By Abubakar Sheriff
The first time I heard about Adam Songbird, Femi Adebayo’s ground breaking “Jagun Jagun” (2023) was still breaking streaming numbers, dominating online conversation, and many more.
I had to read about him. A reading here, two video interviews there, I got to know more about this pristine artiste; before he started designing sound or making soundtracks for movies, Adam already had more than a decade of experience in gospel music. He is a singer and a songwriter.
In 2022, Adam Songbird released his debut extended play which he titled “No Strings Attached.” In a lengthy review, The Nation Newspaper tagged the EP “ as a commendable testament to his skill as an artiste, his unrivaled lyrical composition, and his heartfelt desire to put in the work.
Right now, Adam Songbird remains one of the most sought-after soundtrack makers in the Nollywood industry. Since cutting his teeth with Saheed Balogun’s “Eti Keta” (2012) movie, the Federal Polytechnic, Offa graduate has unhurriedly made his mark.
Born in Lagos state over three decades ago, Adam Songbird spent the majority of his childhood in Lagos Mainland, a cultural hub of the state. His time out at Lagos Island exposed him to music like Fuji, Reggae music, and traditional music which is a staple of the region. The influence of these genres can be found in his music.
He was signed under Mike Abdul’s record label, which allowed him to travel around the country, hone his skill as an artiste, and weigh his strength as a stage performer. All these experiences are brought to the fore whenever he performs.
The 2021 Niyi Akinmolayan-directed Sports Comedy “The Prophetess” marks Adam Songbird’s debut under Anthill Productions as a soundtrack marker. Ever since his brilliant performance in the movie, he has also worked on movies like “The Man for the Job” (2022) League of Orishas” (2022), “Man of God” (2022), “The House of Secret”(2023), “Progressive Tailors Club” (2021), “Mikolo” (2023), Adam Songbird’s sonic prowess has not been limited to movies from Anthill Studio, he has also worked on movies like “King of Thieves” (2022) “Jagun Jagun” (2023), “The Origin: Madam Koi Koi” (2023), “Ada Omo Daddy” (2023), etc. He did the sound design on “House of Secrets”,
“Mikolo,” and “Ada Omo Daddy”
Renowned movie director, Niyi Akinmolayan once described Adam Songbird as “an incredibly talented musician and one of the best humans to work with”.
Adam Songbird was a 2023 nominee at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) as he got nominated for two movies in the “Best Soundtrack in a Movies or TV Series category” with the movies: King Of Thieves (Agesinkole) and Battle On BUKA Street.
Like most creatives, Adam Songbird doesn’t give out much information about his forthcoming project, perhaps, he is a great believer in letting the work do the talking. On the recently released Mercy Aigbe’s, ADA OMO DADDY,” Adam designed the sound. He also did the sound design on Jade Osiberu’s forthcoming Sugar Rush 2.
In November 2023, he released his first single for the year with the release of “Ina My Heart,” With support from a sultry crowd, the song is centered on Christians struggling with iniquities in their quest to serve God. In the song, Adam Songbird concisely calls for God’s support for such fellows.
No doubt, Adam Songbird already had a swell time in 2023. 2024 will surely herald new accomplishments that the fans eagerly await.
