Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gideon Oyedokun. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Gideon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

How did you learn to do what you do?
As far back as I can remember, music has always been a part of my life. I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to my parents. Both of them sang in the church choir growing up, and my mother later became a music teacher when we lived in Nigeria. My father played several instruments, and neither of them ever discouraged my siblings or me from exploring music, even when we had no idea what we were doing.
It didn’t get serious for me until I started high school. I distinctly remember the time I tried to learn Für Elise by following the accompaniment track on my family’s Casio keyboard. At the same time, I had a family friend who shared my interest, and we’d spend hours talking about our progress on the piano. That was when I truly fell in love with music.
Over time, I downloaded the trial version of FL Studio and started watching Busy Works Beats on YouTube religiously after school. Looking back, I realize I spent countless hours learning about sound design and music production—it was always exciting and new. I was never tired; I only paused to eat. At that time, though, I didn’t know how to play an instrument. I dabbled with the piano but struggled immensely—it felt almost impossible. So I made do with what I could and simply clicked notes into the DAW.
Things changed about five years ago during COVID. I’m not entirely sure how, but I received what I believe to be a gift from Jesus: the ability to play the piano. I suppose I’m getting ahead of myself, though. A couple of years before COVID, I had picked up the guitar. During college, I carried my guitar everywhere so I could practice during my free time. I’m not sure why I was so dedicated, but through that process, I picked up knowledge of music theory.
The guitar was a great starting instrument, and I made some good music with it back then. I still plan to use it in my music, but I always felt it wasn’t my main instrument. It’s a strange feeling—when you just know there’s more. I really wanted to play the piano. I remember listening to No One Knows Me Like the Piano by Sampha and discovering greats like Cory Henry. I instantly knew that’s what I wanted to do.
Fast forward to COVID: my church needed a pianist for New Year’s service because our main pianist was away, and the backup pianist was unavailable. I was already playing the guitar at church and knew a few chords here and there. With the help of the transpose button, I could get through some songs. So, I prayed to God and asked for the gift of playing the piano so I could minister to His people. I kid you not—it just happened. Everything clicked, and I played so well that night, I amazed even myself.
Thanks to the habits I had built while learning other crafts, it was easy to dedicate time to honing my piano skills. In a very short time, I became more confident and learned more than I ever imagined I could. Truly, God’s timing is perfect. After gaining more confidence, I released my first song on Spotify, The Truth, and I plan to release more. In fact, this year, 2025, I’ll be releasing something great. Check out my artist page, The Servant King, on music platforms!

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything I could have done to speed up the process. Looking back, I can only attribute my success to God’s divine placement. My family’s influence gave me easy access to music, and God blessed me with the ability to understand, play, and create music. It’s not that I was perfect; it’s that my success wasn’t solely driven by me. I believe I’d still be here today, no matter what.

What skills do you think were most essential?
One skill I can confidently say is essential in anything is the ability to be diligent and dedicated. My love for music kept me focused and in the zone, and without that passion, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
There were many obstacles on this journey, but the biggest one was myself. I tend to doubt myself a lot, and perhaps it’s the artist in me, but I often seek validation from others when it comes to my music. This has been a hindrance at times, especially since I’ve realized that the music I love the most comes when I don’t care about what others think. It’s an ongoing journey, but it’s an exciting one!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Gideon, and I’m a 28-year-old musician. I was born in Nigeria and immigrated to the U.S. with my family when I was seven years old, and I’ve been here ever since. Most, if not all, of my early childhood memories are in the smallest state, Rhode Island. For such a small state, I made some big memories there.

I’d say I fell deeply in love with music during my later years in high school. I’ve always had an interest in music, and looking back, it’s clear that it’s been with me my whole life. It’s often the things closest to you that you neglect, but once you cherish them, you begin to find contentment in life—or at least, that’s how it’s been for me.

Aside from music, I work as a Software Engineer for Microsoft. I’ve been with this amazing company for a couple of years, and even getting here was only by God’s grace and divine placement. I currently live in Washington state, and it’s been a journey—one that I’m still on.
Right now, music is my second profession. Software engineering takes up most of my time during the day, but my creativity truly comes alive at night and on weekends. The reason I create is simple: I have a story to tell, and I guess I’m not done talking yet. I’m not sure if I ever will be, but if I do, I know I’ll be glad I spoke.

The stories I share through my music are meant to minister to people. My aim is not just to create a foundation where others can relate but also to offer comfort through my words—to remind them they’re not alone in their thoughts. That’s just the surface, though. The true goal of my music is to show whoever is listening, Jesus.

I try to craft my music in a way that doesn’t impose my beliefs or values on others. Instead, it’s my way of offering an inviting and convincing suggestion: maybe you’d want to try what I have. I strive to make my content raw and human. I don’t want to come across as perfect or unattainably different from anyone else. At the same time, I want to express the separation I’ve found from secular things—but in a way that’s inviting. At least, that’s my hope.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the release you experience when pouring heavy emotions into a project and feeling a sense of freedom. It’s difficult to put into words, but I think we, as artists, are artists because we carry so many emotions. Speaking personally, whenever I’m going through something too heavy to share or when I struggle to find the right words, simply playing an instrument—whether it’s the piano or the guitar—has helped me in ways I can’t even fully describe.

Additionally, when you create from that emotional place, it often allows you to separate yourself from yourself. That distance can give you a brand-new perspective on life—one that you might not have been able to see otherwise.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

From my experience, I think what many people struggle to understand about my journey as a creative is why I do things the way I do. “Why don’t you create like this?” or “Why don’t you create like that?”

These questions aren’t necessarily harsh, nor are they intended to cause harm, but they remind me that not everyone is going to accept or resonate with what I do—and some might. It’s honestly a roll of the dice.

This realization has taught me to extend more grace to others because I’ve come to understand that I’m not the same as someone else. It’s also helped me appreciate myself a little more. Learning to embrace my unique approach and perspective has been part of the journey, and in many ways, it’s shaped my creative process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theservantking.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstheservantking/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@servantking1726
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qkJBTC1YBsSwQIV8WuxgO?si=XmT_bB6rRz-aiElIYkr5Ww&nd=1&dlsi=d796c1d047e64bbc