Yemi Alafifuni

Today we are sitting down with Yemi Alafifuni to hear more of the story behind his debut album “Father” which was released earlier this month. This album is inspired by his relationship with his dad and God, and is a journey of seeking knowledge and healing for the artist. He hopes to inspire his listeners in the same way.

Okay… let us start with this, what is the inspiration behind “Father”?

Certainly. I received what I believe to be an impression from the Lord to start the album project early 2017. At that time, I knew what the theme was but the detail of the project wasn’t revealed to me until later. I knew I was to select songs that focused on God as Father but it wasn’t until later that the Lord asked me to tell my story and how He had fathered me. The album is simply inspired by the fact that God is our Father and He loves us dearly. We all hurt one way or another and we all have suffered disappointment through our life journey but there is a constant being that never fails to make it His agenda that we make it through – God, He is in fact our Father!

Which of your songs took the longest to write, and why?

Well, 2 of the songs gave me the chills;

1. ‘Padre’: I first documented the demo version of this song almost 20 years ago when I was invited by a drummer friend to his new church’s choir rehearsal with the intention to get me signed as a paid soloist (a job I desperately needed!). We tried endlessly to put the song together but after many hours, decided to bin it as it was just too hard to pitch and I didn’t think it would be received well at the time. As it became clearer what the theme of this album was, I had to revamp, rewrite and refocus this song. Countless versions and nights later, ‘Padre’ was ready for recording.

2. ‘Prodigal Father’: The first version of this song was rejected by my producer who told me it lacked something. The song embodies my entire life’s walk with God and how I’ve come to treasure his love – this is my worship, simply! It took approximately 6 – 8 months to pen the song’s first draft, change of continent to pen its hook and the grace of God to sing it. The song means a lot and carries a lot of emotion, all to God’s glory.

When did you first realise that music is something you wanted to do?

After surrendering my life to Jesus as a teen, I took to Marantha Kids music (a gospel music label at the time) and fell in love with it all. At age 14, I became the Head Usher of my school Christian Fellowship and one day I asked and was granted the opportunity to teach the whole fellowship a worship song every time we met (usually every Wednesdays after school). This experience boosted my desire to keep learning music and I have take the opportunities to sing ever since. More profoundly was the seed that was planted in my heart, when a group of ladies from a boarding school next to my home, would gather to sing worship songs every weekday night at 12 midnight. I would stay awake every night just to hear those sonorous voices travel through the night and into my bedroom. And as I worshiped along with them, my heart was sold out to God. The main song they sang was ‘As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You’. From then on, I knew where I belonged.

Which is your favourite track on the album and why?

All the tracks have a place in my heart but I dare say my favourites are ‘Prodigal Father’ and ‘Dance for Love’

‘Prodigal Father’ because it’s just a warm place where one can stay with God forever. It digs deep into anyone’s heart of gratitude, where worship isn’t just a song but a communion. It brings me to tears every time.

‘Dance for Love’ has my daughter featuring in it and for me, her voice speaks volume… ‘Ladies and Gents, the Father is in love with you and He sings over you’!

And… If you could be a cartoon character who would you be?

Hmmm… I would imagine most will say Superman? But I think if I’m honest, I would probably want to be Dora, The Explorer. I know… I know! Sounds unlikely but I love to explore, I love stepping out in faith. After all, faith with no ‘stepping’ is just religion.

Click the album artwork below and get your copy now of Yemi’s debut album “Father” on iTunes. - ASTEPFWD

Yemi Alafifuni is a Gospel recording artist based in the UK. He is all about creating music that is empowering, catchy and engaging, which shares a very positive and meaningful message with his listeners.

He released his debut album, ‘Father’, in February and has since seen the move of God in countless ways. - Premier Radio

Yemi is a British-based Nigerian singer and he was interested in music from an early age. He started working on this project back in 2017 and he knew the subject and focus of the album, but not yet which songs to select. The focus is Father, not just God as Father but also his relationship with his own father. For much of his young life Yemi lived with his Brother and Father and had no contact with his Mother. So this album focuses on different aspects of those relationships, both earthly and heavenly with much praise and in a modern Gospel style.

The first track stems from something that Yemi wrote almost 20 years ago, after trying for a long time to put the song together he binned it. Now he has dusted it off and re-worked it for this new album and it works and sounds great. Maybe the acceptable styles have moved on since the first time he tried to bring it all together. This song is Yemi introducing us to his "Padre" or Father. It's about his heavenly father, taking some of the ideas of who God is in relation to us and what He does for us. It's very clear that this is not an old man with a beard, sitting on a cloud waiting to condemn, this is a loving, good, good, Father! He is one who breaks our chains and sends us a comforter and it leaves the listener with the question, "Do you know Him?" Continuing the worship of the Heavenly Father the second track, "Dance For Love" opens with Yemi's daughter telling us that "The Father is in love with you and He sings over you." This is one of those things that I always find amazing and always lifts me up when I am feeling a bit sorry for myself! This is a joyful and upbeat song reminding us of just how much God loves us, and our response is to dance before the Father for the love that He gave us.

The worship continues and brings in the well know Gospel singer Noel Robinson on the track "Great Titles". This really is a great worship song that reminds us of some of the names that God has in the Bible, and then reminds us that we have the privilege to call God our Daddy! If you can take in all the meanings in these names and then remember that we are adopted Sons and Daughters then it will help you to align with your position and bring power to your faith. As the song continues and builds up musically it cannot fail to build your faith. "Through" is a somewhat slower and more personal song where we see how unfaithful that we can be in our relationship with God, and yet we can still call God Daddy. On top of this we can appeal to those who are poor and needy around us, those that need a Daddy or Mummy in real life. This song invites God to move through us to see the Kingdom more on Earth.

"My Hosanna" reminds me of a Ron Kenoly Gospel track, but this is about a specific moment and prayer, before switching to Jesus death and reigning in Heaven forever. There is plenty of praise and worship in this track with a female Gospel backing which gives this track a lot of depth. If you didn't dance before, you probably will be by the end of this track! There are some great songs that I am listening to at the moment that build up our faith in who God is and what He desires to do in us and what we have His authority for prophecy in situations. "Voice The Sound" reminds us that God speaks and it happens, from the statements of creation, the still small voice and even Ezekiel's valley of dry bones. After recounting and referencing some of the moves of God from the Bible, Yemi moves to prophesy about the various situations that we face that we will see God move in salvation, healing, restoration and more. I think this is a powerful song if we can join in with it in belief and sing these over our circumstances.

In "Son" Yemi briefly moves the focus from the relationship and worship of God the Father and puts his attention on Jesus. Again this is pure worship of Jesus for who He is and what He accomplishes for us as we wait and long for Him. The second verse brings in the strong vocal talents of Jacy-Mai as the worship is raised to Him. The last track is "Prodigal Father" and it is another that had to be reworked from the first draft which Yemi's producer turned down! With the changes and a hook that brings you into the presence of the Father, this is one of the best tracks on the album. It reminds us of who God is and that our identity is in God and His grace and not in anything that we have done in our own strength!

Each of these songs benefits from being put together well. Yemi has a rich vocal which can easily dominate the tunes, but that power is held back and controlled with just the occasional hearing of what it could be. He has a great rich sound and features mainly a fairly classic style of Gospel music and his collaborations are well chosen with voices complimenting each other well. If you want to investigate your relationship with God and to understand better what it means to have a Father in God then this is highly recommended. There are definitely a couple of tracks on here that will be going into my personal faith-building playlist!

By

Rob Allwright - One Man In The Middle