I AM ALWAYS HIGH ON STAGE

Pop singer Jaywon is fast becoming a legend in the entertainment industry. And now after two years in KENNIS music, he has grown to become one of Nigeria's finest. CelebrityWorld caught up with him over the weekend and he was quick to open up on his life, where he came from and where he intend to be in few years. He spoke to CelebrityWorld Biodun Ogundairo recently. Exerpts...

Jaywon is one big act that when he stormed the industry, alot of people kept wondering wether he is just another wannbe. Please let us into your background?
They wonder thing, I don't know why they wonder becasue people actually call me Jaywonder now. But aside that, all the same, Oluwajuwonlo is my name. And my surename is Iledare. I am from the yoruba speaking part of Kogi State, Oko to be presize in Dagbe West Local Government. I am from the family of Four even though my father married Two wives. We have Two other girls but we are Four boys with my mum. I grew up early in Kogi, Kwara and Niger where I schooled. Fedral Polytechinc Bide, Niger State and from there I went to Abuja where I am supose to take my Industrial Tranning. But when it didn;t work I devled into music. I found my self in Lagos about Five or Six years ago in 2004 - 2005. And so far so good, we have been doing stuffs and God has been there to crown the effort.
what did you study in Bida polytechnic?
I did accounting and it was National Diploma. I couldn't finish up. But I am hoping of going back to school soon to finish up
And where are your parents now?
My dad is late. I lost him when I was still in secondary school. my mum is a strong woman. She has been supportive and been there.
And how did you find yourself in Lagos. At what point did you deceided that Lagos should be your next point of call?
I went actuall to Abuja and when it didn't work I have to retrace my steps. I am supose to work with The Nigerian Football Authority and NFL but they at some point says they are not taking on Industrial Traning anymore. Then the National ministry of sport took me on but alone the line, they said they are not going to pay and later they said they are going to pay Five Thousand Naira but that could not cover our transport fee for the month. So all that actually frustrated me and I said to myself that it's not worth it and I tough I should move on. Before then I was doing music, and from there I started looking for small jobs to surstain myself. At a point I got this job which is very odd that I am not going to talk about her. I go there three times a week and they pay me good money. I spent all the money I made on studoi section. The thing is when you work and you have alot of people arround you to encourage you, if you are the wise one you should do more. And that is the story. The little I did those day's, people appreciated it. When I palyed it people encouraged me and that prompted me to just do more.
When did you started music professionally?
I have been singing all my life. But professionally when I started getting payed or when I started showing on Television. If I say professionally to me now, I will say I started in 2006.
And were was that?
That is in Lagos because back in Abuja you beg to play and they don't pay you. It also happened in Lagos. But when I started proper recording was in 2002 - 2003.
Your first video "File be" was that how it went. Talking about you just been picked up by Kenny Ogunbe when your playing foot ball on the street?
The video eas trying to explain some things like you don't have to be a musician, you don't have to be a footballer or an accountant. just be yourself and concentrate on what you can do well. I wasn't talking to myself alone in the video, I was talking to evey one on the street be you what and who ever. You can not just bump into any profession. Today you find an engenieer actually broadcasting and when you ask, he or she will tell you no body though him or her how to be a broadcaster, but it's in him or her and it just came out during the times of self reflexion. It is not what you want to do, but what you can do.
At what point did you come accrose Kenny Ogunbe in your career. Was it your first point of call in Lagos?
No. It was in 2009 that we met. I met him on one of those occations we go out to look for events to perform. And I was there with a friend from Edo State. I went on stage to do my thing and that was it. He loved my performance but I was signed on to Kennis music on credit, based on my ability. It's not as if some one introduced me to him, he loved my performance and he called me. And the rest was history. Today alot of acts will call me today and say I should help them pass there CD to him. I tell them that was not how I met him. And I don't think he has signed anybody through that means. Four you to got signed on to Kennis music, you need to do stuffs and I tell people, there are so many Kenny Ogunbe out there, it doesn't have to be our own Kenny that can also do stuffs for you too. You just have to belive in yourself and do what you are doing.
But have you ever though in a life time that it will come the way it came. That you will be performing one day and a big wing in the industry will just discover you, walk up to you and sign you on?
For somebody like Jaywon, I never though I will one day get signed on to Kennis music. I never dream of it.
Why that?
Its because, I love Kennis music so much that I am crazy about the label. But at the back of my mind I know it is very very hard to get them. It has never crose my mind despit the love I have for them.
But hwta plans did you have fore you own career before then?
Before I left Abuja, I said I am giving myself Five years. I will be in Lagos for Five years to hustke the hell out of myself to record my songs, get it out there and spend the money on my own. At a point I was on my Third year when everything changed, when people started featuring me on there songs. Before I know it, I was in three different video's with W4 and Konga.
And how did you get on these videos?
When I came, I was in FESTAC. And if you are good in FESTAC, the story will go round. And at a point people started noticing who Jaywon is. I started hanging out with Sound sultan. Respecto thim because he is actually one of those people that put me throug. The whole family, Naija Ninja crew from Baba D to the last person on the crew. From there I found myself in the same studio wher 2face work and he is one person that once he has the chance to talk to you, he encourages you. At that time, I started seeing the light. He featured me on different songs and videos. There is one that we did that is ver ver big in the South South "Lanoko remix". People love and go crazy for those songs. Even thoug I still go to shows and perform my own side of the song and people still dance and go crazy about the song. And on my Fourth year I met Kennis music.
