Oluwafemi Abolade Leye, known professionally as Femi Leye, is a Nigerian guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer. His music is a hybrid of African ethnic sounds, Contemporary Soul, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Funk and Yoruba Music.

Early life and education

Femi was born in Ogba,

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

to the family of Francis Babatunde Ogunleye and Grace Folake Ogunleye,he has two siblings Dare Ogunleye and Tosin Akpoguma (Nee Ogunleye) He graduated from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, with a degree in

Food Science Food science is the basic science and applied science of food; its scope starts at overlap with agricultural science and nutritional science and leads through the scientific aspects of food safety and food processing, informing the developm ...

and Technology.

Career

He grew up listening to his father's vinyls of artists like

King Sunny Ade King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

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, and

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. At age 14, Femi taught himself how to play the guitar, with heavy influences from musical legends like Jimmy Dludlu,

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, Norman Brown and

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. After graduating from college, he worked with different artistes in Nigeria in the studio and on stage. He had a residency with his band Femi Leye Trio at Eko Hotel & Suites. He went on to score musicals and spoke word performances by Titilope Sonuga and Wanawana. He also had production credits and played for artists such as

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, Reminisce, Chidinma Ekile, Burnaboy, Juls, and

Brymo Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ (born Olawale Ibrahim Ashimi; 9 May 1986), better known as Brymo, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, stage performer,actor and author. He started recording music in 1999 while in secondary school. He signed a record dea ...

2010–2011: Career beginnings

Femi produced his first song, "Irawo Owuro", which means "Morning Star". It is a contemporary jazz song with heavy African sound influences.

2014–2015: Ekaabo & Ibukun

In 2014, he released his first official single titled, "Smile", which received massive airplay from popular radio stations. He will later release his debut studio album in August 2015, titled ''Ekaabo'', which means "Welcome" in

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

. The album is a 10-song project of African infused Contemporary Jazz and

Funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

. In 2015, he teamed up with Chopstix and released a joint project titled "Ibukun"

2017—2018

In September 2017, Femi released the album ''Ekaabo Live'' which was recorded from The Ekaabo Concert at the Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos on June 3, 2017. In June 2017, with his friend Adekunle Gold he started the band The 79th Element. The band has toured across Africa, Europe and the U.S. He performed at the 2018

AMVCA ''Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards'' (AMVCA) is an annual accolade presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film. The inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony was held in Lagos, Lagos State ...

Awards and presented a speech at TEDxLagos. The Highlife Ep was released in October 2018 a collection of original highlife tunes written, produced and performed by Femi Leye

The project went on to be used as soundtrack to Ndanitv's Skinny girl in transit.

2019—present

In July 2019, he released his second studio album Femi Leye The Album to critical acclai

he went on to perform to a 2500 audience at sky theatre Minnesota, USA opening for Congolese Artiste Fally Ipupa. He had his first headline concert at Norwood Club, New York selling out tickets a day before the show. In September 2019,he collaborated with Reekadobanks on his hit record "RORA" and also did so on the acoustic version of the song

Femi Leye performed at the 2020 AMVCA Nominees and sponsors part

In January 2021,he released Pendulum The Ep to Critical acclaim,the project is a fusion of Lofi, Jazz, Afrobeat and Hiphop with Femi Leye producing the entire project.He partnered with StageIt, a virtual live concert company in Los Angeles California with StreamAfrica for a virtual concert of live music and Live art alongside his wife Iniabasi Leye. They both appeared on Timesquare Billboard in New York City,USA. Pendulum Vol 2 will be released June 25th,2021.

Personal life

Femi is married to Iniabasi Itama, Iniabasi Leye, an artist, art therapist and broadcaster. They have 2 children together.

Discography

*''Ibukun'' *''Ekaabo'' *''Ekaabo Live'' *''The Highlife Ep'' *''Femi Leye The Album'' *''Pendulum'' *''Pendulum Vol 2'' *''Pendulum Vol 3'' *''Pendulum Vol 4''

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leye, Femi Nigerian composers Nigerian record producers Nigerian guitarists Living people 1989 births