Many predecessors have pursued success throughout the hallowed Afrobeats timeline. From D’banj to Davido, the sound has been nurtured year by year and now sits as one of the in-demand genres around the world.
Now is the turn of Surulere’s Oxlade, who is ready to rightfully claim his title of being at the forefront of Africa’s next generation. Oxlade from Africa lands as his best body of work to date. Compiling locations across three continents where the project was recorded, you can understand why the album’s culture and identity resonates so well with the masses.
Growing up, there was two sides to the coin as the sensation hailing from Ikeja merged his talents of singing and rapping to form the renowned superstar whose debut project explores every notion of Africa.
As the Nigerian sensation prepares for a mesmerising North American leg of his tour, we caught up with Oxlade to speak on the debut album, working with the U.K scene, advice for the next generation and much more.
Oxlade from Africa – What can fans expect from your debut album?
“Authenticity. Oxlade from Africa is a mix of classical African sounds and modern day Afrobeats music. I’m giving you guys nostalgic feelings to what we grew up listening to and blending it with what we currently listen to.”
What made you choose the title for the album?
“I just feel like Africans need to identify themselves more as Africans. Your identity is your brand, your existence, what you stand for. Ku Lo Sa opened the door for me to be able to tour the world, for people to know more about my music. Before I dive deep into the different facets and personalities that I might want to show the world, I really wanted to show who I really am and where I came from.”
When you listen to this album, you can feel the culture and the summer feels, what was the process for the album in terms of location? Were you recording in different countries?
“I had to be in different locations. I had to feel different spiritual awakenings to be able to create all these songs. Selecting the collaborations had to be perfect. Everything was destined and ordained by God for me to create this type of album. I was in a lot of countries. St Lucia and St. Martine in the Caribbean. In Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. I did my record with Popcaan in L.A. That was a special feeling for me. I did everything in different parts of the world, it wasn’t just restricted to Africa.”
What was the most exciting part of creating the album for yourself?
“The most beautiful part of the album is me releasing I’m finally dropping an album! After six years of heavy grinding, experimenting, trying to find my sound, finally, I have a body of work I can give to the world. This is me fulfilling my dreams by having my dream collaborations on here. Having to get Fally Ipupa on the album was hectic, having to get Santan Dave was hectic, but it all came out beautiful!”
When working with your features, who did you find yourself having the most enjoyable time working with?
“I feel like every feature I did was needed. Everyone showed their maturity, how long they’ve been in the game through their verses. I’ll be bias! Currently mine is Wande Coal! Wande Coal is my G.O.AT, one of the reasons why singers can still flaunt their vocals and not be bullied by public opinion.”
Afrobeats is currently generating a lot of noise across the globe, why do you think now is the time that the genre is so prominent around the world?
“We humans really can’t answer that. The saying God’s timing is the best is really what I can use to answer that. I feel like it’s been coming. It was bound to happen! African music has been growing underground. From Fuse ODG working with Ed Sheeran, Afrobeats has been there. Us finally getting our flowers is perfect timing.”
I want to speak about working with Dave, how was that experience and what are your thoughts on the current U.K scene?
“A known fact is Dave is the only artist I got to spend time with him the studio whilst making this album. It was surreal to me. My man got me interviewed before he could give me the verse! He asked me Why do you want me on this song? After listening to it for 30 minutes he was asking Why Me? I had to give him his flowers and tell him he is one of the best storytellers in the scene. It would make no sense for this type of record not to have him on it. I’m also on the record Hide & Seek with Stormzy. Sometime next year, there is an amazing record I have with Krept & Konan. I also got to work with Amaria BB, Gabzy, O’Deal. Even Nippa and BenjiFlow! There are mazing talents out here.”
Did you find yourself having a talent for singing or rapping when you first begun making music?
“It was a two-sided dilemma. I have always been singing from church, but I couldn’t sing in school because it wasn’t cool! I had to learn how to rap in school. Me building my bars, looking like a tough guy, then leading praise in church looking like a choirmaster was an amazing night and day job! It was like I was Bruce Wayne!”
Where did the name Oxlade come from?
“So, Oxlade is one of my real names! I was given the name Oxlade by my grandfather. He lost his best friend the same day I was born.”
What is your fist memory of music?
“I think definitely praise and worship with the family, morning devotion, singing and praising God. I think that’s one of the early moments that got me being sonically sound and being able to resonate with music.”
Was there anyone in particular that pushed you to take music seriously?
“I think everybody in my family did. They all had a hand in pushing me to make music. They didn’t need to do no DNA test with me! Every kid in the family was musically inclined. My younger brother is a producer and drummer. My grandmother could sing and have birth to five kids. My mum could sing and dance, she was stylish! The four other siblings were boys. One is a gospel artist, one is an engineer. It was inevitable. The support was right in front of me. I was born into the system!”
Finally, what advice do you have for those looking to pursue a career in music?
“You have to be your biggest critique and your biggest fan. Nobody is going to believe in you if you don’t believe in you. What you are selling is your self-belief. Before they see you as the G.O.A.T, you have to know you’re the G.O.A.T. self-identity, self-awareness is everything you need. Don’t take criticisms to heart but instead, pick what you can from their advice. Strengthen your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses.”
Oxlade’s debut album Oxlade From Africa is out now on all digital streaming platform services.