IFE OGUNJOBI INTERVIEW: Introducing the master trumpeter from Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning band, Ezra Collective. Trumpeter, composer and DJ – Ife’s love for music was born from a rich ecosystem of Afrobeats, Fuji, Hip Hop and Jazz – and now he blends those influences into something entirely his own.
Ife has been at the heart of some of the most defining moments in the UK’s contemporary music scene in recent years, and while his journey with Ezra Collective is indisputable, it’s only one part of the story. Ife has collaborated with some of the most esteemed names in global music, both in the studio and on stage – Wizkid, Burna Boy, Jorja Smith, and Dave to name a few – and performed at iconic venues and festivals around the world including Glastonbury, Madison Square Garden, Accor Arena and Montreux Jazz Festival. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Honest, dynamic, unpredictable, unapologetic, intentional.
Tell me something unique about your creative process?
I never write my songs on trumpet. It’s funny, my trumpet is usually the last thing I touch when it comes to writing a song. When I’m working on a song, I usually sing or whistle my ideas. I want my melodies to be natural and an extension of myself without having to think about the trumpet too much. When I eventually do play it on trumpet, it’s just an extension of whatever I already have going on in my head.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
‘East Street Market’ is the first track on the EP, and I put it there because it serves as an introduction to who I am and where I grew up. Sonically, it represents so much of who I am with the African influence but there is also so much of it that makes it feel like London too. The song gets straight to the point with no warning, and I want people to be instantly transported into my world.
What inspired you to make that song?
Growing up in those areas has played such a big part in who I am. I wouldn’t be who I am without the influences and experiences I’ve had there. There is so much beauty amongst the chaos and this is what I wanted the song to show. I needed something to represent who I am so I had to go back to a place that shaped me.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
The fourth track on this EP, ‘Don’t Leave’, was definitely the most vulnerable I’ve been when making music. It’s funny because this song almost didn’t make it to the EP and now I think it’s one of the most unique songs on the project. When we were first making this track, it was so different and exposing compared to anything I had made before I shut it down. I wasn’t in a headspace to make a song like that but eventually I revisited it – but it was definitely the hardest song to make on the record. I had to keep on digging to find another side of myself that fit this song, so this song challenged me as a person to actually look at myself in the mirror.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
One of the most memorable shows I had was at Couleur Cafe festival in Belgium. It was my first show in Belgium and I was on the bill alongside some of my favourite artists, like Little Simz and Kokoroko, so I was already excited. But the energy the crowd gave me was crazy and it was an unforgettable show. It definitely felt like a pivotal show for me because I was doing things I had never done before on stage, so it opened me up to so many more possibilities.
What is your favourite song to perform?
I love performing “Zimbabwe” and “Still Riding”. When the groove gets going on these songs it just makes me wanna dance. When I perform, I just want to enjoy myself and be transported to a place where I don’t think about anything. I just let the music flow. These songs do that for me.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
I don’t think there has been a singular song, artist or album that inspired my music making journey. But some of the artists and albums I always refer to when creating would be Kano’s “Hoodies All Summer”, Burna Boy’s “African Giant”, Wizkid’s “Morayo” and Fela Kuti’s “Water No Get Enemy”. These artists have made some timeless classics that will always inspire me regardless of what I’m making.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
My name if Ifeoluwa which means “the love of God”. I’m very blessed to have that name because it serves as a constant reminder that God is with me wherever I go. Through the good times he makes it better and through the bad he shows me the way through it. So I truly believe I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
I think I would be a Creative Director. With this EP I released my first-ever music videos. So the process of making visuals to accompany the music has been something I’ve really enjoyed, because I believe art enhances art. So putting together unique visuals with meaning tells such a powerful story. In another life Interior Designer also could’ve been a path for me. Recently I’ve become so interested in making rooms your own unique space. So either of the two career paths might have been options if I wasn’t making music.
What’s success to you?
Success to me is simply being happy, being my true self. In this day and age, we are so focused on other peoples perception of us that we let that dictate our actions. But by doing that you slowly become less of yourself and more of who others want you to be. But you can’t spend your life living someone else’s story, you have to live yours. Everyone has something special to offer, so you have to step into that. This is what my EP is about and why I called it “Tell Them I’m Here”. It’s about embracing who you are unapologetically. I hope everyone who listens to the music can do the same.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Touring with Burna Boy and Wizkid opened my eyes to so much. Being able to share the stage with these incredible artists taught me so much, and definitely has had a big impact on my sound and direction as an artist. I’m constantly inspired by them and try to incorporate different elements of what they do into my music and shows. I’ve played shows with them to audiences of over 20,000 people so sharing music with that amount of people is a very powerful thing.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
You can find me everywhere @ife_ogunjobi or just Ife Ogunjobi.
