Fast-rising Nigerian singer Salami Kasimu Kelvin, popularly known as Skelvin, has stated that talent alone is no longer sufficient for artists striving to thrive in the Nigerian music industry. In an interview with Guardian Life, Skelvin noted that many gifted musicians remain unrecognized due to the industry's heightened competition. He stressed that musicians now require consistency, strategy, discipline, networking, and self-promotion to build a sustainable career.
“Talent is important, but in today’s Nigerian music industry, talent alone is not enough. You also need consistency, strategy, discipline, networking, and the ability to market yourself. Many talented artists are unnoticed because the industry is very competitive now. The artists who last usually combine talent with hard work and smart decisions,” he said.
Background and Early Life
Born on November 16, 1997, in Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Skelvin was raised in Abuja and is currently based in Lagos State. He shared that building his music career without the support of a record label has been challenging, but he never considered giving up.
“There have been moments when the pressure felt overwhelming, especially as an independent artist without the backing of a record label. But giving up was never really an option for me. Music is something I truly believe in, so even during difficult periods, I kept pushing and finding ways to stay consistent,” he explained.
Sacrifices and Investments
The singer revealed that he has invested his personal time, money, and comfort into his music career. “One of the biggest sacrifices has been investing personal time, money, and comfort into the dream. A lot of things had to be postponed so I could focus on recording, promotion, and building my brand independently. Being an artist sometimes means choosing long-term vision over short-term comfort,” he added.
Skelvin also highlighted his use of TikTok to promote his songs and increase visibility. “So I paved way for myself with consistent TikTok viral posts with my songs,” he said.
Musical Journey and Projects
He began pursuing music professionally during his time at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State. His discography includes the EPs The Revelation, Been Thru A Lot, and The RENDITION. Some of his notable songs are “Only Hope,” “Cana,” “One Life,” “Survival,” and “Alubarika.” He has collaborated with artists such as Corizo, Erigga, Rybeena, Magnito, Jaywilz, Smur Lee, Hotkid, and Chella.
Looking ahead, Skelvin expressed his desire to work with Zinoleesky, Omah Lay, and other top Nigerian artists as he continues to expand his audience.
