Rising Music Star Ayoinmotion On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry

An Interview With Edward Sylvan

As part of our series about rising music stars, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing Ayoinmotion.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I am of Nigerian descent. I later migrated to Flint, Michigan, where I learned a lot about American culture and music. After that, I went on to settle in Harlem, New York. Throughout my childhood and into my adulthood, music has been a part of me and my environment. I have always worn my passion on my sleeve through my music.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path? Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I have always had a voice that I felt I needed to use. I speak on things that matter to me, so being a poet and eventually, a fully-fledged artist feels like it was always meant to happen. I have been blessed to see a few opportunities that I have passionately pursued, or that have pursued me passionately come to fruition. For example, I have collaborated directly with Apple, Davido, opened for Talib Kweli, and the list goes on. I can’t say one was more interesting than the other because all of these opportunities come together to make up the story.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson did you learn from that?

When I was trying to put a band together for the first time. I misconstrued the notion of putting a band together to back me up, as opposed to me putting together a music ensemble; meaning we are a band/group. I was doing a lot of work and putting things together like booking and marketing, then we finally realized we were not on the same page and had to part ways. That experience was a major setback.

I learned it’s important to be clear when working with people and to be upfront with people when booking. Being the person that had to manage the band, I also had to be the person who made the hard decisions.

It taught me to be confident in my talent. People will have you questioning whether your music is good or not. You really want people around you that care about your music and want to play it. Musicians are temperamental, emotional creatures; you can tell when someone doesn’t really vibe with your music. Now I send the music over before I let people agree to play with me.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I just released a new video for my latest single called Omi, which means water. It is so exciting because it speaks to people in a way that feels relatable, especially with everything going on with many of our lives. The video is quite stunning because it takes you into a universe that very much aligns with the theme of the song, which is to take things easy and let it all flow like water. I am very excited that we just hit 14k views in the first 3 weeks of release and about the overall impact the song is having.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Diversity is not just having faces to say they are there, but hiring people who represent the culture. We need diversity for equity, representation and authenticity. Unfortunately, this has been historically lacking in the entertainment industry and even though it’s changing, the power balance and decision-makers mostly remain the same, which is white. And some of the “diverse” hires focus more on being gatekeepers than truly having the boldness in pushing for the change that is needed. There’s a lot more work to be done.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”, and why? Please share a story or example for each.

Be patient

Be impatient

Work harder than everybody else that you are asking to work on your behalf!

Be kind to others but to yourself as well.

Planning is pointless if you can’t execute

Doing 2 things well is better than doing 5 things just to do it

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Work hard but take your rest seriously. Prioritize your rest and don’t feel bad for doing so. Being an artist means you will have a thousand things you are trying to achieve, usually with limited resources. Prioritize 2 or 3 things and let the rest flow. Plan and execute these things but give yourself the time to also just be, because your body, mind and soul need replenishment. Also, surround yourself with good and ambitious energy. Being around people who only see the obstacles and seldom the pathway will kill your vibe and belief. Just like being around people who aren’t driven will dull you. Everything is about vibe and energy; they are both interlocked and very freaking important!

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I think that is already evident in the work I am doing with @Goodvibesinthepark (check out the page on Instagram). It’s a gathering that centers mental health, creates safe spaces and affirms joy & relaxation especially for Black people during these times of social injustice & turbulence.

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I am thankful for my parents. It has been remarkable to see how they have come to support me being an artist. Immigrant parents often want you to follow a conventional career path like being a lawyer, doctor, engineer, etc. and my parents, especially my dad was no exception. But with time and seeing how much work and self I put into it, his love and support have become immeasurable. My Mom as well.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

If you don’t know where you’re going, every distraction can seem like an opportunity. My friend Joel once said that, and it has stuck with me! It’s relevant especially for someone like me who often has a lot going on, being approached by certain opportunities. It’s important to have a sense of direction. If not, your talents or “opportunities” can throw you off course.

Is there a person who you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them.

Pharell. I love his evolution but especially his intentionality in what he puts himself into and I don’t mean just the music. It would be refreshing to discuss creativity infused with societal impact, strategy, execution and especially alignment with him.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

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