I’ve outgrown singing other people’s songs online — Si Mion

Singer, songwriter and digital creator, Simeon Otitigbi, popularly known as Si Mion, has built a sizeable following with his music covers. With 186,000 followers on Instagram and 460,000 on Facebook, he tells NAOMI CHIMA about his career and other issues

Tell us about yourself and your educational trajectory.

I am a creative from Bayelsa State, but I like to identify as a Port Harcourt boy because I grew up in Port Harcourt (Rivers State). I’m a singer, songwriter, content creator, cinematographer, editor and storyteller.

I had my secondary school education at Sure Foundation Comprehensive College and studied Business Education at the University of Port Harcourt. I went from following a conventional educational path to building a career as an entertainer on the Internet, mainly as a singer, because it was the most accessible form of expression for me at the time.

What inspired the creation of your brand and the choice of a singing character?

I describe Si Mion as my alter ego. That has been written boldly on my TikTok profile from the day I created it. Si Mion is a very confident singer who can create emotions through music. He isn’t afraid to be vulnerable on camera.

As much as I hate to admit it, I used to be a timid person, and I realised that to become the person I wanted to be, I had to let go of some traits and embrace new ones that would get me to where I wanted to be. So, I created a better version of myself that I couldn’t act like before. So far, I’m loving how far we have come.

A lot of people are curious about who you really are behind the music. Who is Simeon?

I would say I’m a creative, emotional and ambitious person. I’m always thinking about ideas and how to bring them to life. A lot of what I create comes from things I feel or experience.

I am also ambitious because I don’t really want to stop at what I’ve already achieved. There’s always another level I want to reach.

Sometimes, you create content with your lookalike. Are you a twin?

It’s very funny when I get asked if I’m a twin. The short answer is no! I’m just so used to being alone, and sometimes I don’t want anyone around. But then I want to make a singing video that I think would be more interesting with two people, so I duet myself.

Thanks to my editing skills, I’m able to make the duo look as realistic as possible. I think it’s just more interesting than doing it solo. My twin is me.

You and your girlfriend sing together, and fans love your vibe. What’s it like creating music with someone you love?

It is very beautiful, honestly. It’s a beautiful thing to bond over the same interests and learn from each other. There are times when I want to do a song, but I know it will do better when we do it together.

Some of the songs we “cover” are songs that we have a strong connection to. If these songs make us feel the way they do, I’m sure there are people out there who would also love to hear them and connect with them.

There’s a post you made about you and your girlfriend online. Did you two break up?

If I’m being honest, it’s a little complicated. I think we are at a point in our lives where we have similar goals but in different directions. I like to keep our personal lives private.

I used to have a vision of growing together, but I think, over time, our visions started to move in different directions. In Divine Reo’s words, “It’s like I exist under your shadow.”

We are very much okay. We know how to communicate very well, even when it’s uncomfortable. We are friends before anything else, and I believe we will always love each other. We just won’t be together on screens as much as we used to be.

After your post suggesting that you might stop singing, a lot of your fans were worried. Was that because of what was happening in your relationship or something else?

I think my viewers have been trained to see me as the guy who sings songs they love in a different voice that they might just like.

I have been making covers for eight years now, and I don’t find it interesting anymore. In my quest to stay consistent, I sometimes make covers even when I don’t feel like it, constantly trying to impress the algorithm while I grow.

I want to make my own songs and share stories that mean something to me and are worth sharing; something that leaves an impact on the viewer.

I’m a creator, and there’s a lot more than singing every day on the internet that I can do. So, I’m taking a break and changing the type of videos I put out. When I truly feel like making a cover, I’ll take my time to make something good. It just won’t be my primary content anymore.

What has been your biggest challenge so far, and how have you been able to overcome it?

My biggest challenge has been trying to build an audience of people who like my original creations. Creating the music is quite challenging too because I go from writing to producing, recording, mixing and mastering all by myself.

Carrying the whole creative workload that, in most cases, involves multiple people can genuinely be exhausting. As an independent artist, even after a release, I still carry the workload of making videos and editing them, while being the model in the shoots. It’s very taxing, but I’m glad I’m able to do it.

If you are truly quitting music, what message do you have for the fans who have stuck with you through the highs and lows?

No, I’m not quitting music. I don’t think that’s something I could ever do because music has been such a huge part of me for so long. I’m just not going to be the cover guy anymore.

I’ve been making covers for about eight years, and while I’m grateful for everything that has done for me, I feel like it’s time to grow beyond that. Most artists don’t spend every day on the internet singing other people’s songs, and I don’t want that to be the only thing people know me for either.

I want to make my own music, tell my own stories and create things that genuinely mean something to me. So, I’m not saying goodbye to music. I’m just saying goodbye to the version of my music career that I’ve outgrown.

And to everyone who has stayed with me through all of it, thank you. I hope you’ll stay and grow with me into this next chapter.

Social media trends evolve rapidly. How do you stay ahead and keep your content fresh and engaging?

I make videos that I would love to see, in the hope that someone else would find them and connect to them.

I also like to flow with trends sometimes. It’s easier to gain more exposure when you find a creative way to participate in what is trending.

What was the turning point that made you realise you were becoming a social media sensation?

I knew I was going to do well on the internet. I had spent years making videos and understanding how it works.

I fully went into it in April 2024, and I was growing fast. By October 2024, I was already at 90,000 followers on a TikTok account I had only started posting on six months earlier. I wanted to take a break by the time I hit 100,000.

