In the complex, global machinery of Afrobeats, few figures possess the expertise to transition seamlessly from arranging a studio album to orchestrating a world tour.
Seyifunmi Michael is one of those rare architects. Spanning the critical roles of Music Director, Producer, Arranger, Programmer, and Composer, Seyifunmi has built a career defined by versatility and longevity.
His musical roots trace back to his childhood in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos. His early passion was nurtured in a genuinely musical household: Seyifunmi’s late mother was a gospel singer, his father played the guitar, and his sisters sang.
He began playing the keyboard at four or five and was the official keyboardist for his mother’s church by age six or seven. It was in Ikotun that he forged his powerful chemistry with Adekunle Gold. Seyifunmi Michael recalls the complementary nature of their early dynamic: “Adekunle came into the picture… He was more of a singer, and I was more of a music person”.
His synergy with AG led to the formation of their early collective, “The Bridge”. The official leap into professional music production took place in 2015, cemented by the creation of Adekunle Gold’s debut album, Gold. Seyifunmi reveals that nearly 95 percent of the whole Gold album was already produced by him, with him creating the music in their Gbagada one-bedroom flat using an iMac before the project was refined by then-YBNL producer, Pheelz.
As Adekunle Gold strategically transitioned from “Urban Highlife” on Gold to contemporary “Afropop” and R&B fusion on Tequila Ever After, Seyifunmi Michael has been the constant production and directional force across every project.
This unwavering, two-decade partnership culminated in Seyifunmi’s assumption of Executive Producer for Adekunle Gold’s sixth studio album, FUJI (released in October 2025), a role he describes as officially “wearing the robe properly” after years of simply “just been working” together. “I’ve always been an executive producer and A&R on all of his projects,” he declares.
Seyifunmi Michael’s personal sound trajectory is rooted in his technical versatility and commitment to organic sounds. In the initial phase of his professional work, Seyifunmi was deeply immersed in the traditional Nigerian music that produced hits for Simi, Teni and Adekunle Gold, utilizing elements like talking drums and “things like Alujo production”.
However, recognising the need to evolve, Seyifunmi transformed into a more eclectic pop-infused style while still maintaining his organic core.
His commitment to continuous learning while maintaining his essence has allowed him to anchor Adekunle Gold’s bold sonic pivots while producing hits for Pheelz, Jacob Banks, Davido.
His production of Teni’s monumental hit “Uyo Meyo” (2018) earned the Headies Award for Best Recording of the Year 2019.
The track was deeply personal to him, connecting him to his late mother through Teni’s vocal tone and intonation which was from Ondo State where his mother came from. “I always want to create from my soul, not just my wrists, and for “Uyo Meyo”, I knew I had to be in the zone,” he shares.
Speaking on the idea behind the FUJI album, he said, “The core vision was to do a sound of Lagos and take it back to Fuji.” As Executive producer, he oversaw every track (except the tracks, “Attack” & “Oba”) “I’m the one that puts the puzzle together. Even if it’s a complete image, I’m the one that says, ‘ Let’s add a little color onto this one. We need to remove a little color from this one.”
Their approach was to strike a balance and present a “mix of the core Fuji and a mix of pop in a way” to avoid sounding “alien” to global audiences.
For instance, on the track “Many People” (which was co-produced with The Kazez), Seyifunmi deployed advanced sound design, layering a grand piano, pop sounds, and a “crazy 808″ before switching to the traditional “Shina Peters-type kick” in the second verse, an arrangement designed to ensure that the Gen Zs and the older gens understood the sound”.
He also traveled with Adekunle Gold to Ibadan to record Yinka Ayefele and his “Elegbes” (the traditional term for Yoruba backup singers) to deepen the cultural authenticity.
The second crucial pillar of Seyifunmi’s career is live music arrangement and direction, a non-negotiable requirement for Afrobeats artists seeking global crossover. He serves as the Producer and Music Director for Adekunle Gold’s official band, “The 79th Element”.
In this capacity, Seyifunmi is responsible for the logistics and artistry of international touring. His philosophy in this field is simple: “Live music has no rules. Whatever you give people is what they’ll take”.
His directorial portfolio includes the sprawling Catch Me If You Can Tour (North America, Europe, and Australia 2022) and the Tequila Ever After Tour (North America 2023). An example of his technical mastery in music arrangement came during a performance in Europe.
After researching the crowd, Seyifunmi switched the hit song “High” into an EDM arrangement at the end, leading to positive crowd reception and even social media virality. “It was one of my proudest moments as an arranger and music director”.
Seyifunmi has also served as a music director and arranger for Mayorkun, Taves, and Pheelz.
Beyond music, Seyifunmi is the founder and CEO of Three Kings Burger, a fast-food restaurant brand based in Lagos, Nigeria. Additionally, SEYIFunmi applies his skills as a Composer and Programmer to the corporate space, creating soundtracks and theme songs for major corporate clients, including Airtel Nigeria and Unity Bank Nigeria.
Looking ahead, Seyifunmi Michael is focused on expanding his influence beyond his established collaborations, centering his next five years on impact, mentorship, and diversifying his own musical output. He aims to step out of the background and put himself “more out there”. He’s gearing up for the release of a personal EP, expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Beyond this, Seyifunmi plans to collaborate more extensively with international and local A-list artists and producers and push his boundaries by venturing into new genres driven by rich storytelling.
As a Music Director, a major goal is to stage his own proper orchestral concert. This event would uniquely feature his produced songs, with the artists he produced them for performing live on stage, creating a concert experience where people would buy tickets “just because I’m the music producer that is involved”.
Underlying all these professional ambitions is a commitment to mentorship: he aims to “create kings and queens,” developing new artists and making himself available to mentor emerging producers without charge. Ultimately, Seyifunmi wants his legacy to be one of lasting impact, where his product outlives him.
“I want the future generations of creators to look back and study my sound for inspiration,” he concludes.
