Interview: Feranmi Oguns aka Fez – Music Producer and Winner of Drake YolanDa – British Producer and Songwriter Prize 2019
Fez is the recipient of a £10,000 grant awarded by the Drake YolanDa fund, founded by YolanDa Brown and James JP Drake.
He created the track as part of an immersive live showcase where five producers, including the winner, were invited to write and record a new song around a given theme and within a short time limit, in front of a live audience and the judges.
We chatted with Fez about the prize and his music in a quick fire interview below…
Listen to the track
Tell us about your music. What should listeners expect?
I’d describe my music as ethereal with a groove. I’d classify it as pop music but with a bit more of an ambient feel.
What does winning the Drake YolanDa prize mean to you?
Winning the Drake Yolanda prize means a lot to me and I am so grateful. The competition itself was a very unique experience and to be crowned the winner is amazing. The prize allows me to invest in creating more music.
Who are your musical and artistic influences?
My musical influences are Bon Iver, Post Malone & Miles Davies. Varied I know lol but still my favourite artists.
What advice would you give to aspiring music producers?
The advice I’d give would be to collaborate as much as possible. I think collaborations often challenge an individual to dig deeper to bring out the best.
What are your favourite London Haunts?
Some of my favourite haunts are; National Portrait Gallery (sucker for art), Sticks’n’Sushi (Yum), Ronnie Scott’s (legendary).
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
