IN CONVERSATION WITH MR. EAZI

Interview by SAMO ŠAJN

Mr. Eazi is a musical innovator, business leader, and one of Africa's most streamed artists, with over 4 billion streams. Known for collaborations with Beyoncé, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny. He pioneered the Banku Music sound, a blend of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian influences. Born in Port Harcourt and raised in Lagos, Mr. Eazi founded emPawa Africa in 2018, now one of the continent's largest independent music companies.

Mr. Eazi, congratulations on the success of The Evil Genius and the new music video for ‘Panadol.’ How did you come up with the concept for the video, and what do you hope viewers take away from its vibrant and playful visuals?

Thank you! For the "Panadol" video, I aimed to capture the song's energy with a playful, surreal twist. The goal was to reflect the fun and carefree mood while adding deeper layers of meaning. I hope viewers not only enjoy the vibrant visuals but also embrace the message of good vibes and love. It's all about escapism and enjoying the moment.

Your debut album The Evil Genius blends afrobeats with genres like gospel, hiplife, and folklore. What was the creative process like behind this pan-African fusion, and how did you decide which elements to incorporate into each track?

The process was very organic. I didn’t consciously plan to mix genres; instead, I drew from my diverse experiences across Africa. Having lived in Nigeria, Ghana, and travelled widely, each track naturally reflected those influences. I wanted The Evil Genius to feel like a journey, musically, spiritually and culturally. So each song represents a different chapter, blending elements that felt authentic to that moment.

You’ve described The Evil Genius as your most personal work. The album is divided into three acts, dealing with themes of success, love, and spirituality. How did you decide on this structure, and which of these themes resonates most deeply with you at this point in your life?

I wanted the album to reflect my personal growth. Act 1 explores ambition and success, Act 2 focuses on relationships and love, and Act 3 delves into spirituality. Currently, spirituality resonates most with me. Having achieved a lot, I find myself reflecting on life’s deeper purpose, faith, and my connection to something greater. That’s why the final act feels the most emotionally intense.

One of the most unique aspects of The Evil Genius is its integration with visual art, with 16 art pieces representing each track. What inspired you to merge visual art with your music, and how did you go about choosing the artists who contributed to this groundbreaking project?

I’ve always been intrigued by visual art and see parallels between artistic and musical creation. Each song on the album had its own personality, which I wanted to explore through visual interpretations. We approached various African artists I admire and gave them creative freedom to visually interpret the tracks. The goal was to create a fully immersive experience that blends music, storytelling, and visual artistry.

Your career has spanned multiple continents, and you've been able to seamlessly blend Nigerian and Ghanaian influences with global sounds. How do you think your time living in different places like Accra and Lagos has shaped your music and artistic identity?

Living in Accra and Lagos has profoundly shaped my music and artistic identity. Accra instilled a laid-back, reflective approach, while Lagos taught me to hustle and think big. Both cities offer rich cultural influences rhythms, languages, and everyday experiences, that I continuously draw from. This blend of African traditions with global influences gives my music a unique balance between two worlds.

You’ve been an advocate for African talent through your emPawa Africa initiative. How do your experiences as a music entrepreneur and talent incubator influence your creative decisions when it comes to your own projects like The Evil Genius?

emPawa has made me more intentional in my work. Collaborating with young artists has reinforced the importance of authenticity and pushing boundaries. It’s also sharpened my approach to projects, blending creativity with strategic business understanding. With The Evil Genius, I aimed to set an example for the next generation, demonstrating that African artists can tell global stories while staying true to their roots.

With over 45 million streams, The Evil Genius has been praised worldwide. Looking back on the album’s journey, what were some of the biggest challenges and surprises you encountered while bringing this ambitious project to life?

One of the biggest challenges was balancing the personal nature of the album with its commercial potential. I wanted to stay true to the message while reaching a broad audience, which was a delicate balance. The biggest surprise has been how well the more introspective tracks have connected with people. Songs I thought were deeply personal ended up resonating with many around the world.

Finally, you’ve hinted at dropping more singles and a surprise EP this year. What can your fans expect from these upcoming releases?

I don’t want to give away too much, but the upcoming singles and EP will reveal a different side of me. While they’ll retain an Afrobeats core, I’m exploring new sounds and ideas. The EP will be more experimental, pushing boundaries and keeping things fresh. Fans should definitely stay tuned, there’s a lot more on the way!