Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Onyaka

Onyaka is an Afro-fusion storyteller blending Afrobeats, soul, and global rhythms into timeless sound. Rooted in Nigerian heritage and crafted for the world, every track carries spirit, energy, and emotion. With weekly drops and a fast-growing audience, Onyaka is building a new wave where tradition meets future.

1. What is your earliest memory connected to music?

I was three years old, sitting in front of the television watching Michael Jackson perform. That moment changed everything for me. I did not yet understand rhythm or melody, but I felt something powerful moving through me. It was the first time I realized that music could speak without words.

2. How did your passion for creating music begin?

By seventh or eighth grade, I was making beats on Fruity Loops every night after school. It started out of curiosity, but it quickly became my way to express myself. I loved the freedom of creating rhythm from nothing. It felt like I could build my own world through sound.

3. What is the story behind your current music project?

My current project, Onyaka Frequencies, is about human connection. It explores how music brings people together across different cultures and experiences through various frequencies. Each record represents a part of the shared rhythm we all live in. It is a reflection on growth, unity, and the constant motion of life.

4. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Afro Fusion. My sound is experimental, emotional, and rooted in truth. I blend different styles such as soul, funk, trap, and modern rhythm, but Afrobeat is always the foundation. It carries the heartbeat of my culture while reaching toward something universal.

5. What is one thing you have learned that completely changed the way you make music?

I learned that sound is energy and energy carries emotion. Once I understood that, I began to focus on feeling instead of structure. Every beat, note, and moment of silence holds purpose. For me, music became a spiritual language rather than just a composition.

6. What instruments or methods are essential in your creative process?

My guitar is the center of everything. It gives each song its pulse and guides the direction. From there, I build the rhythm, layers, and emotion around it. I allow each song to unfold naturally, letting the sound tell me what it wants to become.

7. Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

I am most inspired by the music I am creating right now. It feels like the purest reflection of who I am. Every project brings me closer to my authentic sound and helps me grow as an artist and as a person. But I do love “Charm” by Rema.

8. How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

Music is how I make sense of life. Every song comes from an authentic experience, whether joy, pain, or transformation. I do not create to escape reality; I create to understand it. My art mirrors my journey through the world.

9. What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

That everything passes. Life moves in waves of highs and lows. I want people to find peace in that movement, to enjoy the ride, and to trust that no feeling lasts forever. My music is a reminder that all energy eventually finds its way home.

10. What is the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Know yourself and know what you want. You can only create what you truly understand. Music taught me that honesty and clarity give your art power. When you are sure of who you are, the sound becomes alive.

11. What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

I would love to see my music shared on global stages. Performing at major festivals or hearing my songs in films and brand stories would mean a lot to me. To see my sound reach people everywhere would be a dream fulfilled.

12. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Fela Kuti and Michael Jackson. They represent two sides of musical greatness. Fela brought truth and rebellion, while Michael brought precision and magic. Together, they created the kind of energy that moves the world, and that balance inspires everything I do.

13. Where can our listeners follow and support your music?

You can find me on Spotify under Onyaka and on Instagram at @onyakasound. Every listen and every share helps the movement grow.

14. Looking toward the future, what is your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I want to create timeless connections through sound. My goal is to have my music travel to places where people feel energy and unity, whether in arenas, films, or everyday life. I want my sound to live wherever people come together.

15. What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

That my music is for the people. Every rhythm, every melody, and every lyric is made to connect hearts. It is not about perfection; it is about resonance. If someone feels something real when they listen, then I have done my job.

🌍 Final Note

Onyaka is not just a name. It is a vibration, a reflection of growth and purpose. My music blends culture with consciousness, bringing rhythm to thought and spirit to sound. From Nigeria to Chicago and beyond, Onyaka continues to remind listeners that growth itself has a rhythm, and he is tuned perfectly to it.

Follow Onyaka
Spotify: Onyaka
Instagram: @onyakasound