OliveTheBoy Reveals His Unique Approach to Songwriting and Inspiration

By Dan Lartey On Nov 21, 2024

Ghanaian Afrobeat artist Joel Ofori Bonsu, better known as OliveTheBoy, recently opened up about his creative journey and the inspiration behind his music.

Speaking in a recent interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show, the music sensation delved into his songwriting process, sources of inspiration, and how he connects with his audience through unconventional themes.

OliveTheBoy emphasized the unpredictable nature of inspiration, noting that it can come from the most ordinary experiences. “It could come from like very, very normal stuff,” he shared. “Maybe like, it could be somebody’s song.”

The ‘Goodsin’ singer further credited his early freestyle attempts to the influence of Kwame Eugene’s music, emphasizing that creativity can be sparked by anything or anyone. “Inspirations could come from anywhere at all,” he added. “You know, like it could be from you. I mean, it could be from anybody at all.”

Discussing his creative process, the crooner revealed that he often prioritizes melodies over specific themes. However, he admitted that translating his own experiences into music doesn’t come as naturally to him.

“So mostly I don’t think about the concepts first. I think about the melodies first, you know, I get them down. And then whatever I want to write about, like if it’s from your story, if it’s from another person’s story, it comes after.

“Mostly I’m not really good at writing things from my own, like, stories—you know, from things that happened to me, like from my own experiences,” he acknowledged.

OliveTheBoy highlighted how his willingness to explore unconventional themes creates a unique bond with his listeners.

“I think what makes it easier for people to connect to me is the fact that I’m able to give them confidence to talk about the weirder stuff,” he said.

The Afrobeat artist illustrated his approach with his song “Asylum,” a track that touches on raw and unspoken emotions. He further noted that expressing emotions through music often feels more authentic.

“If you leave me and go away, you will not say it normally, you know, like in a normal conversation. But then when you pick up your phone and you’re like making videos to the sound, you’re more confident,” he explained.