*Says the heavenly realm is using him as a medium to deliver positive messages

By AYO ONIKOYI

Not much is known about Rex Suru, musically, because he is based in San-Francisco in United States of America. But this bundle of energy, who describes his kind of music as ‘Afro-roots reggae’ has three albums to his credit and he is already on to the fourth, which he may release into the Nigerian market before the end of the year.
In this interview with the entertainment editor, Rex takes us on a journey of his life from a school in Tyler, Texas, to the streets and local pubs of San-Francisco to the music stages in Lagos. Listen to his story:

Rex Suru

Who is Rex Suru and what do you stand for?
My name is Rex Olisuru Ogunniyi, but my artistic name is Rex Suru. I’m the founder and originator of the Afro-roots reggae music. The name of my band is the Cherubim Vibes, but I’m thinking of simply going by the name ‘Rex Suru and the Vibes’. ‘Vibes’ as in vibration, while ‘Cherubim’ means angels. I’ve been doing this music for over 25 years. I have a very deep passion for what I’m doing. Music has been the essence of my adult life and I sincerely believe, without any shadow of doubt, that the heavenly realm is trying to use me as a medium to deliver positive messages. I’m not saying I’m a messenger, but that’s the vibration that comes through me. Doing music of joy, praise and unity among the human race.
Presently, I’m in Nigeria to participate in some shows and to release some of my latest songs before the end of the year or in the first month of next month.

We are of the impression that the name of your band ‘Cherubim Vibes’ came about as a result of a divine revelation, why change it now?
It’s still the same thing spiritually. It’s only that we are dropping the ‘Cherubim’. When you have a business, there should be catchy phrase to it. I’m not dropping the ‘Cherubim’ because I’m ashamed or because I want to compromise. Someone suggested it to me and I gave it a thought. Cherubim Vibes is a bit restricting, because people might assume that it has to do with just Christian or gospel music. We all live on positive values and vibrations.

What does performing before a Nigerian audience mean to you and how do you hope to connect?
I am a Nigerian. I was born here and I have all the Nigerian characteristics. If you look around , there are houses of worship everywhere – churches and mosques. This is because people recognise God and appreciate positive values. So, if I do my kind of music which is secular, social, political,spiritual etc, I don’t think I will have any problem. They appreciate my kind of music. They appreciate various genres of music, because Nigeria is made up of diverse people.

Do you depend on live band or digital when performing on stage?
I get my groove with both. It’s fun performing with a live band, because when I performed in San-Francisco with a live band, I usually get high. I also get inspired while performing in the studio with digital technology. Digital sound is the spirit of a man transposed into a machine.

Most artistes today come up short performing with a live band, what is really your own root?
My origin is mixed. I was opportune to have both experience. I was in the studio and I also had a band in San-Francisco. We played in street corners, fields and local clubs and then we hit the studio too.

Tell us some of the songs you’ve done and released?
I started in 1996 and that was when I released my first album. The very first song I wrote was ‘We like to live and not to die’. There is also ‘When I wake up in the morning’. It is a ten-track album. I’m about to release my fourth album (Volume 4). My first three albums had social and political messages, spiritual consciousness and also about freedom. In ‘Caesar’, a track in Volume 1, I was talking to our leaders. There’s a particular track in Volume 2 that I love so much and it’s called ‘Father is with you’. I’m just encouraging everyone not to give up no matter the challenge. In Vol. 3, we have ‘Africa, Africa’ which promotes unity in Africa. We just have to realise that though we have our differences, we’re one. When are we going to realise that there is a scheme to break us apart so that we can be conquered for ever? Another one is ‘Oh Jah love!’ – the love of God knows no bounds and is not discriminatory. He gives air, rain and sunlight to humans, plants and animals alike. There’s no reason why we should be fighting and attacking one another. We made one song in the studio recently titled ‘Thank you Father’. It’s a song of appreciation to God for all he has done for us.

Let’s know a little about your personal life?
I had a difficult life in the sense that I didn’t have a material consciousness to life. Toeing the spiritual part is not easy. I grew up in Lagos, went to primary school in Lawanson, Surulere. From there I went to Gaskiya College, spent a year there and then proceeded to Cotonou to learn French. That was in the the early 70s. I later came back and went to Ibukun Grammar School in Ilesha. I then went to Sapele Technical College, Delta State where I did Building Construction. Then I completed a three-year programme in what is now known as Federal Technical College, Yaba. I proceeded to the US, where I spent four years in Tyler, Texas, between 1983 and 1987.

After my first two semesters there, I tried to do a transfer to New York, but it didn’t work out due to some financial constraints. So, I continued in Tyler, Texas where I studied Business Administration which I had no passion for, but I did well all the same. I was in my junior year when I caught the passion for music, maybe because I was listening to the likes of Bob Marley and Fela a lot. So, I went to a music professor and asked him if it would be possible for me to change my major. He took me to a music store and asked me which of the instruments there

I would love to play. There were various types of instruments, but I just told him I would like the guitar because Bob Marley played the guitar. He paid for it and bought it for me saying I will pay him back. We went back and he told me that since I was already in my junior year it would be impossible for me to change my course, but that he would be giving me guitar lessons. And I started learning, that was how I got into music. Then I would stay in front of my apartment opposite the school and play with a friend who used to come around. It was this friend who took me to the studio for the first time after seeing how passionate I was about doing music. So, it all gradually started building up from there. My first recording actually was in San Francisco. When I heard myself for the first time, I was excited. I told people to listen to me and they would say I sounded like Bob Marley. I started believing in myself that I could be great like him. I grew dreadlocks and smoked marijuana. Though I have stopped smoking marijuana, but I have no regrets doing it, because I loved it. So, that was how it started.

Do you have any regrets doing music?
I have none because whatever I choose is not for material gain, it’s for spiritual development. When I started, I wasn’t really a great singer, but now I sing well, even though I’m not the best. There’s no regret in any developmental stage in my life. We didn’t come into this world with a bank account and we will not leave with one. It’s not about material accomplishment but spiritual development.

What’s unique about you and your band?
I think people around me can describe me better in that concept. But I know I laugh most times, I crack jokes and all that… I don’t know if they appreciate it though, but I know people are happy when they are around me.