INTERVIEW: MAYORKUN
Days after releasing his sophomore album, Back in Office, Mayorkun joins Tirade Music Columnist Gracey Mae, to touch on the creation process, signing with a major label and performing at Grammy’s and the MOBO Awards – all in the same year. Fondly known as the Mayor of Lagos, the Nigerian superstar recaps on being discovered by Davido on Twitter and propelling to stardom during his trip in London.
Interview by GRACEY MAE
Photographs by KANE ERWIN
MAYORKUN wears, Cropped Bomber, BERTHOLD, Hoodie, SCUM, Trousers, 82K DEGREES, Shoes, LOUIS VUITTON, Bracelet, FEATHER PENDANTS, Eyewear, LOUIS VUITTON
#TMOL
Mayor of Lagos, right here at Tirade World. How're you feeling?
I'm feeling good. I'm feeling great. How you doing?
I'm good. You're #BackInOffice. Back in London. What’s the last year been like for you?
Crazy but I've been dropping songs back to back to back to back but I couldn't leave the country based on Corona and all that shit.
What was it like making a project in a pandemic?
Crazy because first of all, the pandemic was the first of its kind for me. Apparently, something like that happened some time ago but for me, that's first time I've been in the house for four or five months. Luckily for me, I had my producer so it means that we were working all through the pandemic.
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Now, a couple of things changed in the Panoramic, Panasonic, Pain au Chocolat. You signed with a major label! How has life changed after joining Sony?
Well my decision to license my album to Sony was for my life to change for the better so I’m in the process. It took me a long time to complete the signing which was why I couldn’t drop music for six months.
It was worth the wait. Another recent development is, you’re rapping! I didn’t know this was something you were actively doing before your hit, Geng!
I’m doing anything bro as long as it’s music. I've been doing those type of songs for a while but I’ve just been scared to put them out.
Well, we are here for it! Last time we caught up, you told me a fan stealing your socks but this was at least two years back so have there been any more crazy experiences?
So the last time I was in America, like three months ago, apparently some girl saw from my snap[chat] that I was in Time Square. She left her school. Mind you, I just went to get McDonald's and I went back to my room so she was there for one hour and 30 minutes looking for me. I don't know how you would think you would see me there but she didn't see me. Apparently, the girl is my mum's friend's daughter. That was how I found out.
Wild! Around this time last year, you were performing with Davido for the UK’s very own MOBO Awards. Talk to us about it!
I had fun performing but you know, it was virtual so it wasn't like I was in the UK. We performed the best!
Denim Jacket, Jeans, EVISU, Knitted Sweater, BERTHOLD, Shoes, CLARKS ORIGINALS, Eyewear, LOUIS VUITTON
…And you’ve just done a virtual performance for the Grammy’s.
Oh, yeah. When I was making the project it wasn't like I had it in mind that this particular song is what we’re going to do for Grammy’s. I just made songs so when they hit me up, I was very excited. I remember telling my brother and he thought it was like the Grammy Grammys – I had to say “Calm down. Calm down!” Dammy Twitch shot it. He’s shot a couple of performances for me that I’m still going to put out.
So do awards matter to you?
I think it does at some point but you don't win every time. You can't be the new guy every time, you can only be the new guy once so you just have to keep doing your shit. If they give you [an] award, yes! But if they don’t…
We move! On the topic of Davido, talk to us about how he discovered you online.
I was leaving my bank job and I posted a video on Twitter singing Davido’s song – he saw it and he followed me. He DM’d me. We started talking on WhatsApp for like a bit and when he came back to Nigeria, I said I should go to this place, so I did with my brother. We recorded Eleko that same day and that was *POW*
Are you paying that forward now - do you reply to DMs when up and comers message you?
Oh, yes I do… sometimes [laughs]
That sounds like a “no” to me [laughs] That was the start of your mainstream career, let’s talk about right now. Back in Office is your brand new, 12-track album which features Gyakie, Joeboy, DJ Maphorisa, Flavour and Victony. What are you hoping that we walk away with this project?
I’m hoping that you guys see that I can do different types of music, because even after doing different types of music, most people still don't know that. So I just want to be known as a complete musician on this project. Like you said, I’m rapping. There’s a song where I’m speaking Igbo. There’s another where I’m speaking Swahili. Like I just made different types of music on this particular project.
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This was also the first time I think I’ve heard you with a choir…
Exactly. See most people will think I can’t do that because I did Eleko but it’s music bro!
You’re giving us range! What can we expect for the rest of the year and for 2022?
I should be having my first North American tour next year. I I should have like my second or third concert in Abuja this year. I'm planning my Lagos concert too. I’ll be releasing merch – I’ll be doing so much as far as music is concerned. I'll be pushing my album. You'll be hearing so many collaborations because I'm about to Tule!
Over Shirt, SUPERDRY, T-shirt, BARBOUR, Trousers, KARLKANI, Shoes, GOOD NEWS LONDON
Now, Tirade is an Australian and London-based magazine. Any plans to come to Australia?
Yo! I’ve been getting messages from Australia's from 2016, I know a girl from Australia. Some girl I used to talk to that time. She’s a big fan. I don’t why you’re laughing [laughs] I’m sure I’ll be there very soon.
You’re the Mayor of Lagos but I’m now crowning you the Mayor of London. It’s been two years ago since we saw you live at the Indigo2, when are you coming back for a live show?
To be honest, I was supposed to… you know, Corona spoilt a lot of things for me. I mean, not just me… but last year I had plans of doing major shows in different cities: I had something planned for PlayStation New York. I had something planned for this place. My manager is a perfectionist so we need to re-arrange it.
If we want to find out what you've had for breakfast, what your favourite selfie angle is or more updates on your little dog, where can we find you online?
You can find me on snapchat @Mayorkunn, Instagram and Twitter @iammayorkun. I’m on Tik Tok and Triller with the same name. When you see the blue tick, you know who this is.
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Interview by GRACEY MAE @_graceymae
Photographer - KANE ERWIN @novakane____
Stylist - KOJO HAMMOND @k.o.j.o