Nigerian rising star Minz follows up his glorious new single ‘Diallo’ featuring afrobeats royalty Tekno, with this VIPER Presents interview…

What five words define your sound? 

I’ll say, Original. Unconventional. Rebellious. Soothing. Futuristic. 

Tell me something unique about your creative process 

My creativity tends to thrive in the weirdest circumstances, especially in situations that are considered uncomfortable. I’ve recorded some of my favourite verses when there was a power outage. 

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first? 

That would definitely be ‘Revelations’. 

What inspired you to make that song? 

It was a Sunday morning and I was having a session with Bgrz. My song ‘wo wo’ had just taken off and I was feeling very thankful for my journey so far. I could also see a bright future ahead and I was manifesting that through this song. For me, it’s a reaffirmation of what is to come. 

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music? 

The most vulnerable I have allowed myself to be was when I made ‘wo wo’. That song was like a cry for help and I wasn’t just singing about the good parts of my life, but about hoping to achieve my dreams in an industry where it’s easy to feel unseen and unheard. 

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage? 

That has to be my first ever headline show in Lagos. It happened in 2021 and just seeing people pull up and show out for me felt like a blessing. 

What is your favourite song to perform? 

Right now, it’s ‘Diallo’. 

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music? 

Sounds crazy but it was 50 Cent’s ‘P.I.M.P.’. 

What’s the meaning behind your name? 

Hmm Minz, it’s not a deep meaning honestly. A friend of mine used to call me Minu, (which is a short form of my surname) when I started making beats back in school but I didn’t like that so I just tweaked it by swapping the “u” for a “z” and that gave birth to “Minz.”

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead? 

If I wasn’t making music I would be a painter for sure, expressing my art through drawing. I also really love fashion so I definitely would have been a fashion designer, I actually co-founded a fashion brand called “NSE Supply” with my long time friend and business partner. 

What’s success to you? 

Success to me is having a place in the heart of my fans and touching lives through my music while being able to pour back into those who have poured into me and helped me come this far in my life and career. 

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction? 

Up until now I haven’t made a detour from the path I’ve chosen, so I can’t say there’s been such a moment. However in a positive light, I’m a student of the game and I’m constantly learning, not necessarily to change direction but to achieve constant elevation as I go along on my journey. 

Where can people keep in touch with you? 

You can find me on all socials with the same handle @MinzNSE and through my website as well.