May7ven

Early life

May7ven was born in Ibadan, Nigeria to one of Nigeria's greatest footballing & sports legends, Chief Segun Odegbami, and a Nigerian mother, Jumoke Tejumola, an accountant and ex-athlete. She attended Bodija International School before relocating to the UK at the age of 6 with her mother, her brother Junior Odegbami and sister Funmi Odegbami CEO of MINK Cosmetics LLP. May7ven has other siblings, Tolu Odegbami, Steven Odegbami and Mo Odegbami who live in Nigeria with their mothers. During her adolescence, May studied Music, Sound Engineering, Building surveying and Architecture. She joined her church choir when she was 10 and started teaching street dance at her local community centre in Kensal Green, when she was just 14, to children and young adults. She landed her first job as an estate agent and property developer at age 17 whilst pursuing a studies and music career.

1997–2012: Songwriting and backing vocals

May7ven began songwriting and backing vocals in 1997 when she provided backing vocals for Phoebe One, Wayne Marshall, Ebony, LLoydie Crucial and KRS1. May7ven can be heard providing backing vocals on various tracks of RnB Singer Jamelia's 2000 debut Album Drama on tracks 'Money', 'One Fine day' and 'Bout it' feat. Rah Digga produced by Colin Emmanuel. She later went on to work with, tour and supported big names in concert around the world including Blu Cantrell, Beverley Knight, Mary J Blige, Angie Stone Stevie Brookstein. Akon, Joe Thomas plus others. In summer of 2008 May7ven fulfilled one of her lifetime ambitions which was to impress the Jacksons which she did after performing for Marlon Jackson at the La Campaign Tropicana in Lekke, Nigeria. The impressed Jackson commented that May7ven reminded him a lot of like his sister Janet and struck a friendship with the young artist giving her sound advice for her career and her fancy footwork. In 2009, May7ven was commissioned to write and produce several programmes and theme music for TV and films including the 1st Eko Awards, Abuja Festival, The 1st Annual Gospel Music Awards UK 2009. In 2010 May7ven started working as the executive producer of the DJ Abrantee Show on Sky TV. In 2011 May7ven teamed with producer Antoine Stone to complete works on her album which included recording an Afrobeats single "Ten Ten" released in May 2012.

Performances

Her earlier 2008 bookings included performing in New York venue Sugar Bar owned by Mowtown singers Ashford & Simpson, Opening up for Grandmaster Flash at the Ingenuity Festival in Cleveland Ohio to various performances in London. May7ven also performed at one of the most anticipated events of 2009 'Koko Concert' held at the O2 arena in London. This concert consisted of African star D'Banj, Don Jazzy and the rest of the Mo Hits squad with May7ven as the only female artist. She was introduced to the stage by famous Nigerian comedian Basketmouth. In Oct 2009 May7ven was booked to headline at 5 Nigerian Independence Day concerts over a 2-day period in London & Dublin in 2009. Her Extensive Tour Schedule between 2008 and 2009 have seen the young artist Headline a performance at Sweden's Fryshusset performing to over 4000 students to the Sound Factory on Germany's popular Street Soul TV Show Broadcast Live to Opening the Shell World Cup Football tournaments to over 40,000 spectators. Her performances were featured on TV Mogul Bisi Olatilo's Show which broadcast an Hour Special on 7 May. In March 2011 May7ven performed on the IDOLS WEST AFRICA Live show in Nigeria where she debuted her 3rd single "Number" Idols is one of the most watched TV shows in Africa. In June 2011 May7ven Joined Ginuwine and J.holiday to perform at The O2 Arena where she introduced single "Number". In August 2011 May7ven performed in the 1st UK Afrobeats Festival being the only female artist on the bill along with Wizkid, P-Square and Ice Prince to over 5000 spectators, including Akon, Mobo founder Kanya King, Tim Westwood and more. In October 2011 May7ven was invited to perform for the MTN 10th-anniversary show in Lagos with 10 of Nigeria's biggest artists. In January 2012 May7ven performs a new to be released single "Ten Ten" at the Afrobeats Sundays event with Iceprince.

She has set up a number of charities for children including TMACC (The Mathematical African Children's Charity) and is also one of the directors of the International Sports & Music Academy in Wasimi, Nigeria. May7ven is also the Co-founder of SistasUnite Charity for women and children founded in April 2014.

Present

In March 2011 May7ven launched her own radio show on City FM 105.1 in Nigeria broadcasting each Friday from 8pm to 10pm co produced by DJ Abrantee. The radio show was presented by May7ven for two hours playing her Top 7 music count down, music from across the world and Live interviews with other artists. In March 2011, May7ven signed to Malta Guinness and Endemol as a permanent judge on the hit TV Show's 4th season of The Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa 4 2011 along with judges Wale Rubber and Franklyspeaking. May7ven launched her 3rd single entitled "Number" produced by Step of Badself Entertainment, remixed, mixed and mastered by Ayodele Basil aka Delb in Nigeria in May 2011. In March 2012, May7ven's unreleased single "Ten Ten" was A-Listed on UK's Choice FM Radio making it the 2nd Afrobeat song to be playlisted on a UK Commercial Radio, after Dbanj's "Oliver Twist" in 2013 May7ven founded M7 Music Group, Afrobeats Live, CDN Networks, May Zing Hair line and Created of Afrobeats Search for a Star in September 2013 with her partner Abrantee Boateng In April 2013, May7ven launched AfrobeatsLive at Jazz Cafe and partnered with Abrantee Boateng, sponsored by DLA Worldwide. An event that showcases Afrobeats Musicians on a Live Stag and TV Platform In May 2014 May7ven executively produced a charity single 'SISTAS UNITE' in support of the Bringbackourgirls campaign in Nigeria. She signed UK producer Mictizzlebeats and Daniel Sync and lined up 14 African female artists to lend their voices to the cause.

Tour history

▪ 2008 How We Does Tour – Germany, Sweden
▪ 2009 Globalcom Rock n Rule Tour
▪ 2011 Afrobeats Club & Festival Tour
▪ 2014 UK School Tour (Anti Bullying & Sistas Unite

TV presenting

▪ Star Host 1 Hour Special – Soundcity Music Channel 2009
▪ Naija's TOP 10 Count Down – Nigeezy with Andre Blaze
▪ Ben TV's Top 10 Count Down – Sky TV
▪ Atunda Half Hour Special – Biscon, Bisi Olatilo Show
▪ Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa 2010 – Celebrity Guest Judge
▪ Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa 2011 – Permanent Judge
▪ Fame Music presents Afrobeats Search for a Star Judge 2015 – Permanent Judge