“I want to leave people with a message of hope…”
Don Steve’s debut album “Mind of A King” is the latest offering from Okbeatz production. In this offering Don Steve goes into his personal struggles in life and leaves music lovers not only entertained by the great sounds but also uplifted and awakened to possibilities.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Don Steve started singing at a very young age at his local church. Growing up in a musical family with a father who was a pianist at the church – Don followed suit as he was part of the church choir.
Music was not his first choice of career, in fact Don Steve was trained as a teacher and he started teaching at one of the schools in his area but later figured that he was not cut out for teaching. He quit and went on to study marine engineering. Even then he still carried on with his music pursuit though he still didn’t consider it as something that would be his career.
An opportunity to come to South Africa presented itself and Don Steve left his home country to try his luck.
“I didn’t even think I was going to pursue music when I got to South Africa – when I got here I thought I would get an opportunity to work onboard a ship but when I arrived things were different – I had to consider other careers”, Don Steve recalls.
His love for music was reignited by a friend that he stayed with in Johannesburg. “I was staying with my friend who is also my pastor’s son who is into music on a full-time basis – so he took me back to my early days of music back home. We then decided to pursue music as a career”.
Although he only started his music career in July last year during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Don Steve has made huge strides in the industry. Not only did he release a successful single “Yawa go Dey” but he also started his own record label Okbeatz, under which he released the single and went on to sign two other artists.
“When I see people who are committed to music and don’t have the means to get it out and I have the ability to help them – I reach out and help them. That’s why I started the record label. God created us to help each other”.
Don Steve’s single “Yawa go Dey” was received very well. It went on to be featured on MTV Base & Trace Africa.
On March 6, 2021, Don Steve will be dropping his much anticipated album “Mind of A King”. The 11-track album is a fusion of dance hall, afro fusion & amapiano.
“The album was simply inspired by things I’ve been through in life and daily life itself. I also tell my life story through painting and some of the paintings I’ve done inspired some of the songs in the album, he says. “I want to leave people with a message of hope as well”.
Mind Of A King launches at Khumalo Theme Park in Pretoria, Acarcia – It’s open to all, free of charge – on Saturday, 6 March 2021 at 3pm. Artwork of the inspiration behind the songs will also be on display.
The launch will also be streamed live on Facebook & Instagram
Follow Don Steven on social media: Facebook – I Am Don Steve Instagram – @Iam_donsteve
