1983-90
Soundway Records presents Ayo Manuel - 1983-1990, a collection of selected works by one of Nigeriaâs DIY pioneers.
Prince Ayoâs musical roots were planted deep from a young age. A prolonged stint in the choir at his church in the small town of Atijere, gave him a first taste of harmony and hard-wired music to his heart. Later, a move to the bright lights of Lagos opened his eyes and ears to everything the metropolis had to offer. Local nightclubs, radio stations and record stores exposed him to a plethora of local and foreign stars who would later become his influences.
Inspired by the limitless possibilities associated with creativity, Ayo chose graphic design as his vocation. Entrepreneurial by nature, he set out to go freelance. His keen eye saw him land some work designing sleeves for local, independent record label Phonodisk. It was there that he formed friendships which helped him realise his dream of recording a solo album. He had always believed in a DIY attitude and never sought out a record deal or looked for funding from anyone else. So in 1980, he booked some recording sessions at the legendary Decca Studios, and hired some of the best session musicians in Lagos. After each session he had to save enough money for the next, a process which took two years to complete. He designed the sleeve, paid for the manufacturing and pressed 1000 copies of the record. Early in 1983, Love Candidate was born, he was finally ready to hand-deliver the album to stores across the city. This industrious and charismatic approach found him hanging out at radio stations, searching for the opportunity to personally hand the DJ a copy, in hope of precious airtime.
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Description
Soundway Records presents Ayo Manuel - 1983-1990, a collection of selected works by one of Nigeriaâs DIY pioneers.
Prince Ayoâs musical roots were planted deep from a young age. A prolonged stint in the choir at his church in the small town of Atijere, gave him a first taste of harmony and hard-wired music to his heart. Later, a move to the bright lights of Lagos opened his eyes and ears to everything the metropolis had to offer. Local nightclubs, radio stations and record stores exposed him to a plethora of local and foreign stars who would later become his influences.
Inspired by the limitless possibilities associated with creativity, Ayo chose graphic design as his vocation. Entrepreneurial by nature, he set out to go freelance. His keen eye saw him land some work designing sleeves for local, independent record label Phonodisk. It was there that he formed friendships which helped him realise his dream of recording a solo album. He had always believed in a DIY attitude and never sought out a record deal or looked for funding from anyone else. So in 1980, he booked some recording sessions at the legendary Decca Studios, and hired some of the best session musicians in Lagos. After each session he had to save enough money for the next, a process which took two years to complete. He designed the sleeve, paid for the manufacturing and pressed 1000 copies of the record. Early in 1983, Love Candidate was born, he was finally ready to hand-deliver the album to stores across the city. This industrious and charismatic approach found him hanging out at radio stations, searching for the opportunity to personally hand the DJ a copy, in hope of precious airtime.
