Temitope Odebiyi, better known as Topsticks, is making a name for herself as Nigeria’s ‘number one’ female drummer. In this interview with MIRACLE ENWEREMADU, Topsticks, who is at present making waves in a male-dominated profession, tells her story and her journey into the world of drumming. Excerpts:
WHY are you called Topsticks? It’s because I deal with sticks and my sticks must always be on top of every other stick. I went to do a photo session one day and the photographer was tagging my picture with sticks; along the line, I just saw Topsticks and it really caught my fancy. He gave me the name because my name is Tope; so he just removed letter ‘e’ and added ‘sticks’. I loved the nickname and I looked at it from the spiritual angle that my sticks would always be on top, hence the name.
How did you become a drummer?
Restlessness led me into drumming (laughter), but I’ll say I love music and sounds generally. Drum was actually my first instrument, though I started learning keyboard at a time because I wasn’t always opportune to play the drums. So, I started learning how to play keyboard first, but it wasn’t really my taste, so I went back to drumming. I started in the church. I once saw a person drumming and I was inspired and loved what he played. From there, I began to hit drums on my own without tutorial. The first time, I hit the drum, it was as if I had been playing drums for long and a person who saw me was like, so you have been playing drums but have been hiding all this while? He could not believe it was my first time because it was very natural for me. So, over the years, I went for tutorial and music school to upgrade it because when God gives you a gift, you have to plant, water and make sure it grows.
How long have you been drumming now?
It’s been long. Drumming has been part of me for several years, more than eight years now. But if you say from the professional point of view, I would say like four years ago.
How have you been able to succeed in a masculine and energetic profession?
Well, drumming as you said, is a masculine activity, a male-dominated field. And for a lady to thrive in it, she must have built her energy to some extent like a guy, though she can’t be exactly like a guy, but she has to build it. It comes with lots of exercises and constant practices on the drum. Even sometimes, you don’t feel you are losing energy until you stop drumming and then you begin to pant. But while the action is on, you are just enjoying yourself. Apart from that, the most important thing is the grace of God that gives you strength.
Tell me more about how you enjoy yourself while on the drum.
I really enjoy it because it is very interesting. Music generally is emotional. If you don’t feel yourself, people will not feel you. Whenever I am drumming, I often forget my environment and flow into the spirit of the music. The only thing that can disrupt the mood is probably emotion, when something just comes to my mind or I realise the sound is not on point. But most times, you just look over these things and enjoy yourself. This gives me the liberty to play with much expression.
How about your audience, how do you carry them along?
Though I don’t always watch them, but I do sometimes. You will see people looking surprised. Though you don’t hear them, but you will get feelings like ‘is she really a lady?’ especially when they see me for the first time. Sometimes, instead of people dancing, they would just stand, fold their hands and stare at you with some strange expressions on their faces.
What do you hate about drumming and how challenging has it been?
It is very challenging and the only thing I don’t like about it is that it is too energy-sapping. I wonder why it should be so (laughs). When I see guys drumming, I am like, ‘Oh God! When will I meet up?’ When you go to events, you see different artistes with different styles and you see them slamming so hard, then it looks as if you are intimidated. But one thing I tell myself is that I have my own uniqueness in my own way. So I just do my things in my own way irrespective of what others do and people still enjoy me. When I was still learning to drum, the competition was so stiff because I was always in the midst of guys. The boys say some bad things at times at my back. They said, ‘what can she even play, it’s just because she is a lady’. They don’t know I hear them and this makes me feel so sad. There was a day I performed at an event. The organiser so liked me and asked me to play for the next service. I almost bent the drummer there. So he (the drummer) went and told the director to change the chord that I was playing, that I couldn’t play it. I felt very bad, but things like that just pushed me to go and work harder.
What else do you do apart from drumming?
I also do solo performance, which is playing the drums alone to create different beats. I am also into academics. I love reading a lot. That is why after my first degree, I eventually did my Masters in History and I am planning to go for my PhD in History too, but that’s if music permits anyway because by the time God opens bigger opportunities, I may be too busy.
You look very young and have already attained your second degree and about going for Ph.D?
(Cuts in) I am very old, but my face looks young. I am in my late 20’s!
Why have you been studying History only?
I fell in love with the course right from my undergraduate level. I don’t want to limit myself because the human mind is large. I don’t want to remain in just one thing. I want to know more about the past and present.
