Don Jazzy: Not everyone can tolerate my voice

Don Jazzy, who’s regarded as one of the best music producers in Nigeria, has expressed doubts in the quality of his vocal ability.

In a recent interview conducted by Notjustok TV in Texas, US, the producer whose real name is Michael Collins Ajereh, said his voice cannot be tolerated by everybody.

The Mavin Records boss also denied announcing his retirement from music, saying he’s not an artiste and as such, he’d rather spend his time creating beats for other artistes.

“I didn’t say I was retiring from music, I said I was taking a break, my artiste’ side would be put on pause and when I am tired of the break, I will come outside.

“I am not an artiste, everyone knows I am shy of camera and the time I should take to make beat, I would now use for video shoot and since I wouldn’t be going with the artiste to perform the song, so it doesn’t really make sense and I decided to take a break.

Acknowledging his shortcomings, Don Jazzy noted that he doesn’t have the best of voices and therefore would not delude himself into believing he’s a fantastic singer.

“For now, I am not thinking of producing a single, we shouldn’t say never, but for now, I do not see it happening. I don’t think that if I put out a music that is just me from the beginning to the end, people would listen to it. My voice is nice but you need to listen to small doses of it.  If you know me very well, I do not like to lie to myself, it is not everybody that can tolerate my voice.

“I don’t release music because I am shy and I don’t think my voice is that great, I don’t think I am supposed to be an artiste. I am comfortable with my beats.”

ONE AFRICA MUSIC FEST

Don Jazzy spoke glowingly about Paul Okoye, the music promoter who put together the One African Music concert which had on its bill the likes of Flavour, Wizkid, Diamond Platnumz, Davido, among others.

“It was beautiful, big shout out to Paulo, he is not the richest guy in Nigeria but then, the guy came out to do something phenomenal, put his money down without sponsors, to take the risk and host this huge show.

“Thank you so much oga Paulo for that opportunity for doing this for Africans and Afrobeats. We had some Caribbean guys too, it was an amazing atmosphere. I looked at the crowd and I was like ‘wow, we actually did this sha’. I don’t know the next step we are going to take but this is actually beautiful.

“Of course, it is something that can be followed up. Now some guys would have to start taking the risk. A Wizkid show can fill up a venue, Davido show can fill up a venue, just you or a Mavin show, you call your people out and you fill up the venue; so that you can be more creative with performances.”

TIWA SAVAGE AND ROC NATION

Speaking on Tiwa Savage’s deal with Roc Nation, he assured Nigerians that the singer was still a part of Mavin Records and that the international arrangement would introduce her music to a bigger, global audience.

“With this particular situation, Tiwa now has a new manager and for people who think she has left Mavin to Roc nation, that is not what it is. She is still signed to Mavin records as an artiste but her management is on Roc nation. It is beautiful; they have used their power to open doors that we cannot open at the moment ourselves.

“This particular deal is just a management deal for Tiwa, we are in touch with different companies including Roc Nation for distribution of Mavin in general. When it is concrete, I will come and tell you.

“The same deal that Roc nation gave to Tiwa is the same deal we have for Mavin with Temple. Temple management is a new management company and they have a lot of stuffs they want to do for Africa. For me to say that I am signing to a management company, then you should know something is up.”

WORK vs MARRIAGE

Don Jazzy said he’s reluctant to get married so as to avoid a situation where the demands of the home front will clash with work.

“About marriage, people say God’s time is the best. It is not that I don’t know I am getting old, but you people should not let me rush into it.

“I hardly have time and if I go into one now, it is either I don’t concentrate on my work or on the state of my family which I don’t want to do; hopefully next year.”