What's In The Pipeline for Olatunji? Read More

There’s a saying in the biz that the more they love you, the shorter your name becomes. Decades removed from his first forays gracing Junior competition stages, Olatunji Yearwood has grown to become an internationally acclaimed creative force. More importantly, his moniker has been minimized to “Ola” or “Tunji” in most circles.

His Trinbago homeland has a culture that embraces throwing shade as much as it does celebrating achievements. With that said, it’s hard to hate on Ola. From his silky slides across the stage to tip-toeing atop metal stanchions, his polished performances and unquenchable positive energy is a joy to behold. Utilizing his skillset, Tunji cemented his veteran legacy with a Soca Monarch title in 2015. This proved without any doubt he possessed that x-factor long before his 2018 appearance on the similarly-named British talent show. Now, on the heels of a massive year following his hit tune Engine Room, the JCM podcast caught up with the extremely busy star for a quick interview.

Do you recall the moment you got your first taste of professional stardom?

Tunji: I would have to go all the way back to Junior Calypso Monarch if that counts. I’d go all the way back then. That was a special turning point for me.

You had arguably this biggest song for Carnival. Do you feel pressure to follow up Engine Room?

Tunji: The pressure is definitely on after having a big song like Engine Room. I’m not shying away from it. I look forward to following up.

What is your favourite non-Ola song of 2023?

Tunji: I really enjoyed this song by Kes… Mental Day. [Sings] “Doh tell me bout wuk in the morning unless yuh talking hard wuk.”

Where is your favourite place to perform outside of Trinidad?

Tunji: I love the vibes close to home. It’s a difficult choice, but other than Trinidad, I love most of the islands. Like Bahamas etc.

Many have claimed the music/entertainment industry is a brutal and shady place. Without feeling compelled to name names, please share your shadiest/worst industry experience.

Tunji: The music industry is really full of shadiness or real. There are so many moments. Oddly I can’t pinpoint one moment that stands out off the top of my head. However, I’ve had my share of experiences.

There has been some negativity and violence surrounding Trinibad music. Some have called for censorship. How do you feel about having artistic voice muted to an extent?

Tunji: I kinda like the Trinibad music even though they have a lot of violence and negativity surrounding it. I really like the approach of the artistes. They’re sharing their experiences albeit from a raw perspective. There’s honesty in talking about what they know. I definitely don’t think they should be censored.

What is the biggest plus and negative of being in a relationship or having a family while being an entertainer?

Tunji: The biggest plus is my daughters are really proud of me. When I perform in their schools they’re so proud. It’s one of the greatest feelings. As far as negatives, it would be the limited time I get to spend with family.

We’re coming out of a pandemic, with crime and financial strife a regular fixture. What words of encouragement do you have for those going through it?

Tunji: Coming off this difficult period with the pandemic and the crime situation back home, I would encourage people to follow a personal mantra of mine. I keep telling myself to pray more and get close to the almighty.

What do you have in the pipeline?

Tunji: I already started recording so we have a lot of stuff in the pipeline. There’s groovy stuff, power stuff, Summer stuff. There’s just a lot of work being done, so expect a lot of good material from Ola.

Written by Marvin Mason.