Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ladi (aka Bay Or BowlBay) Oyewo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ladi (aka Bay or BowlBay), thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I’ve taken in my career was walking away from a secure and well paying job as a Mechanical Engineer to pursue music full time. On paper I had everything people told me I was supposed to want, but something felt incomplete. Growing up I was always that kid making beats on the cafeteria table. I was one of the few students who actually looked forward to choir, and my favorite teacher was always the music teacher.

Still, I followed the path most of my peers were on and entered the corporate world. Yet the question of “what if” kept following me. During the pandemic I finally gave myself permission to explore music, at first as a side project while working my day job. I taught myself how to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), started recording for friends and bandmates, and slowly began building confidence. Before long I was entering music production competitions, and in my very first year I won three awards. That was the turning point. It was the moment I realized I wasn’t just experimenting anymore. I had found my calling.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born in Lagos, raised in London, and I like to say I was made in Chicago. My stage name, BowlBay, comes from a deep connection to my family and culture. It’s actually built from the initials of my siblings and parents, which keeps them with me wherever I go.

Music has always been more than just a passion for me. It’s been a constant thread through every chapter of my life. My journey really began when I was around 12 or 13. My brother and uncle used to fill the house with R&B, Hip Hop, and Afrobeats. While they were simply enjoying the music, I was listening with curiosity, breaking it down in my head. I’d pick out the hi-hats in the drums, notice the subtle differences in bass tones, or get lost in how a chord change could completely shift the mood of a song. That attention to detail is what pulled me deeper into the craft.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with major labels like Sony and UMG and to record more than 70 artists. I founded my studio, Garden of Rhythm, as more than just a space to make music. It’s meant to be a creative sanctuary. I built it out of frustration with a narrative I kept seeing online that great music doesn’t matter anymore. My mission is to challenge that belief and prove that exceptional talent isn’t just relevant, it’s vital to our culture.

As the industry evolved, so did Garden of Rhythm. I’ve expanded the studio to include photography, videography, and podcasting, because today an artist needs more than just great music they need strong visuals and storytelling to build a complete experience. Creating a space where we can bring every part of a project to life under one roof has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey so far.

With a catalogue of hundreds of songs across genres, I always strive to bring a fresh perspective to every project. My goal is to help artists tell stories that connect and resonate deeply.

At the heart of it all, I believe life is about memories, and music is the glue that holds them together. Just like a familiar taste or scent, a song can transport you back to a specific moment in time and let you relive it as vividly as the day it happened. That’s the magic I chase in every project I touch.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the process of creating itself. There’s nothing quite like that “eureka” moment when all the pieces fall into place and the music starts to speak for itself. With the rise of AI, that human spark the part of music that’s born from instinct, emotion and experimentation might become a rarer thing in the future, which makes it feel even more special now.

The music industry can be unpredictable, so I don’t take any of it for granted. Every client I work with and every project I get to be a part of is a win in itself. There are so many talented people who never get the chance to build momentum in this space, so I’m always grateful that I get to do what I love and share it with others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that professionalism means hiding who you are. Working in the corporate world can give you tunnel vision. You’re taught to keep your head down, stay serious, and avoid showing too much personality so you can climb the ladder. When I transitioned into the creative industry I had to relearn how to just be myself.

Now I embrace having banter and sharing inside jokes with my clients. I’ve learned that creativity thrives when you bring your whole personality into the room. The more I show up as myself, the stronger the trust becomes. Over the years, that authenticity has helped me build real relationships with the people I work with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gardenofrhythm.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baytheproducer