Nigerian music professional SMJ has shared insights into the years of dedication, service and commitment to excellence that shaped his musical journey, stressing that his ambition was never about gaining popularity or appearing on a particular platform. Speaking about his early days, SMJ explained that his primary goal was simply to become professional at what he did.
“My own ambition was, I wanted to be professional at what I do. That was all. It wasn’t about any platform. I wasn’t rehearsing because I wanted to be popular,” he said. He cautioned against measuring relevance or impact by the desire to appear on popular platforms, noting that such a mindset could mean missing the bigger picture.
How Serving With Masterkraft Changed His Life
SMJ recounted a life-changing encounter with Nigerian music producer Masterkraft while he was still serving. According to him, Masterkraft invited him to come and serve, and he accepted the opportunity without knowing how significantly it would shape his career. He explained that before meeting Masterkraft, he had been working with keyboards, sequencing and arranging music on diskettes through a process he referred to as PSR. However, he did not know that what he was doing was actually music production until that encounter.
“I did not know that what I had been doing, you know those things that we do on PSR, where we sequence on keyboards and put it in diskettes, I never knew that that was what was called music production until I met Masterkraft,” he recalled. He also revealed that while he was serving with Masterkraft, gospel artist Tim Godfrey was somewhere observing him. SMJ used the experience to encourage people who may feel unnoticed while serving, reminding them that someone could be observing their commitment even when they are unaware of it. “So you do not know where you are right now, just serving, and it looks like nobody’s seeing you. And I promise you, somebody is seeing. If nobody’s seeing, God is seeing you. And He knows how to reward,” he said.
“I Was a Studio Rat”
Reflecting on the sacrifices behind his development, SMJ described himself as a “studio rat,” explaining that he dedicated himself almost entirely to learning, working and improving his craft. He said his commitment involved attending events, working without necessarily receiving payment and constantly thinking about the next musical arrangement. He further explained that people who now see him as someone who consistently delivers fresh arrangements may not understand the years of preparation behind that consistency. According to him, his work involved years of producing arrangements back-to-back, sometimes every week or every other day.
Excellence, Service and the Pursuit of Longevity
SMJ stressed that his focus has never been limited to popularity. Rather, he and those committed to the craft are pursuing longevity, which requires sustained excellence and a willingness to serve. “We are not just pursuing popularity, we are pursuing longevity. We are going to be here for a long time. But to be here for a long time is going to take excellence. And to retain that excellent mindset, you have to be given to service,” he stated.
His message highlights the importance of developing one’s craft, embracing opportunities to serve and remaining committed to excellence, even when the work happens away from public attention. For SMJ, lasting relevance is not built merely by appearing on platforms or chasing recognition. It is built through years of preparation, consistent service and a commitment to doing the work well.
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