Have you ever worked with your History degree?
No. I just love reading, just as the way I love drumming and love to explore the academic world. I even want to run my PhD programme this year.
How about your parents and siblings?
They are fine. My sister is here in Nigeria, but my parents are out of the country.
Is it true that your parents did not support your becoming a drummer?
That was initially because most parents want their children to become bankers, doctors, etc. My father would condemn my drumming and would ask how I would feed the family with drumming. But when money, fame among other things, began to come, they then realised there is a future in me. They have even attended many of my concerts. The first time I appeared in a newspaper, my father bought many copies of the paper and distributed to many of his friends and our neighbours.
That means you make much money now.
Yes, but I still want more (laughs).
When and why did you join the Breath of Life Ministries?
I joined them in 2009 because I found a place I could express my music because the church loves music and supports talents. So I found a platform and a place of worship, an atmosphere where they love and worship God. That got my interest.
You have performed at many events. Can you share your experience with us?
The first time I appeared in a newspaper, I performed at Bola Ige’s 6th year remembrance in Osun State. I performed at the birthday ceremony of Ondo State governor last year with my female band. I have even performed at a birthday ceremony for Mr. Sam Omatseye. I performed at Star Quest in 2008. I have also performed in concerts abroad.
How about your all-female band?
The band, which was very difficult to put together, is now fully in place and we now perform at different events with a lady on the keyboard, a lady on the drum and other instruments. I also have some other ladies under my tutelage.
I gathered that you are also a drum coach. How true is this?
Yes. I am a drum coach at the ‘Rock’ music school, a subsidiary of Breath of Life Ministries.
Before I forget, you said you performed at Star Quest, what were some of the impressions you had while there?
That was the first time I ever performed on a big stage. I met lots of people, and of course, I was on TV.
How do you relate with your fellow male and female drummers?
Seventy percent of my friends are drummers and are males. I have few females that I’m grooming. I relate with them very well, and musically too. Some of them trouble me that they want to learn. That is what helps me. I learn from anybody. Once I see you are a drummer, I will not let you go. You must teach me something, even if it’s a stroke. The only person that sat down and taught me for about three years was Kingsley, the music director of Daystar Ministries. He coached me separation, African drumming and other foreign drumming techniques.
Have you met with other Nigerian recognised female drummers like Ara?
Funny enough, I have never met her. But I have met with Ayanbirin. We did something together. They play talking drums and I wish I could play the talking drum too. But what I do is that I translate some of their lines into the drum and make the drum set to also talk.
Are you married?
No. I am not married yet, but I’m planning to do so soon.
Is it that suitors are not coming?
(Laughs) Well for now, I’m not in a serious relationship with any man. For the kind of thing I do, one has to be very careful in making choices. Once you make the wrong choice, it can kill you and your career. In order to maintain the career, I am being very careful with God’s guidance and direction to wait for the right person. Though they have been coming, but once I find out that they don’t fit into the future, I don’t bother wasting my time with them. But I’m sure, according to the time of life, it would happen.
Why are you being referred to as ‘Naija No 1 Female drummer’?
When the acronym was given, I was surprised myself. It was an advert. The thing just came up in the studio like that and it was not bad. There was a time I met an MC, she encouraged me to stamp my record before other ladies come up because as at then, I was the only female drummer that she knew could perform at any time. She said stamping my record was like a leadership authority. So, when somebody mentioned the title, ‘Naija No 1 female drummer’, I loved it, adopted it and began to use it.
But are you truly the No 1?
I can’t say whether it’s true or not because there are other female drummers too. To be called No 1 means you are the first to be recognised. In fact, I get lots of calls. Anytime they need any female drummer, the first person that comes to mind is Topstick. So I think I accept it and could say that it is true.
So what are your plans for the future?
There are lots of things going on underground. I intend to push my band into something that is very unique and rare. Aside from performing at different events, we intend to do our own recordings and video shooting. I also intend to open a kind of workshop to educate some other Nigerians, especially female instrumentalists and female drummers. I have some recordings on YouTube which are minor ones, but I plan to do something more proper. All these are capital-intensive.
What advice do you have for young up and coming drummers?
There is always a price to pay. They should be patient, practise and above all, let God be your source, because drumming is very demanding unless you want to remain a local champion. But if you want to become a professional, you need to work extremely hard. You need your instinct to be on point always. And always get enough materials that can inspire you when you are performing.