All the collaborations which you have actually done are major hit and accroding to insinuations arround town, you wrote most of the songs talking about "facebook love", "Jawo jawo" among other songs. Ae you able to do all these things?
Because sombody like me, I take every thing that I do as my own. I don't do your song because it is your song. If you want to do a song with me now and you come up with a hook that is not intersting, I will not do it. I will give you options that will make you go crazy. That will make you say, yes that is what I want to do. Because I don't want people to say why do I put my voice on a bad song. So I always want to make every song I am on better because that is whi I am on it to make it better. And it helps me more when I am working with experienced and good ones. The story of "facebook love, Jawo jawo or National cake" songs is just me doing what I knw how to do best because I put passion into every little thing that I do.
Wht actually informed your style because it seem to be differnrt from those that you even met in the industry like 9ice and others?
I thank God that you even say that. When I came in, alot of people says I sound like 9ice and I tell it is because you have only heard one song from me. And I thank God that today they have heard alot of sonsg from me and they know I am different. If you ask me what kind of style I do, I dont really know. Let me not lie to you, the only thing I know I do is I do African music. If you say `RnB, it doen't belong to us here. If you say hi hop, it still don't belong to us here but if you say Afro pop, maybe then I will listen. But I see myself as an African musician. African pefroming artiste because when you say RnB, I dont see it because it's not what we call it.
What is the philosophy behind most of your songs?
I take music to be a waying of living, like the life I live. Because I an so much into the game and I in love with it and I don't think I can do anything apart from it. So if I joke arround, that means I don't know what I am doing. i use every other things arround be to sing. Like I work up this morning and a guy sent me abeat and one word that kept ringing in my head is you can not be bigger than thise that made you. And the lyrics went on and on and an just thinking on putting the song on the album I am working on. And that is were the inspiration comes from. Like sometimes when my head is so blocked that I just have to write, I take a long walk no in the day. But mid night to just free my mind and all that.
Talking about your contract, how many years did you signed?
It's not much but that is between me and them, am sorry about that.
How rich is Jaywon?
I won't say I am rich but I am confrotable. And Jaywon can take care of his family and self. I can eat what I want and get to anywhere I want to. I thank God, I am not complaining.
Two weeks ago, young acts came together to deliberate on how to move the industry farward and it was concluded that the young chaps in the industry are pulling out of PMAN, what sida are you to this?
I was there and anything that will not move this industry farward, nobody wants to be part of it. If PMAN is not going to move us to the next level, then we should forget about them. If what my brotheres like Sound sultan, Eldee, KSA and all that are putting together is going to help us to the next level, the we will follow.
But do you guys consider the legal implications?
We are the ariste. Can you tell me A PMAN with out the artiste, without 2face, Dbanj and the big wings like Kenny and D One, the Mohite crew, etc what is the industry, what is PMAN. I don't wnat to duel on this because I just do mu thing and I move on. And also alot of people hated me because they felt I am just coming up and they really don't want the success. But we just thak God that after Keke, my fans made me. The belive we just much even outside Nigeria. But I dropped a single like close to a month now called "Tinko Angel" and everybody is loving it. And I am going to release another single soon and fter hat it will be the reloaded album.
You featured on Dagrin film, "GHETTO DREAMZ", how would you discrib the film and the role you played, did you actually played the role during his life time?
I played the role of Dagrin's friend on the movie. But we are friend and jsut yesterday, a guy came whome I met Dagrin through but nobody knew the guy but he discoverd Dagrin. We were just friends and we are even supose to do "File be" remix before he died and that is why I did not do the remix till date. We just do what we can to make sure the name sticks arround because he did alot for the industry and himself. But the movie is going to be a huge succes with the director, Daniel Ademilokun, Pa Kasumu and other top act on the movie, it's going to be great.
Your album is about a year plus now, what projet are you working on as it is?
I am working on the reload album because when I came, they though I wasn't real. But at a point, the belive was actually much. And they were like, ho, he is actually good. People got use to the songs on the album late and I though I should just reload the album, put new songs on it and oush it into the market which will be released in less than two months.
What songs and which songs will be out and will be in?
Facebook love remix will be there, Jawo Jawo will also be they. Quite alot of songs. I am supose to do a song with 2face Idibia, he is a brillian chap. Were together in a club feww weeks ago and he told the DJ to give him any beat and he started singing with my name and all that. At some point a was carried away and he told me when I am ready to do the song, I should just contact him. Possible it's not going to be on this album, it will come in the next album. Just watch out.
I was watching the Glo rock and roll on stage and your performance was out of this world. How did you get that energy cause people might think you have started taking to drugs?
I am always high on that stage, not on alchole. Because when I get on that stage it's not the regular Jaywon. The stage and the crow gives me the energy.
How do you write your songs?
These days i dont write the songs. I just put the lines in my head and I deliver it in the studio. The last time I wrote a song on paper was two years ago.
What are your challenges?
I don't see challenges, they are just things that I must do to get me to where I am going. I just need to pass through it. Even when things are vey bad for me and I was on the street, I dont complain.
What kind of life do you want to live when more fame comes your way?
I just want to be me. Just me and my family.
How do you relate with your female fans?
I wish I can just date all of them but it is not possible. But they are part of me.
When are you getting married?
I am still amrried to my album not, am still 27 and I have a long way to go. Marriage is a life contract and one need to take his time.
Were do you see yourself in the next few years?
I see myself building empire and still working with Kenns music.