I met Divine Reo on TikTok, and we started talking. On the first day we met, we made a video together. By the next day, it already had over a million views. There were so many reactions everywhere and a lot of reach, and in a few days, I gained over 100,000 more followers.

Seeing reactions from celebrities I have always looked up to felt really good.

What’s your creative process when developing new content? Do you have a team, or is it mostly a solo effort?

Almost everything I create is a solo effort. I’m my own videographer and editor. Even when I’m able to get help where necessary, I still have to direct the shots.

I have been so used to creating by myself that I barely ever think of getting help.

Could you walk us through what inspires your content?

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My videos are inspired by real emotions and experiences. For example, Reo and I once made a short musical skit about communicating in a relationship instead of ghosting when things get tough and allowing someone to be there for you.

My brain has endless ideas, probably because I can overthink, and being alone allows me to live in my imagination. Some videos I make are ideas I’ve had for years that took a long time to execute.

The best is yet to come because some of my best ideas are still waiting to come to life.

How do you balance creating content that is both entertaining and authentic to who you are?

I like to be myself. We all have so many sides to us, and I think people are used to seeing one side of a person on the internet.

I intentionally let myself be goofy on camera, sometimes calm and sometimes sad. I don’t overthink it.

Aside from content creation, do you engage in any other job?

No, everything I do revolves around content creation. Whether I’m doing a music cover, working as a photographer or cinematographer, or editing, it’s all part of creating content.

Social media fame can come with its challenges. What has been the most difficult aspect of being a public figure?

I used to have social anxiety growing up. I didn’t like crowded environments, so I had to teach myself that people weren’t paying as much attention to me as I imagined. I learnt to block out the noise and exist in my own world in public spaces, and that was how I was able to be free.

With fame, it’s just not that way anymore. The stares or random strangers walking up to me can be very uncomfortable most times because I barely feel like interacting. I try my best when I can to have a good reception, but sometimes I just can’t fake a smile.

I can’t go out without the constant feeling of being watched. So bad for an introvert. If Simeon can’t handle it, Si Mion will.

How do you handle online criticism or negativity?

I have been bullied actively on the internet just for singing. Comments like, “I just hate this boy,” “What is this?” and “Stop spoiling people’s songs…” The list goes on and on.

The sad part is that the hate comments get the most likes. It was so bad on TikTok that on each video that blew up, over 80 per cent of the comments were hate, while the remaining 20 per cent would be people trying to understand why the comments were so negative.

I just stopped going through my comments. I ignore it and focus on what I want to do.

I won’t say the negativity didn’t affect me. It did, but not in a way that made me question my work. It was more the feeling of not being wanted. I’m someone who doesn’t mind being rejected. I’ll go to where I’m loved, so it was uncomfortable having that much hate on my socials without having a good reason why.

It’s better now. I have learnt how to detach from whatever happens online because I’ve realised that not everything on the internet deserves my emotional attention.

What has been the most rewarding experience or feedback you’ve received from a fan or follower?

It’s when someone tells me that something I created helped them through something.

I had a performance at Treehouse in Port Harcourt. I was there with Reo, and a couple came up to me. The guy told me that he and his girlfriend weren’t on good terms, but after seeing our video online, they started talking again and fixed things.

It felt good to know that these little videos had an impact on the lives of others.

Are there any content creators, musicians or actors you dream of working with?

Definitely. There are a lot of creators, musicians and actors I’d love to work with. I would definitely love to make a song with Qing Madi and Lloyiso.

Johnny Drille is one artiste that I absolutely love, and I would want to work with him in the future. I also want to get into acting and would love to work with Funke Akindele and Neptune3 Studios.

Collaboration isn’t just about working with somebody because they’re popular. I want there to be a creative reason for us to work together.

How do you stay grounded despite all the attention?

I think because of how I see the world, I try not to overthink it. I’m just the same person I have always been, just that a lot of people know me.

I’ve always had a simple life. I am usually alone. Hopefully, someday, I get to be surrounded by goal-oriented people with shared goals, where we support and push each other while constantly expanding our limits.

How do you unwind and ease stress?

I love to take walks along quiet roads, and sometimes I just watch YouTube videos. YouTube is my favourite place.

Looking ahead, do you see yourself expanding into other areas such as acting, business or other creative industries?

Definitely. I was just cast in a movie a week ago, and I can’t wait for the film to be ready so we can start promoting it and people can finally see it.

It’s my first acting project, and I can’t wait for more opportunities. Hopefully, in the future, I’ll start my own production where I make musical films.

I would also be going into business. It’s something I love to do, but I wouldn’t want to share any details for now.

How did your parents and relatives react when you first started creating content?

To be honest, I think only my elder sisters saw the vision. If you go to my videos from 2019 on YouTube, you’d see that they were the only ones in my comment section back then.

Speaking of my parents, I lost my dad when I was nine. My mum is very religious and has always wanted me to do gospel music, I guess, and I’m kind of the black sheep in my family.

Doing the kind of music I do, having coloured hair or even wearing earrings are things that they don’t necessarily accept in my family, but I think they have all learnt to adjust to it.

What advice would you give up-and-coming content creators?

It’s one thing to dream, but dreams only come true when you work for them consistently. Consistently showing up and making an effort to improve in what you do.

To grow in this space, you need to understand human psychology, so spend more time learning about people instead of studying the algorithm.

What are your favourite sports and foods?

I’m not really into sports. I just enjoy working out or challenging physical activities.

I would have rice and egg sauce any time, any day, as long as there are a lot of vegetables in it. That’s my favourite.