Michael Oloyede is a Nigerian-based drummer, composer, educator and producer. He is the founder and bandleader of Native Brains, a funky afrobeat band, as well as the Speakeasy Blues Project.
Over the past 2 decades, Michael has become one of the most sought after touring and recording drummers in Lagos. He has performed as a side-man and played on many recordings with local and international artists and producers such as Cobhams Asuquo, Kaline, ASA, Ayetoro, Lagbaja, Marcus Miller, Pilani Bubu, Nathaniel Bassey, Wole Oni, Enitan Adaba, SOMI, Omar, Hamish Stewart, Temidayo Balogun, Timothy Ogunbiyi, Perpie, Olamide Timothy, just to name a few.
Renowned for playing with grace, style and musical finesse, Michael has been a source of inspiration to many around him.
In addition to his work as a performer, Michael is a skilled educator. He teaches drumming to students of all ages in classes, one-on-one, and at workshops.
In 2019, he published an instructional drum book titled “Afrobeat Drumming: Coordination Exercises and Grooves”. This book provides a progressive system of study comprising two main sections, which are Exercises and Grooves.
In giving back to the drumming circle in Nigeria and by extension, the world, he founded “Drum Quarters”, an educational and entertainment channel for drummers in 2021. The channel gained over 158,000 views on youtube in less than a year of its establishment.
Michael has a diploma in Computer Science at the Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria, attended the MUSON School of Music Performance Diploma program, Nigeria, for 2 years and later went on to attend the 5-Week Summer Jazz Performance Program at the Berklee College of Music, Boston MA, USA.