Henry Oyekanmi

Henry Oyekanmi is a Berklee City Music College Scholar from the Berklee City Music Network site East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, California. A drummer who majored in music business/management, he was slated to graduate in May of 2017 but instead graduated in May of 2016.  

 

"Graduating from Berklee means that you’ve finished all of the requirements for your degree, which typically takes four years to do. I’ve managed to complete all of my courses to get my degree in music business/management in three years, and I’m ready to put what I’ve learned to use. I didn’t originally plan to graduate early, I was just making sure to take a full class load of 16 credits every semester. When that started looking like more of a possibility, I went for it and continued school in the summer. Last year I was able to take the 12-week summer semester and complete an internship to get more of my courses done."

 

"I’m currently singing and playing drums in a band I started called Feel Good. We perform a lot in Boston and New York City. I’m also writing and producing music. In fact, I put a single out on Soundcloud, and it’s doing really well. I was contacted by someone from a show called the Lipstick Series; they heard the single and asked if they could use it on the show, and of course I said yes. That’s been a big deal for me because my music will be getting a lot more recognition now." 

 

"I’d like to start a nonprofit sort of like Berklee City Music. Getting the Berklee City Music College Scholarship allowed me the opportunity to go to college, and I’m really grateful for that. I want to give young musicians in the Bay area (where I’m from) opportunities they might not otherwise have. Ideally, I’d like to set up a program where kids can come learn how to be producers and engineers, then bring in artists to record music and give the kids some on-the-job experience. There’s a lot of talent in Oakland, California, but it’s not being utilized. I want to create something that will harness that talent. Right now I’m in the process of registering the business Next Step Music as a nonprofit and looking for a physical space. There are a lot of abandoned buildings back home, and it’d be great to set up a partnership with the local government to rebuild and restore old buildings. That’s what my goals are right now." 

 

"Growing up in Oakland was a challenge in itself because there was a lot of gang violence. Being in that environment was tough, and I had to be careful whenever I was out. I started going to the East Bay Performing Arts Center in 11th grade, and that kept me out of the trouble that a lot of kids my age were getting into. I didn’t realize how challenging it would be to visit home after starting college and see who had fallen into a negative lifestyle. I’ve had to cut out people who weren’t good influences in order to stay focused and keep pursuing my passions. Rather than seeing that as a challenge, though, I try to use that as a motivation. Being at Berklee is also a challenge because you can easily get so busy with classes, performing, and finding time to practice. I work hard to keep all that in check and make sure to keep my grades above a 3.0, not just for my scholarship but also for my own personal satisfaction." 

 

"My dad has been a big inspiration for me. He’s from Nigeria and has been a hard worker his whole life. I get my drive from him. He worked two, sometimes three jobs at a time and stressed the importance of staying on top in school. He was a motivation for me in high school and is definitely more of an inspiration now. I also have to say that my grandmother was a big inspiration for me in deciding to pursue a music career. She was the one who first told me about Berklee and encouraged me to apply." 

 

"I’d say that you should surround yourself with positive people. Positive energy is amazing because it can be shared, taken, and given. I’d also say that it’s important to stay in contact with people you meet in the industry. I always make sure to trade business cards whenever I meet someone. I will reach out to them every three to four weeks, just to check in. If you stay present, you never know if one day they’ll need a favor or have a job and think of you first."