In our latest ZOI MAGAZINE feature, we sit down with the soulful gospel artiste Adetutu VOJ as she unapologetically shares her musical journey from Nigeria to the UK, the inspiration behind her new single “ONLY YOU”, and her passion for influencing Gen Z through worship. From battling depression to birthing songs through divine encounters, her story is raw, real, and deeply uplifting.
Dive into the full interview and discover how this Vessel of Jehovah is unapologetically blending Afrobeats with powerful faith-driven messages to keep the next generation anchored in Christ.
We are honoured at ZOI to feature you in our magazine. Kindly intimate us with your country of origin, where you currently reside, and the meaning of your artiste name, ‘Adetutu VOJ’.
My country of origin is Nigeria. I currently reside in the United Kingdom, and VOJ means Vessel of Jehovah.
What are your core values? Share with us the foundational sinews that guide your daily endeavours.
I believe strongly in hard work and optimism, and I also have a staunch belief in the power of God, as He brings increase to all hard work.
You are living in the diaspora, far away from your country of origin (Nigeria). Are you hoping to contribute to the music industry and inspire the next generation in your homeland anytime soon?
I do this at the moment in a subtle way; my social media presence is quite strong, and about 60% of my followers are from my homeland. I post worship sessions online and some motivational talks/posts, which are inspirational to my followers and audience. I do not plan to relocate to my homeland, but I can travel on a needs basis for contributions if the opportunity arises.
Speaking about inspiration, we deduced that your newly released single, ONLY YOU, was inspired by your hunger to influence the Gen Z generation on the importance of praising God. Take us through this journey—from writing the song, recording it in the studio, mixing and mastering it, to releasing it to the world.
The inspiration came from a fellow gospel artiste’s post on Instagram in 2019. Seun Are was unhappy that he saw young Christians dancing and vibing to non-gospel music at a wedding he attended the previous weekend, and he challenged gospel artistes to consider young people when songwriting, so we do not lose them to the world. This inspired me a great deal, and I set about writing the song. I initially began the production in December 2019 but had to halt the project due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The file got lost during a house move, and this further made me drop the whole project. However, in 2024, I began the search for a vibrant and creative producer and met 24LDZ in August 2024. The project finally began in February 2025, where 24LDZ had to work on fresh beats. He understood the basis and inspiration behind this track, and I can say the recording process was a very effortless one, thanks to him. I had a health challenge at the beginning, but God took the glory, as I was able to record my vocals despite the discomfort.
There are so many producers, especially in Nigeria and Africa—more so when we talk about the Afrobeats genre. What were your reasons for working with the young England-based music producer, 24LDZ, for your single ONLY YOU?
I believe God allowed my path to cross with 24LDZ’s at a church program where I ministered in August 2024. He is a very creative person, and I had been on a search since January 2024 for someone who would understand what I wanted without me having to talk too much. I got introduced to a few in Nigeria, but we just didn’t click until 24LDZ came our way. The reason for my search for a producer was that the one I was used to had just relocated to the US, and I needed someone like him. My husband listened to a demo by 24LDZ after our meeting, and in my husband’s words, “This guy is just like Edmond, our former producer. Now we have found another Edmond.”
It is so costly to birth a song nowadays—paying a producer, studio work, promoting the song, and so on. How are you able to finance your musical expenses? What advice can you give music artists from your experiences on how to sustain their craft and produce songs successfully?
I save from my income, and I advise music artistes to have a source of income—something that can pay their bills and support their music—well, until they begin to make substantial income from it. I also separate music money from my regular finances; I have a separate current account where all honorariums, royalties (no matter how little) go into—these are used to fund the next project, while I also contribute from my personal money.
How would you compare these two songs of yours—Thankful (featuring Gabriel Eziashi) and your latest release ONLY YOU? Is there a specific reason why you decided not to feature an artist on ONLY YOU? What are the advantages of collaborating with other established artists in the music industry?
It may sound funny, but Thankful was birthed in a dream—I saw myself singing it with a man. I woke up, remembered the chorus, and quickly recorded it on my phone. I prayed about who to feature, and Gabriel Eziashi came to my spirit. Someone recommended an artiste from Nigeria, saying the song would go viral with him, but I insisted on Gabriel. Thankful was birthed when I was battling depression, and the song was meant to minister to me and anyone else going through tough times. Only You, on the other hand, is not for me—it is meant to minister to our youth who want to vibe, to help them vibe in a godly way, enjoy Afrobeats while acknowledging that only God is the answer, and to keep our Gen Z rooted in Christ so they don’t turn to the world just because secular music is attractive. I believe we all have different motives. For some, the advantage of collaborating with established artists is popularity, but that’s not the case for me. I wanted something spiritual—someone spiritual whose spirit would align with mine. I got that in Gabriel. Today, our families are close, and he is a mentor to my family, advising my husband and I on marriage matters.
Kindly share with us why you decided to be a gospel music artiste and not a secular one.
First, I am a Christian and have been in the choir, so this is just the only way for me. I was born a Muslim and never attended church when I was home (before going to university), but my father never stopped me from listening to Bob Fitts and others, whom I got to know of at boarding school. I always listened to Maranatha Music when I was young, so this is who I am.
On a lighter note, what do you do to lighten the burdens around you? Are you a full-time music artist? Do you play any instruments? How do you relax?
Wow… how do I relax? I like to eat out—I love Chinese food in a very fancy Chinese restaurant. I work full-time (Monday to Friday, 9 to 5), so I relax at home watching Nigerian movies on Prime or Indian movies on Netflix in the evenings. I started learning to play the piano during the lockdown, stopped the lessons, but I can recognise a few keys…
England is credited with the invention of modern football, also known as soccer, and you reside there. Do you support any football team? If yes, why this particular team, and if not, why? Do you follow the progress of Nigerian men’s and women’s football teams?
I used to be a Chelsea fan, but my husband and children dragged me into becoming a Gunner by getting me a personalised jersey and making me watch the matches. I gradually began to fall in love with Ødegaard, Saka, Saliba, and the rest. Today, I am a staunch Gunner and have been to the Emirates to watch a match.
Are you of the school of thought that artists should use their craft to shed light on current affairs and economic hardships in Africa? An artiste (Eedris Abdulkareem) recently had his song Tell Your Papa banned on Nigerian radio airwaves for criticising President Tinubu.
Well, not all artistes have a fighting spirit—what I mean by that is being vocal when it comes to oppression of the masses. Not everyone has the will or strength for political activism. If anyone does, then they can use their craft to shed light on current affairs.
How can any artist that wants to collaborate with you on a song or project contact you?
My online presence is quite strong, so they can send me a message on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X.
What is your daily occupation? How do you balance it with your music?
I work in the Financial Crime Advisory space, and I go into the office some days. I am always with my music book for whenever inspiration comes to me—which mostly happens when I’m on the train. Besides this, I dedicate my weekends to music and studio time.
Kindly leave us with some inspirational words.
You can put all your eggs in one basket, then place that basket in the hands of God. Sometimes things may seem rough, unpredictable, or like they’re going downhill; however, when you remember who’s carrying that basket, you will be at rest.
