26
In Nigeria’s ever-evolving gospel music scene, husband-and-wife music duos remain relatively uncommon. But for Bolarinwa Aseese, music is not just a career or a calling; it is a shared passion that has become even stronger through marriage.
The couple has carved out a distinctive identity with their energetic performances, inspirational songs and creative blend of gospel music with indigenous Nigerian sounds, particularly Yoruba musical influences. Their versatility also allows them to perform across different social and celebratory occasions, bringing a unique combination of spirituality, culture and entertainment to their audience.
Behind the music is an interesting story of two choristers whose passion for singing eventually brought them together professionally and personally. For them, marriage has not limited their creativity; instead, it has provided a platform for collaboration, encouragement and shared vision.
The husband also brings a wealth of experience from the media and creative industry, having worked in cinematography and with Ovation Magazine, experiences that exposed him to international travel, prominent personalities and the world of visual storytelling.
With songs such as Aseese, Iré Gbogbo, Modupe and Ese, Bolarinwa Aseese continues to spread messages of thanksgiving, faith, hope and celebration. Their growing Praise O’Clock Medley Series is another expression of their desire to use music to bring joy to their audience.
In this exclusive interview, the couple opens up about their journey, marriage and music, their creative partnership, the challenges of financing a music career, their indigenous sound, their experience in the media industry, and their plans for a major December praise concert and wider international reach.
You are a husband-and-wife gospel music duo, a concept that is not entirely common in the Nigerian gospel music scene. How did the journey begin for both of you, and what inspired you to decide to pursue music together?
We have both been choristers in our respective churches for many years, and we have always been passionate about music. Even before we got married, we occasionally sang together in our individual churches.
Marriage has further strengthened our creativity and commitment to music. Rather than standing alone, we draw strength, inspiration and encouragement from each other. As the Bible says, “One will chase a thousand and two will put ten thousand to flight.”
We share the same goals, vision and dreams, and that has been a major inspiration for us to pursue music together. We believe there is greater strength in working together.
People may naturally compare a husband-and-wife music duo with iconic couples such as Tunde and Wunmi Obe. How do you see your own musical identity, and what makes Bolarinwa Aseese different?
We give credit to the iconic couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe. They are a great inspiration and motivation to us.
However, Bolarinwa Aseese has its own unique identity. Our versatility is one of the things that distinguishes us. We could describe what we do as “assorted music styles.”
Although we are gospel artistes, our music is not restricted to one particular genre. We perform at different events, including birthdays, weddings, burial ceremonies and other celebrations. We explore different Nigerian and contemporary musical styles while maintaining the quality and energy that define our sound.
Before venturing fully into gospel music, the husband had a background in cinematography, including working with Ovation Magazine, founded by Dele Momodu. How did that experience in visual storytelling influence your approach to music, music videos and your overall creative expression?
Working with Ovation actually opened my mind and allowed me to see the world from a different perspective. I was privileged to travel internationally and interact with some of the leading personalities and elites in society, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr Tony Elumelu and Sir Osawaru Igbinedion, among others.
Those experiences exposed me to different cultures, lifestyles, creative ideas and ways of presenting stories. They have had a very positive influence on my creative process and continue to shape the way I approach music, visuals and storytelling.
Two married people working together professionally can sometimes be challenging. How do you separate your roles as husband and wife from your roles as creative partners, especially when you disagree over music or business decisions?
Of course, there can be moments of disagreement, but we have learnt to separate our personal relationship from our professional responsibilities.
When we are creating music, we put aside the husband-and-wife factor and focus on one thing: creating quality music that will bless and inspire lives. That is the ultimate goal.
We listen to each other, respect each other’s opinions and try to choose what is best for the music and the ministry rather than allowing personal feelings to take over.
Your music carries strong Yoruba cultural influences, and you have explored sounds such as Apala. Why is it important to you to combine indigenous Nigerian sounds and language with gospel music?
For us, it is largely about identity.
It is very important to identify with one’s roots. Our indigenous languages, rhythms and musical traditions are part of who we are, and incorporating them into gospel music helps us communicate more naturally with our people while also creating a connection with a wider audience.
We believe gospel music can be deeply spiritual while still reflecting our culture and heritage. By combining indigenous Nigerian sounds with gospel messages, we are able to preserve our identity while taking the message beyond our immediate environment.
Songs such as “Aseese,” “Iré Gbogbo,” “Modupe” and “Ese” carry messages of thanksgiving, hope and faith. What personal experiences or testimonies have shaped the messages behind your music?
Life and challenges are a combination that always show up together. We have experienced different seasons, and when we remember where God has brought us from and the victories we have experienced, it inspires us to give thanks.
Our past victories remind us that God has always been faithful, even during difficult moments. Thanksgiving is therefore not something we do only when everything is perfect. It is a lifestyle.
For us, gratitude is like a debt that can never really be fully repaid because God’s goodness is endless.
Many gospel artistes today are under pressure to chase numbers, trends and social-media virality. How do you balance commercial success with the spiritual responsibility that comes with making gospel music?
One thing we have disciplined ourselves to do is not to be desperate.
We focus on originality, sustainability and remaining true to what we believe we have been called to do. We do not allow the pressure for numbers or virality to dictate everything we do.
Of course, numbers and virality are important in today’s entertainment industry, and we would love to reach as many people as possible. But we believe they should come with the right mindset and attitude.
Our responsibility is prayer, hard work and consistency. We believe that when we do our part faithfully, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, God, is faithful and able to bless our efforts with great success.
Having experienced the media industry from the other side, particularly through cinematography and magazine production, what have you learnt about the Nigerian entertainment industry that you now apply to your own career as music artistes?
There is a Yoruba saying: “Igi kan ò lè dágbò ṣe”, one tree cannot make a forest.
My previous experience in the media industry taught me the importance of collaboration and collective effort. Success in entertainment is rarely achieved by one person alone.
For example, I may have a particular idea about how I want a music video to look, but if the colleague directing the video has another creative perspective, I have learnt to listen and consider that idea.
Collaboration often brings out something even better than what one person may have initially imagined.
What would you say has been the biggest challenge of building a career as a husband-and-wife gospel act, and what has been your greatest reward so far?
Finance. Finance. Finance.
As upcoming music artistes, the standard in the industry is very high, particularly when it comes to quality production, music videos, publicity and promotion. All of these require substantial financial investment.
But despite the challenges, we have also experienced some beautiful rewards.
One of our greatest rewards has been meeting people who believe in us and support what we are doing. People like you, who support us financially and with words of encouragement, mean a lot to us.
Such support gives us motivation and reminds us that people are watching, listening and believing in what we are building.
Looking ahead, what should fans expect from Bolarinwa Aseese?
Our fans should expect us to continue delivering the energetic and celebratory music they have come to love, while constantly expanding our creativity and reaching a wider global audience.
Our “Praise O’Clock” Medley Series will also continue, with more danceable and celebratory tunes, particularly to celebrate our fans on their birthdays.
We want our music to bring joy, thanksgiving and celebration to people wherever they are.
Are you working towards a major album, live concert, international ministry, collaborations or a broader gospel-advocacy project?
We are trusting God for the finances and also looking forward to getting sponsors and partners who believe in our vision.
We are planning a mega Praise Concert in December, and by God’s grace, we also plan to release more inspirational and soul-lifting songs.
We want to continue growing the ministry, reaching more people and taking our music beyond Nigeria.
We therefore encourage our fans in Nigeria and across the world to stay connected with us on all our social media platforms under Bolarinwa Aseese, so they do not miss any of our upcoming projects and announcements.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
