Beats, Discipline, and the Joy of 18-Hour Soundtracks.

Stories like that of Okikiola Awesu, professionally known as Clone are commonplace. Starting your journey into the creative journey from selfish obsession to making something magical for yourself. 

“I made the decision from my love and attention for music.”

Others begin in silence, slowly evolving into symphonies. But for Clone, it's not just to make another copy, it's to be a trailblazer. That why he doesn’t just listen to music; he devours it. Eighteen hours a day, every day, since childhood. 

Raised by grandparents whose homes echoed with melody, it was inevitable that he’d follow the pull. But the move from passionate listener to committed producer didn’t come until two years ago— when the time decided to bend for him. 

“About 500 days, give or take,” he says. “Not too long ago.”

Novare and the Spark That Stayed

Ask most producers about their first beat, and they’ll wince. Clone? He lights up.

“Not the first beat I ever made, but the first I put out—‘Novare’. It’s available on YouTube.”

And how does it feel now?

“Never better. I get the same feeling I got when I was making it every time I play it.”

That kind of emotional recall is rare. Music often ages like memory—some parts sharpen, others dissolve. But Novare is a timestamp in Clone’s creative evolution, one that still pulses with the energy of the moment it was born.

From Swae Lee to Saheed Osupa: A Sonic Mosaic

Clone’s list of influences reads like a festival lineup curated by a time traveler. From Travis Scott to Barrister, Metro Boomin to Malaika, it’s a cultural mashup that mirrors the sonic schizophrenia of growing up Nigerian—where Fuji, Afrobeat, R&B, and trap share the same playlist.

“Travis Scott. Michael Jackson. Swae Lee. Burna Boy…Producers like 40, Quincy Jones, Don Jazzy, Wheezy, ID Cabasa, Pheelz…”

There’s no boundary in Clone’s soundscape. He absorbs from everywhere—mainstream, underground, East and West—building a style rooted in flexibility and open-mindedness.

In a country like Nigeria where genres aren’t strict lines but fluid languages, this multi-genre approach is less trend and more necessity.

The Process Isn’t a Process

If you’re looking for a step-by-step breakdown of Clone’s production process, don’t. He’s not big on rigid formulas.

“It’s not really a process-process. Everything just comes together at the end. And that’s the beauty of it.”

There’s a kind of chaos here—controlled, intuitive, musical chaos. And in that disorder, creativity thrives.

At the center of it all? FL Studio.

No Ableton flex, no Pro Tools sermon. Just FL Studio—simple, familiar, effective. It’s the same tool behind many Nigerian producers’ rise, from bedrooms in Ikeja to Billboard charts abroad.

Collaboration Is Chemistry

If Clone’s solo work is fluid, his collaborations are lightning in a bottle.

“Collaborating with an artist is probably the best thing ever. All a producer needs, anyways.”

He doesn’t dictate; he dances with the artist’s energy. The goal isn’t to override but to amplify.

“I love to listen to what the artist wants while bouncing off each other’s energy.”

It’s not just beat-making. It’s emotional translation—turning a feeling into rhythm, a story into sound.

Beyond Drums: The Work in Progress

Ask Clone what project excites him most right now and he won’t name just one. He lights up like a studio monitor mid-mix.

“Yes, yes. A lot of them. From various artists too. And I’m excited about every single one because of the part I’m playing.”

He’s no longer just laying drums. He’s orchestrating emotion, structuring songs, expanding his role beyond the beatmaker tag.

Success? It’s Not What You Think.

In an industry that often equates success with streaming numbers, awards, or cosigns, Clone's definition is quieter—and deeper.

“Success is self-discipline.”

Not the answer you expect from a young producer, but maybe the one that matters most. For Clone, success is not a moment, it's a muscle. Something you strengthen daily.

“We’ve come this far. Things are getting better. And I’m looking forward to the next moment.”

So, Is Clone A Copy?

He’s building his own path. He’s a listener, a learner, a student of sound and silence. A sonic craftsman who believes in vibes over templates, collaboration over control, and the magic of doing more than just laying drums.

He’s part of a new generation of Nigerian producers who know that genre is fluid, success is internal, and the real work is never really done.

Clone may be 500 days into his journey, but his story reads like a mixtape with too many unreleased tracks—and that’s exactly what makes him one to watch.

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