[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: GIFT OFA

Southeast London Afrobeats sensation GIFT OFA follows up his recent EP ‘EBUN-OLUWA’ with this VIPER Presents interview, as he looks to re-introduce himself to the global music zeitgeist. Get familiar…

What five words define your sound?

Groovy, chill, melodic, happy, vibey.

Tell me something unique about your creative process.

Music speaks to me in a deeply spiritual way. When I’m writing a song, I always envision myself performing it on stage in front of an audience. I only stop writing when I listen back and feel a specific, fulfilling smile that tells me the song is complete.

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?

This is a tough choice. Initially, I would have chosen ‘Africa’, but now I think ‘Ebun-Oluwa’ is the one I want people to hear first. It reflects so much of my truth and origin.

What inspired you to make that song?

I felt a deep need to speak my truth. Every journey starts from a specific point, and ‘Ebun-Oluwa’ represents that for me, especially when I reflect on where I am today. Many people don’t know much about my upbringing, so I wanted to tap into that part of my history and share it melodically.

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?

I embrace vulnerability because it keeps me grounded. The most vulnerable I’ve been was in 2020 when I was couch surfing for a year. I wrote about my pain in a song and ended up crying uncontrollably. That track is still unreleased.

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?

I’m grateful to God that I’ve never had a bad experience on stage, and I hope it stays that way. I’ve had many amazing moments, but the best was performing at Shallipopi’s sold-out concert to an audience of 2,000 people. It was an electric experience, especially performing to a crowd that didn’t know me.

What is your favourite song to perform?

It’s tough to choose, but I would say ‘Deny’. It’s a special song with a lot of soul.

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?

This is an easy one: Wizkid. He’s my ultimate idol, and I’ve admired him since 2010. I respect him in every sense, both musically and personally.

What’s the meaning behind your name?

My birth name is God’s Gift, and I always wondered why my mom gave me that name. Whenever I asked, she would say it’s because I am a gift from God. For years, I searched for my gift, something uniquely mine, and in 2020 during the lockdown, I found it – music. It was like something in my soul spoke to me, and I realised my gift was music from Africa to the world. That’s how I chose my stage name, Gift OFA, with “OFA” standing for “Of Africa.”

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?

I don’t think there’s anything else I would rather be doing than music. However, if music wasn’t in the picture, I’d likely find myself working in other creative fields behind the scenes.

What’s success to you?

Success is a broad concept with many interpretations. For me, it means having the grace and opportunity to keep doing what I love – sharing my musical gift with the world, taking care of my family, and making a positive impact on people’s lives.

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?

I often asked myself what brings me the most fulfilment. During the first three months of the COVID lockdown, I had the chance to coach some artists and one night, I stayed up making a track until morning. I set a goal to make five tracks during the lockdown but by the end of that period, I had written up to 30 songs. That was the moment I knew music was my true path.

Where can people keep in touch with you?

I’m most active on Instagram, followed by TikTok and Snapchat. I also use X occasionally.