I am an artist and a versatile entertainer. I go by the name of Wapseddy.Wapseddy

Born as Edward Oghenerobor, he is originally from Delta State but was born and raised in Lagos State, Nigeria. His journey into music is an unorthodox one, having never considered becoming a musician from a young age.

While being part of the church choir in 2008, his desire to pursue music was sparked. A year later, in 2009, Wapseddy found himself working as a backup singer. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that he was recognised as a solo artist, when he secured his first record deal – though it only lasted a year.

As a signed artist, Wapseddy released his first music video. The title of the song was "BABYMAMA". Looking back, Wapseddy admits he feels the song could have done much better. Despite the setback, he acknowledges that even that moment helped him grow into the artist he is today.

From 2014 to 2016, Wapseddy spent another two years signed to different record labels – Flyingbeat ENTERTAINMENT and ABEGMUSIC – where he continued to grow musically. Wapseddy began to gain traction, and shortly afterwards, he decided to start his own record label – NOTALONE ENTERTAINMENT.

Now under NOTALONE ENTERTAINMENT, Wapseddy has released his first full-length project, titled Lagos to Cape Town, which came out in 2020. Since then, Wapseddy has remained a consistent figure in the music scene – not just in Cape Town, but also representing Afrobeats music with pride.

For more on Wapseddy, read our full interview below:

The following interview has been lightly edited for context and clarity.

Daniel: What inspired you to get into music?

Wapseddy: My love for music started when I was in church. I used to be part of the choir, and ever since those days, I loved being around music. I’d say that’s where it all started for me and helped me get to where I am today.

Daniel: The lessons you learnt on the platform provided by the church choir – do you still use some of those experiences in your music creation today?

Wapseddy: I would say yes, simply because the church offered me a platform that allowed me to gain the basic knowledge of music.

Daniel: Looking back at your time in the church choir, were there any difficulties that you had to overcome at the time?

Wapseddy: Yes, there were definitely difficulties. At the time, I was still very young, but I’d say the most challenging part was moving from church to church, if I’m being completely honest. Another difficulty was performing during their praise nights. I remember vividly that even moving the equipment and helping others get to the venue was something we struggled with. But it was all part of the process back then.

Daniel: Do you recall any specific performance that stood out for you?

Wapseddy: All of the performances stood out because they were in church. Being a gospel artist and then transitioning into the Afrobeats space was something different for me.

Daniel: Speaking of that transition from gospel to more secular music – what was that like?

Wapseddy: It wasn’t that difficult, to be honest. Music is something I love doing – it’s my passion. If you do something you love, then you’ll enjoy it regardless of the situation or circumstances you’re in. Everything I know now, and my growth in music, stems from my time in the church choir. The reason I’m able to switch between the two is because I’m versatile.

Daniel: What continues to drive you to make music?

Wapseddy: It’s my passion, first and foremost, that gives me the drive to make music. If I wasn’t making music, what would I be doing? Music is a part of me, and I am a part of the music. I feel like I was born to make music. I have a degree, but I don’t think that was my calling. That’s why I do music professionally.

Daniel: You mentioned doing music professionally. Once you saw that you could make a living from it, was there a shift in your mindset – especially around recording schedules and making sure your music is distributed correctly?

Wapseddy: Yes, that’s why I have a team. In terms of getting my music out there, I ask my team to distribute it so that it’s accessible to everyone. I’m the creator of the music, and I make sure to refine it before sharing it with my team. If they’re happy with it, then we’ll collectively decide to release it. I have a lot of music out right now – but I’ve got more unreleased music than released.

Daniel: Let’s talk about your creative process. Are you someone who writes lyrics first, or do you prefer to freestyle?

Wapseddy: I’d say my creative process is flexible, since music is my passion. I have producers in London, Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria. Whenever I get sent beats, I go with whichever one suits me best. It all depends on my mood and how I’m feeling. My creative process is influenced by what’s happening around me – whether it’s the news, the type of music I’m listening to, or my immediate environment. Creating music isn’t always easy, but it’s a bit better when you have a good team.

Daniel: Is trusting people with your music something that came easily to you?

Wapseddy: Trusting people isn’t always easy. My mother always said that trust is earned. If our energies align, then we can definitely create magic. But if the energy is off, it’s very difficult to create music. I’m very mindful of my energy because that’s where trust comes in. The most important thing is having the same drive and passion for music.

For our full interview listen to the audio on Audiomack here