Spotlight On... Oyakhire

In the summer of 2022 we happily stumbled upon Livingston rapper Mark Johnson, aka Oyakhire, supporting New York rapper Wiki at Sneaky's. There was an intoxicating vibe to Oyakhire’s old school, warm and vintage sounding beats, and laid-back but confident flow. Having previously featured on Bemz’s track What It Seems, on the night it transpired that he'd just released an album entitled Feet On the Ground. 

A couple of singles followed in 2023, and after a recent move to London, he’s gearing up to release his latest six-track project, For Who To Say. A gorgeous blend of jazz and hip-hop with sampled beats and a hazy vintage production, it makes Oyakhire a true standout. The project arrives in full on 3 May; ahead of For Who To Say's release, we catch up with Johnson to find out more.

Firstly, can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and who/what inspires you as an artist?
I'm an artist from Livingston, however I'm native to Nigeria. My inspirations are extensive. I've always had a strange obsession with musicians of old – Jimi Hendrix and [Bob] Marley etc – as I began exploring my own creativity I have found inspiration from hip-hop, particularly the lyrical ones like J. Cole and Kano. But I think when you delve deeper into my music it's actually a reflection of someone who wants to explore the meaning behind his own heritage; this is shored up by my pseudoynm. 

Since you’ve moved to London, how have things changed for you?
A lot! The most difficult thing is adjusting to the competition for the limelight/ being influential. For me, writing is my escape. It may not pay off but London is thronging with culture that it's akin to my native home. Contrasting this with Scotland is the difference between weather patterns. Not to be political, but the sense of community for musicians is definitely different. 

How do you feel like the scene compares to Scotland's scene?
Alluding to what I said earlier, I feel closer to the industry. But I'd like the light to be shone on where I gained my musical roots from – Edinburgh. My sound is closer to hip-hop/jazz and I struggled with picking up noticeable traction up north. The creatives here are all unique due to its melting pot of culture.

Can you tell us a bit about your new project; who did you work with on it and do you feel like the move has inspired it in any way?
For Who To Say is for me to say [that] I don't care about what anyone says, I accept my tastes, I embrace my own vision. I have faith in this... I had a lot to say but I didn't want it to be glib. The phrase 'for whom to say' rang true for what I had to evoke. There is one feature [Jesse James Solomon appears on Fortune Teller] and I did collaborate with a variety of other producers outside my usual Scottish contemporaries... mostly people I enjoy listening to regularly. I guess you'll have to source the credits to uncover them.

Can you tell us about some of the themes found across the record?
The title, For Who To Say, I wanted this to translate as seemingly casting failure aside. So I had wanted this to be about not being a failure as I had perceived. I couldn't let go of that theme when writing it. Being conscious that I am an outcast as a Scottish Nigerian, rapping with a weird accent is odd to most... I just wanted to push and prove that I amn't rubbish. So I had to overcome the doubt internally. Each title is an excerpt of that journey.

There’s a real vintage feel to the record – how did you go about creating that, and why was it an important element for you to capture?
It was just the next step towards my destination. When it comes to music, I am an old head, so vintage or not I always want to create something that adds to the tapestry of classical works and contemporary influences. My creative process is really something I can't explain or control. I find myself in a flow state sometimes and whenever I capture something that sits well with my objective I quickly get it down. This record took me three years even though I had my mind focused on another (Feet On the Ground).

With the record out this Friday, what’s next for Oyakhire?
Performances and honing my craft further here. Can I do better next time? This is the biggest motivator I ask myself and is my drive. External validation isn't enough. I still have this failure voice and I aim to conquer it forever soon.

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For Who To Say is released on 3 May

Follow Oyakhire on Instagram @oya_hire