Minz’s debut album, By Any Minz, marks a significant milestone in his already thriving career as an afro-fusion artist. Blending a rich mix of afrobeat, alté, R&B, and pop, the record reflects his unique artistic journey and diverse influences. Known for viral hits like Wap featuring Davido and Diallo with Tekno, Minz has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the global music scene. In By Any Minz, he explores personal themes such as love, resilience, and cultural identity, while infusing his Nigerian roots into every track, making it a bold testament to his pan-African spirit.
We recently caught up with him to discuss the creative process behind the album, where he shared his experiences collaborating with legendary artists like Davido and Tekno, and Grammy-nominated producers. This project, according to Minz, was deeply collaborative and innovative, drawing inspiration from his personal journey. From the emotional depth of tracks like Lon3ly to the cultural reflection in Sokoto, By Any Minz offers a versatile listening experience, solidifying his place as a rising star in the afro-fusion genre.
By Any Minz blends afrobeats, alté, R&B, and pop uniquely. What inspired you to merge these diverse genres, and how do you feel this fusion reflects your personal journey as an artist?
The project blends many of these sounds because these are really a lot of my inspirations, you know? I listen to different types of music, I create different types of music, and I don’t like to put myself in a box, so that is reflected in what I do. When we were putting the record together, we listened to different elements of my sound and we realised we had a project with a lot of range. Then we decided to spread that range across different moods.
We have Afro-chill vibes, Afro-pop, more orbit vibes on songs like Do & Sokoto, Afro R&B with FU, then Afro Adura, which is very key and that’s what envelopes the project. It makes me proud to say that I was able to capture that range of influences and sounds on my debut album. It’s been so important for me to express that because I’m not an artist that can be put in a box. That’s the essence of By Any Minz. Just showing them that I am capable of doing so much.
We have Afro-chill vibes, Afro-pop, more orbit vibes on songs like Do & Sokoto, Afro R&B with FU, then Afro Adura, which is very key and that’s what envelopes the project. It makes me proud to say that I was able to capture that range of influences and sounds on my debut album. It’s been so important for me to express that because I’m not an artist that can be put in a box. That’s the essence of By Any Minz. Just showing them that I am capable of doing so much.
You’ve worked with legends like Davido and Tekno on this album. Can you share what the creative process was like during these collaborations and how they helped shape tracks like Wap and Diallo?
Working with these legends was such a blessing. If you had told me it was gonna happen, maybe a year or two ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. But it was just God’s plan that brought it all together and those sessions were very powerful because I realised that these legends are where they are for a reason and it’s dedication to the craft, it’s the passion they have for music. Nothing that we see with them is a mistake and I’m glad that I was able to blend my universe with theirs and it came together beautifully.
Your album addresses a range of themes from love and celebration to resilience and self-confidence. What personal experiences influenced the narratives in By Any Minz, and how did they help shape the direction of the album?
The album is shaped by a lot of my personal experiences. The first track, Revelations, is the story of how I’ve been doubted but kept on believing and kept on pursuing my craft and becoming better at what I love doing, which is making music and being an amazing artist. The songs that have touched on love and so on, they are really either daydreams or real-life experiences that I’ve had. For example, Lon3ly is a real-life story of me feeling like I’ve made a mistake in love, and I had to put that on record.
I really draw a lot of inspiration from the things around me and the events of my life. A popular saying goes “Your life is the greatest movie you will ever get to watch,” so that’s the easiest place to draw inspiration from for me as a creative. I was able to channel that into this project, that’s why it has a range of emotions, because none of it was faked or forced, it was either manifestation or a real-life experience.
I really draw a lot of inspiration from the things around me and the events of my life. A popular saying goes “Your life is the greatest movie you will ever get to watch,” so that’s the easiest place to draw inspiration from for me as a creative. I was able to channel that into this project, that’s why it has a range of emotions, because none of it was faked or forced, it was either manifestation or a real-life experience.
By Any Minz also highlights your cultural roots, especially through tracks like Sokoto and Low. How important is it for you to integrate your Nigerian heritage into your sound, and how does it resonate with your global audience?
Authenticity is so important for me because I have to represent my culture. I’m Yoruba, and I’m not just Yoruba, I’m also a prince from Ibadan in Oyo state. So for me, putting that is a second nature and it’s the least I can do. Yoruba is such a beautiful language — one of the most musical. It’s very easy for me to express myself in it.
Thanks to the people around me, my parents, I grew up listening to local highlife music and juju music, and I also realised that global audiences looking in are not looking for something they already have. They’re looking for a new experience. It is just a blessing that my culture is so beautiful that other people want to tap into it. So, like, why would I want to be anything else?
Thanks to the people around me, my parents, I grew up listening to local highlife music and juju music, and I also realised that global audiences looking in are not looking for something they already have. They’re looking for a new experience. It is just a blessing that my culture is so beautiful that other people want to tap into it. So, like, why would I want to be anything else?
Tracks like Lon3ly and F.U delve into more introspective themes such as heartbreak and emotional struggle. Can you talk about the emotional depth of these songs and the creative process behind them?
First of all, Lon3ly is the story of someone who realises the mistakes that they’ve made in love. Sometimes in the moment, you’re not aware of what you’re doing, which is jeopardise something beautiful that you have going on. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, and it’s true; it’s of the things that inspired the track. It comes from a place of saying, ‘Oh, wow, this love that I’ve lost — it was all my fault.’
And F.U is really specific. It’s just a playful way of expressing desire for someone that you’re interested in. For me, it’s like, why are we wasting time while we’re talking too much? Sometimes you just wanna cut straight to the chase. They say honesty is key, so that was just me laying it out there in a playful manner. But who gets the message, gets the message lol.
And F.U is really specific. It’s just a playful way of expressing desire for someone that you’re interested in. For me, it’s like, why are we wasting time while we’re talking too much? Sometimes you just wanna cut straight to the chase. They say honesty is key, so that was just me laying it out there in a playful manner. But who gets the message, gets the message lol.
Looking ahead, what are your next steps after the release of By Any Minz? Are there any new musical directions or collaborations that you’re excited to explore?
Man, the future is bright. There is so much more to come. By Any Minz is just a stepping stone to new places, new levels, new soundscapes, and it’s my debut project, I can only imagine how crazy the next thing is gonna be.
There is definitely gonna be tours, there’s gonna be shows, there’s gonna be visuals… I’m big on visuals and I've shot a lot of stuff for this album that's being released gradually. I can't wait for people to see what Minz has in store for them. I can't wait for my minions, my community, to see that their leader is really representing them well and giving them bragging rights. We’ve got so much more coming.
There is definitely gonna be tours, there’s gonna be shows, there’s gonna be visuals… I’m big on visuals and I've shot a lot of stuff for this album that's being released gradually. I can't wait for people to see what Minz has in store for them. I can't wait for my minions, my community, to see that their leader is really representing them well and giving them bragging rights. We’ve got so much more coming.
“Authenticity is so important for me because I have to represent my culture. I’m Yoruba, and I’m not just Yoruba, I’m also a prince from Ibadan in Oyo state.”
