NeoCyril was born to a Civil Servant Father who worked for the Ministry of Finance in Nigeria and played the flute. and a mother that was into business. He is popularly known among friends as CEO coined from the initials of his full names Cyril Emeni Osaenwete.
NeoCyril is currently based in the United Kingdom where he continues his studies and performs around Europe and Africa.
He Joined the choir at age 6. His elder brother thought him to play the drums and percussions before he was 10. In 2006, his interactions with veterans like Sir Victor Uwaifo and Peter King shaped his perception of world music. Peter King started to teach him the Saxophone that same year. However NeoCyril doesn’t consider himself a serious saxophonist, he says he is “saxophonically” lazy. His first love remains songwriting, singing and performing.
In his secondary school days in Igbobi College, he was popular for football, dancing and music. He performed materials from Onyx, Naughty by nature, Method Man, DMX, and sampled Fela, Michael Jackson, R Kelly, Snoop Dogg to mention a few.
His early university years was in Olabisi onabanjo University,after a stint at LASU Epe campus, where he was involved in an ad hoc music group with Hip-hop sensation Dbanj and Jedi. He has written for and performed alongside many other African and European artiste. And has worked in different capacities with producers like Wole Oni, Cobahms Asuquo, Willz, Jerry Gold, Offer watz etc.
His passion for big things got him into trouble in his debut major recording in 2006. A big fan of 2Face Idibia, Lagbaja,Femi Kuti, Kunle Ajayi , Angelique Kidjo, Asa, Youssou N’dour, Salif Keita, Sammy Okposo , Don Jazzy, Sound Sultan, M.I to mention a few, he embarked on a cut throat 12 man live recording project in one of Nigeria’s top most studios at the time. Long story short the recorded data was lost in a freak studio accident affecting a recording deal that was in process. So much for an Epic introduction.
That hasn’t stopped him from writing, recording and performing. He has a collection of over 500 songs written over an 18 year window period.
A lyrical line from one of the songs in the 2006 ill fated project goes thus “ Dem say 2015 Nigeria go disintegrate….. Objection! Dem no be God wey create”. He has always believed in the unity and greatness of Nigeria. He is happy Nigeria is rising above the prediction of doomsday by over zealous western foreign policy analysts. Especially symbolised in the positives from the just concluded Presidential elections.
He has something little to say in a song dropping soon.Anticipate!Download!Listen!
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