The interview series (Episode 8)
Set Yourself On The Part Of Self Discovery - Reinhard
Welcome to Chat With temidada, glad to have you.
Reinhard: Thank you for having me.
Please can we meet you?
Reinhard: My name is Reinhard Tega. I'm a leader in the entertainment industry. Reinhard Tega is a business man. I Love music, I enjoy, and also make music.
Can you tell us about your family background?
Reinhard: I grew up in a family of five. Dad is originally from Edo state.
I was born and brought up in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria till the age of 15.
Tell us about your education?
Reinhard: I attended Esteem College from age 9 to 11, and Ijeshatedo Senior Boys Secondary School from age 11 - 13.
Then I went on to study accounting at Lagos state polytechnic, then I found something more interesting (music) and paused the study at LSP. I thought I was going to go back and continue my education, but here we are.
So what do you do in the entertainment industry?
Reinhard: I make music for brands, other African musicians and myself.
I started consulting not too long ago, and we are building the film company now.
How did your journey into music start?
Reinhard: Growing up, my Parents loved (still loves) listening to music a lot. So I believe that was my first introduction into the world of music.
My dad had and still keeps CDs of Luther Vandross, Anita baker, Michael Jackson, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Kirk Franklin, Barry White, Jay Z, Kanye West, Destiny's Child, Aliyah, Jah rule, Akon!, Boys 2 men, Backstreet boys, LL cool j. So I grew up listening to Rnb, soul, hip-hop, afro-jazz (fela), Fuji (the neighbours and parties around the hood), Gospel music, Nigerian folk music (Victor Uwaifo, Ebenezer Obey).
I used to be a dancer, and at the time, our dance teacher (John Okoh) had a Windows computer which he used for his record production. We rehearsed downstairs in the compound but for some reasons he moved rehearsal upstairs.
A lot of times I would come for rehearsals early and hear him work on his music, I could tell he is the person singing because we dance to his music sometimes. One of the days, I came early for rehearsals and there was nobody around, I waited for a while, got bored and decided to explore on his computer, because I was the only person he gave access to his computer. So I got on the computer, I was familiar with the different softwares but I had never seen the Fruit like one (at the time), FL studio. I opened it and I fell in love with the interface then I began to mess around it. I remember I made my first beat after a couple of hours, although I couldn't change the BPM (tempo or speed), it was obviously wack.
It was a whole new experience for me, I was excited. Right in the middle of my excitement my dance teacher walked in, I couldn't get myself together, because he could let me use the computer but I wasn't sure I was allowed to use the software.
He laughed hearing the beat I made, although I understand why he laughed now. When I began to get comfortable around him in the studio, I asked him how he changes tempo, he showed me and from then on I kept improving the skill and making beats. All of this happened in 2008.
In my first year as an unofficial record producer, I created a couple of beats. One of my first hiphop beats was used by four artists. It was unbelievable, because I didn’t think I could create what other people would use and be excited about at the same time. One of the artist, Explosive (now Efewarriboy) asked me if he could call my name as the beat maker on the record, but I declined, because I wasn’t confident enough to be called a beat maker yet.
At that time I thought I was irresponsible because I had most of my attention in music and not school (though my Mom made sure I went to school) but I later dropped out, and I was in denial; telling myself I was going to go back to school.
I remember when I was invited by someone I probably met in the studio I worked with [J-beats studio] at the time, to a studio in Lawanson (between 2009 - 2011) to come and produce for him. I got to the house and then the host introduced me to his friends at the house, about four of them. Before we started, they said outrightly “I hope say you sabi make beat o, if you no sabi we go yab you straight. We no dey hide mouth for here o”. I wasn’t shocked, I chuckled and shook my head, talking to myself that “only if you guys knew what I can do”. So I made the beat on the spot for them because they have a studio in their room. They were super excited, they wanted me to stay a little longer and work with them some more. That was how I worked (still do sometimes) at the time with them.
Moving onto how I met MI. At the time, I had a friend Milli — Milli is a Nigerian artist (he used to go by the name Milli Mill). I met him at “Beats by Jayy’s Studio” in Surulere in 2012. Milli introduced me to M.I in January 2014. I remember going to M.I's house, because I wasn't sure Milli was telling the truth until we got to M.I's house the first day.
Though M.I gave me audience, he wasn't convinced that I was good enough for the position of a Producer (he told me this after a couple months).
