Ola Kalejaye

Ola is a US–based writer and digital nomad. He loves thinking, learning, and writing about all things web3, particularly its impact on major creative industries like film and art.

M. Shadows on Avenged Sevenfold's heavy metal approach to token-gated ticketing

Renowned heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold have been using NFTs to give their fans exclusive perks since 2021. Now they’re on a new blockchain adventure with Ticketmaster to add to the fan experience. We met with lead singer M. Shadows to see how the band are leveraging the power of NFTs, the challenges of working with an industry giant, and why NFTs won’t benefit artists as much as fans.

Sarkin Foto is using the blockchain to keep Nigerian culture safe, forever

The ancient practices of postcolonial nations are too often forgotten. But Taofeek Ibrahim Adeshina, known to the web3 community as Sarkin Foto, is on a mission to immortalise his Nigerian heritage on the blockchain. He speaks to Ola Kalejaye about how he is telling his nation’s stories authentically, and why web3 is the place to do it.

How blockchain inspired a stormchasing photographer to pursue her dreams

Storm-chasing photographer Lori Grace has always had a passion for extreme weather. But, after buying her first camera, she was transfixed by the spiritual process of turning the mighty forces of nature into art. She speaks with Ola Kalejaye about her run-ins with lightning, the validation of NFTs, and doing her bit to make web3 a more inclusive place.

Nathaniel Stern on creating a cyber-natural future on the blockchain

For Nathaniel Stern, life extends far further than the human experience. Connecting the dots between human feeling, nature, and technology, he explores the endless bounds of sensibility through his art. He speaks to Ola Kalejaye about The World After Us, and using art to ensure that world is good.

February 24, 2023

How blockchain helped goldcat become a Christie's artist

An illustrator turned digital painter, goldcat is passionate about the unequaled opportunities that digital ownership has given artists. The Christie’s artist tells Ola Kalejaye what she loves about Tezos and the importance of making art for its own sake.

January 20, 2023

Leslie Spurlock on capturing truth through photography NFTs

From Haiti to Minneapolis, Leslie Spurlock's career in photojournalism has been spent documenting some of the world's most important events. She spoke with Ola Kalejaye about the challenges of the profession, why web3 has made her see her work differently, and the importance of telling the truth.

January 19, 2023

Is AI a cultural travesty or an artistic renaissance?

The reputation of AI is currently dominated by opinions on how the tools can harm artists. Less spoken about are the ways in which AI can enhance their work, so much so that one day the only limit to creation may be your own imagination. Ola Kalejaye discusses the benefits of AI creative tools informed by the perspectives of those leading the way.

December 29, 2022

Culture in our “post-human era” — in conversation with Sasha Stiles

Text artificially generated by large language models has captivated the global discourse. Just know that Sasha Stiles was there first. She speaks to Ola Kalejaye about creating art alongside a machine, the role of technology in augmenting, not replacing, human capabilities, and why the natural home for her poetry is in web3.

December 8, 2022

Sammya Brata on immortalising culture on the blockchain

What started as a hobby for Indian-born Sammya Brata quickly developed into an integral part of his life. Now an award-winning photographer, he draws the extraordinary out of ordinary life in his hometown of Calcutta. He talks to Ola Kalejaye about finding his style, the NFT landscape in India, and the life lessons that accompanied his artistic journey.

December 2, 2022

How missing the shift to web2 helped Manouschka Guerrier see the importance of the blockchain

Having missed the boat to web2, Manouschka Guerrier has lived many lives before finding her way to the next generation of the internet. The former actress, chef, and event planner tells Ola Kalejaye what made her realise she didn't want to miss web3.

November 9, 2022

In pursuit of mastery: Adewale Mayowa’s journey from med school to visual artist

Most of Adewale's friends wanted to become doctors. So did he, for a while, until he went on a journey of exploration and found himself struggling to make art. He speaks to Ola Kalejaye about his early days, evolving from a "wack" artist into someone who sells, and why NFTs came at just the right time for him.

September 28, 2022

Plus NFTs: how corporates are adopting NFTs to drive employee-led innovation

Could NFTs and DAOs be the future of employee-led innovation? Plus Company thinks so. A global network of 25 creative agencies, the organisation is turning to NFTs to encourage cross-company collaboration and build the foundations for an innovation DAO, led by the network's most engaged employees.

September 20, 2022

From keystrokes to brush strokes — how NFTs “freed" Anthony Azekwoh

Anthony Azekwoh's first work as a creator was with words. But the writer never left canvas behind after being pushed into art by a broken laptop. He speaks to Ola Kalejaye about learning new skills for a new medium, presenting his work as his brand, and how the art community in Nigeria has been aided by NFTs.

August 28, 2022

“Art saved me in a really profound way” — culture, society, and femininity through the eyes of a blockchain creator

Tan-Tan is synthesising an entirely new style of art on web3. Indian-born and trained in the Flemish style, she speaks to Ola Kalejaye about overcoming imposter syndrome by developing her own style, how her feminism manifests in her art, and how an individual can change society.

August 20, 2022

“Crypto is the protest sign of the 21st century” — how blockchain provided a medium for Robness’ message

ROBNESS was one of the earliest artists to NFTs, but not everyone in the space would call him an artist. The self-proclaimed 'King of Trash Art' is the OG crypto provocateur, and he spoke to Ola Kalejaye about what makes art art, and why blockchain is the natural successor to Occupy Wall Street.

August 17, 2022

Welcome to the Commune.xyz — how DAOs are driving a renaissance of countercultural living

Mission-centric organisations are finding that DAOs can help them realise their vision. Ola Kalejaye explores the people creating the communes of the future.

“Web3 feels like you don’t need the industry” — how Ed Balloon is making a music career on his own terms

After forming his first band at the age of 10, Ed Balloon struggled to break through as a cross-genre musician. His is a story of how serendipity and moments of inspiration come to the persistent and the committed, and how web3 gave this Boston-born artist an opportunity to share his message that he's taking full advantage of.

“If this doesn’t work, I’m going to forget about my art dream forever” — how web3 helped Foleee fall in love with drawing again

Foleee’s natural talent helped him stand out in his youth, but over time, it gave way to career necessity. Speaking to Ola Kalejaye, Foleee explains how web3 helped him rediscover his love of drawing.