
I feel great! Glad to be here
Let’s kick off the business of the day by asking, How did you start producing and engineering music, and what gave you the motivation to stay with it?
Music is my life. Everything has a rhythm and timbre. I always knew I had business in music but the turnout beats all my expectations. Now, its not just a passion but a livelihood, too.
You got your big break in 2013 when you produced P-Square’s smash hit PERSONALLY. How did that song become a turning point in your career?
Ironically, the P-Square song that was a turning point for me was SHEKINI. I’m sentimental about that one because it had my vocals on it. Of course Personally was what solidified my working relationship with P-Square. In all, I’m grateful that my talent makes hits of the classic kind.
And since then you have gone on to be a producer to be reckoned with within industry. You have mixed/mastered countless Nigerian hits, including Kizz Daniel’s Barnabas E.P, Buju’s Sorry I’m Late EP, Adekunle Gold’s High with Davido, DJ Tunez’s Pami with Wizkid, Adekunle Gold & Omah Lay – and these are just the ones that I ca call off the top of my head cause I’m sure there are others. Do you feel like you’ve finally got the music industry figured out?
I so have it figured out. I am awesome. What i do is top notch and it’s been market-tested for over 14-15 years so. It doesn’t matter what they do or say. You can’t stop this rhino with your wooden fences [laughs]
This is beautiful – this confidence you have in yourself. Is there any project you’ve worked on that you are particularly proud of. One that is very special to you for any reason?
There are so many of them. The ones that I am proud of. Hmm, maybe my works with Yemi Alade and funny enough, the songs I made with PSquare back in the day. Then, I’m so in love with what Arewa and I are working on. I am POSITIVE we will take over easily.
You mentioning Yemi Alade has just reminded about Angelique Kidjo’s Dignity in which Yemi Alade features. The album has been nominated for Best Global Album in the 2022 Grammys Award, and that album contains a song with engineering credits to you.
How did you get to work on the song?
Well, I and Yemi have a great relationship. Whenever a jam comes through, she would always want me to take a look at it and such. On this day, the jam in question was an Angelique’s record and so, that was how I got into the mix. Shout out to Yemi Alade.
Niceee!! Which producers have influenced your approach towards music production & engineering and why did they have that influence?
I will say Timbaland. And Dr Dre followed. Also, Cobhams Asuquo. Oh, and Rodney Jerkins, Jo Kenny, OJB, Pharrell… this list is long. These producers were my biggest influence because they were the prominent sound in my ears at the time I was finding myself.
It’s always a long list… What’s the process you go through in finding the perfect tune? Do you study by learning online or do you just stick with experimenting?
I love to think of myself as a nerd. Even this morning, I was studying new tricks in mixing. My mind is a gallery of sounds and emotions from countless songs I have enjoyed and understudied so inspiration comes easy for me because of that. I have a very active imagination so it flows for me.
I’ve observed that you have also been making significant strides in the movie scene as well. You have production credits in over three Number 1 Movies on Naija Netflix including ‘The lady called Life’, Clarence Peter’s Hex, & Mamba’s Diamond. How did you evolve from music into movies?
Being the geek that I was, I wanted to do everything MUSIC. Scoring was just a thing I tried for fun and at a time, it was my highest source of income and it came easily.
So as a person who loves to learn, what are a few key lessons you’ve learned about producing that other aspiring musicians and producers could take advice from?
Music is YOUR ID card. You can not be the next person so be the best version of you ever. Ride the storms. There’s always a win at the end and let God lead.
Final question before we let you go. What are your plans musically for the coming months?
More music. More mixes. More mastering. More more more.
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