M.I took me in, introduced me to everybody in the family right after I started to show signs of commitment. M.I is an amazing Man.
I met M.I Abaga January 2014, worked on his album with him (The Chairman Album), and a couple of other creatives till September 2014. I produced two songs - titled “Bad Belle and Brother” respectively - and co-produced nine (9) other songs, and then the Chairman Album was released in October 2014, the same month I signed to his Record Label — Loopy Music — as a record producer and a beat maker. It was my first experience working on a real Album. It was then I realised that the challenges and trainings I went through before then prepared me for that year.
In 2015, I worked on Chocolate city’s first album, producing five songs and co-producing three other song. From that album came forth the song “Do something” by Koker.
I also worked on Victoria Kimani’s album “Safari”, producing five songs and co -producing one song on the album. That same year I worked with “Cloud9 Nigeria” owned by 9mobile (formerly known as Etisalat), I also worked with “Coke Studio”, for M.I’s freestyle on the show. At the time also, Cloud9 had a competition to find the best up and coming rapper, and my beat was requested for the competition. So this has been my journey; it is long though (laughs).
Such a great feat you have achieved, super proud of you. What name do you use on your beats?
Reinhard: I use Reinhard as my name tag, I started using it from 2015, the year I worked on the first Chocolate City album.
What was your parent's reaction when you stopped school and decided to pursue music?
Reinhard: My parents said nothing; they were cool with it.
Are you still signed to any record label as a producer?
Reinhard: Yes, to a company I co-own, RTEntertainment.
Why did you choose to be a music producer?
Reinhard: I didn't choose music production consciously. I was a curious kid who gets fascinated with the idea of putting sounds together, and getting better at it. There were thoughts and events that supported this curiousity, but for the most part, it wasn't exactly a conscious decision.
What are the challenges you have faced since you started?
Reinhard:
1. The business structure for entertainers in Africa needs to be developed to better serve all (the artists, directors, producers, OAPs, exects, and everybody in it).
2. Not having a mentor and having to figure out a lot of things myself.
3. The educational system must change and be willing to continuously help people learn that which is in alignment with what they are drawn to.
What is the place of a mentor in being a creative?
Reinhard: I'm assuming you know who a mentor is, so I'll give you an example: Imagine Wizkid being a mentor to younger artists, sharing his tools, contacts, and experiences, knowing it'll improve the minds of the mentees, and the mentees won't have to waste time unnecessarily.
Think about all the music business moguls we have, and imagine they take up the responsibility strongly to develop the (young) musicians and (young) business leaders for the best of our industry and the world at large.
From my understanding; the more the individual success of the people in a country, the higher the GDP and the better the perception of the country. So a mentor is important to the growth of a creative.
What is your greatest win so far as a music producer?
Reinhard: Having the music in my head heard by millions of people.
What motivates your beats and music generally?
Reinhard: Other people's music and the infinite possibilities in using my imagination creatively.
What is the principle of life you work with?
Reinhard: There are so many principles I live by and here a few of them:
As a man/woman thinketh so is he/she.
I am first a value provider.
I am abundant and I am aware.
We all come from the same place. We are one people.
I'm here to contribute immensely to make the world a better place.
Where do you see yourself in the nearest future?
Reinhard: We'll see. Let's all watch it unfold.
Your advice to youth?
Reinhard: Seek knowledge and wisdom simultaneously; wisdom is practiced knowledge.
Also KNOW THYSELF. All the answers come when you set yourself on the path of self-discovery.
Any plan to complete your formal education (just on a lighter note)?
Reinhard: It's not my desire to study accounting at this point. I am already a leader in the music business. I will hire an accountant or work with an account firm when I need the service. I will consult, read and study what I need to know from accounting scholars, books and experts if need be.
In one sentence, kindly drop a point for our readers based on your development story.
Reinhard: I will say follow your heart. Obey your heart, do the things that get you hyped, the things you are passionate about, just SIMPLY follow them (or it). When you become sure of your passion/purpose/vision, don't ever second guess. Take your own advice, because you love yourself more than anyone else. In all, make the world a better place and leave the world better off.
Thank you for sharing your story with temidada, I am grateful, I hope people will learn from your story and keep pushing.
Reinhard: You're most welcome.
Thank you for the opportunity to inspire and transform lives with my story.
Tip: In life pursuits, self awareness is important. Follow your heart and engage in productive things, do not do things because people want you to. Self satisfaction is needed most times.
Interesting...
ReplyDelete