The growth of the Nigerian sonic culture has evolved beyond advancements in sound, beats, clime, mainstream infiltration, global recognition, market returns, and creatively restricted genres. The melodies from the West African clime are enjoying a rhythmic ovation of genre infusions and twists as the newbies in the creative space explore new infusions.
Fast-rising singer and songwriter FirstKlaz is an outstanding creative in the new styles of afro-fusion; adding a significant rank to the musical blends of various regional and inter-continental rhythmic cultures, such as jazz, hip hop, kwaito, reggae, soul, pop, blues, folk, and rock.
The Abuja-based singer and songwriter is outstanding for delivering his storytelling lyrics on different styles of sonic mixes. He draws samples of old records and traditional sounds and blends them with modern beats, blending the Hausa talking drums, fuji, and pinches of jazz horns with pop sounds to create soothing sounds like Gen-Z Fuji, Gen-Z Fuji II (featuring Terry Apala), Gen-Z Faaji (featuring Joeboy), Gen-Z Arewa, and others.
In just a few years of taking the odds, his innovative blend of genres has received an auditory ovation in the industry with more than 100,000 monthly listeners on various streaming platforms, airplay, shows, and great collaborations with Terry Apala, Odumodublvck, and Joeboy.
I didn’t actually give myself the name.When I was in secondary school, I used to be like, so into books, but was not the smartest, and I took that position when we were about to leave. So at that period of time, they started calling me first class. Oh, wow, l like the name and cool.
FirstKlaz, 2024.
In our exclusive interview with FirstKlaz, the young, talented singer shares his journey of conscious and early intentions to go pro after being forced into the choir by his father.
“…thank God, l got to know what I want to do at an early age,” he said.
Before 2019
The singer’s musical journey is culturally similar to that of many other artists but personally different, as he turned a compelling situation to a complementing advantage.
The young lad recounts his first steps into singing, he says, “So then I used to be in the church choir, like my dad forced me and all my siblings to join the choir. So from there, I started learning the basics like soprano, alto, and all that music stuff.“
My dad was like, so mad at me because he was thinking I moved from, like, the church music to secular, like, stuff like that. He was not actually happy. Not like he didn’t support me, but he was not happy.
FirstKlaz, 2024.
The African parents syndrome of deciding and planning or giving approval to the career and future of their children had a fair place in his growing up, but the lad defied his parental wish of not doing music or staying in the gospel track and kept his vision bold.
“My dad was like, so mad at me because he was thinking I moved from, like, the church music to secular, like, stuff like that. He was not actually happy. Not like he didn’t support me, but he was not happy.“
In 2013, he continued, “I recorded a song, but I was shy to like, put it out to let people know I made this song and all that, because when I brought it home, my sisters laughed, you know. But I told the producer this is something I really want to do.”
The young music lad pushed through shyness and procrastination in 2017 to release his first single in 2019.
From Joseph to FirstKlaz
Growing up from the satellite town of Nyanya, Abuja, the singer dropped his native Justice Elsa Joseph to answer FirstKlaz for his artistic brand; a nickname he was called in secondary school.
“I didn’t actually give myself the name.When I was in secondary school, I used to be like, so into books, but was not the smartest, and I took that position when we were about to leave. So at that period of time, they started calling me first class. Oh, wow, l like the name and cool.“
The Nassarawa-rooted singer describes growing up as blessed and comfortable, where parents were loving and strict, putting all they could to give him and his siblings a good education.
The journey of keeping the name after secondary school has been fascinating, marked by his innovative social media content and redefining sonic fusion of genres, blending fuji with his melodic pop synths and creative storytelling techniques to deliver great sounds. The fast-rising singer has carved a unique niche with his distinctive afro-fusion sound making the future of the sound safe in his voice.
Sound and Style
With a childhood interest in afrobeat giant Wizkid and the late British flamboyant octave range singer, Freddie Mercury of the Queens rock band, FirstKlaz has defined his sound to appeal to a contemporary era—the Gen Z’s—even as he blends old records and genres.
So that’s why I named the song Gen Z Fuji. And, I’m trying to be nostalgic at this point of my life, like everything I see and everything I feel at this point of my life, is making me reminisce on the past years of my life.
FirstKlaz, 2024.
The rising star who made his solo mark in 2019 with Tonight is redefining Afro-fusion with his innovative blend of Afrobeat, R&B, and Fuji, delivering sensations like Olomi, I Like Girls, Ogini, Helicopter Boy, and the 2024 breakout single Gen-Z Fuji, which was followed up with Gen-Z Faaji and Gen-Z Arewa.
“Why the multiple Gen Z titles for your songs?” The writer enquired.
“I decided to create songs like the old school songs, but with new melodies that are going to resonate, like the melodies and lyrics that are going to resonate with Gen Z’s. So that’s why I named the song Gen Z Fuji. And, I’m trying to be nostalgic at this point of my life, like everything I see and everything I feel at this point of my life, is making me reminisce on the past years of my life,” he responded.
The songwriter’s storytelling technique and distinctive blend have made his sound unique, drawing listening attention from both the audience and other artists, leading to a seamless collaboration with another young singing sensation, Joeboy.
“I think from 2022 or early 2023 Joeboy has been like a blessing to me, he has been sharing some of the stuff I put out on Instagram, and we were not friends on Instagram, but he used to share my stuff on his story like that.“
“When I did this Gen Z faji, I was just posting snippets of the songs, so I did the first press, I posted like three videos with the first verse. Then I did the second verse and posted it.“
“He just shared the post, and was like, this song is mad. And I was with my producer at that point, and I told him, let me just catch cruise and tell Joeboy to do a verse.“
“Let’s see what’s going to happen.“
“He asked for the song, I just moved the second verse further, then created space for him. Even when I sent the verse, he recorded it in like two days and sent back the verse and said he needed more space on the song for his verse that he really liked the song and yeah we have a song together.“
The afro-fusion singer is stylish; he moves with a signature piece: a doll, an object that was inspired by a lover, Amanda who introduced him to horror movies but left for abroad without informing him. FirstKlaz named the doll after her.
Moving Forward
“I have been working on my EP for two years now. I have recorded some songs, scrab some songs and done another. I won’t say much on that cos I want it to be a surprise.” The talented singer said this in response to the writer’s interest in knowing what to expect from him.
If I create a record with Asa, its going to be a very beautiful song.
FirstKlaz, 2024.
The independent artist is aware of the work demands in keeping his sound unique and streaming and is ready to match the energy in joining the ranks to shape the future of Afro-fusion as he looks forward to working with the gentle songbird Asa in the Nigerian scene, and Bruno Mars at the international clime.
“If I create a record with Asa, its going to be a very beautiful song,” he said.
The fast-rising singer believes in the force of collaboration but insists on having a friendly rapport with another creative before doing a song together.
Having completed a level of higher education studying industrial technology at the Federal University of Technology Minna, the last child in a family of four (4) is professionally into music with a refreshing blend of sounds, twisting African melodies and bringing it closer to his Gen Z’s.
The 24-year-old who has honed his musical skills from a tender age in the church choir is an artist to look out for with his unique approach to music.
