OyinBass: Why multi-instrumentalism and music production matter in the digital music era
As digital technology continues to reshape the global music industry, gospel musician and music producer Oyinloluwa Bamidele, popularly known as Oyinloluwa or Oyinbass, believes that musicians must look beyond mastering a single instrument and develop a broader understanding of how music is created.
A Nigerian-born, UK-based musician, Oyinloluwa is primarily a bass guitarist but has expanded his musical abilities to include playing five other instruments, alongside songwriting, composition, music production and music direction.
For him, understanding multiple instruments and the production process provides musicians with a stronger creative foundation, particularly in an industry where digital audio workstations, home studios and accessible recording technology have changed how music is developed and distributed.
The modern musician is no longer limited to performing an instrument during rehearsals or live sessions. With the growth of digital production, musicians can participate in several stages of a recording, from developing musical ideas and arranging compositions to creating instrumental productions and preparing songs for recording.
Oyinloluwa’s experience reflects this changing reality. His primary identity remains rooted in bass guitar performance, but his additional skills allow him to approach music from different creative perspectives. Understanding how other instruments function within an arrangement also helps musicians appreciate rhythm, harmony, melody and the relationship between individual performances and the finished production.
The importance of this broader knowledge is particularly evident among emerging musicians. While technology has made music production more accessible, having access to production software does not automatically translate into musical understanding. Knowledge of arrangement, timing, sound selection, instrumentation and composition remains essential to producing music that communicates effectively.
Digital tools can support creativity, but musicians still need the technical and artistic knowledge to use them meaningfully. A musician who understands both performance and production can communicate ideas more effectively, collaborate with producers and contribute beyond the limitations of a single instrument.
Oyinloluwa’s professional journey has also exposed him to collaborative recording environments and established gospel music projects. His association with EeZee Conceptz Global introduced him to a wider network of gospel artistes, while his bass guitar contributions to projects involving Minister G.U.C., including Lamb of God and Potter – Refix, brought wider attention to his musicianship.
His work extends beyond instrumental performance. His songwriting and collaborative credits include Great by Tomi Folayan, I Will Not Fear by Sam Petts and Prayer by Brenique Adams. On He’s Good, featuring Sam Petts and Cole IZRL, he contributed to the songwriting, instrumental production and arrangement, in addition to playing bass guitar.
These experiences demonstrate the value of musicians who can contribute across different stages of music creation. In a competitive digital music environment, the ability to perform, arrange, compose and produce can create more opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
However, Oyinloluwa’s emphasis on learning multiple instruments and production is not an argument that every musician must become an expert in every area. Rather, it highlights the advantage of understanding how the different elements of music work together and developing complementary skills that strengthen one’s primary specialisation.
For young musicians entering the industry, his journey offers an important lesson: musical development should not end when an instrument has been mastered. Learning how music is arranged, recorded and produced can deepen artistic expression and improve a musician’s ability to participate in the wider creative economy.
As the music industry continues to evolve through digital production and distribution, Oyinloluwa represents a growing category of musicians whose value lies not only in what they can play, but also in what they understand about creating music.
About Oyinloluwa
Oyinloluwa Bamidele, professionally known as Oyinloluwa or Oyinbass, is a Nigerian-born, UK-based gospel musician, multi-instrumentalist, bass guitarist, songwriter, composer, music producer and music director. His work spans instrumental performance, recording, music production and collaborative gospel projects.
