FEATURE: Spotlight: brazy — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

brazy

_________

A staggering talent…

PHOTO CREDIT: tallulah.fx

that I must thank other sites and newspaper for, as they discovered her brilliance before me, it is about time to highlight the extortionary brazy! Whereas last year I was spotlighting a lot of new American artists to look out for, this year seems to be more about British-based acts. That is good! Homegrown pride and strength that is going to go into the international market and make a real impact very soon. There is no doubt brazy is ready for greatness. She is a spellbinding artist you all need to hear! I want to bring in a few interviews with her so that you can get an idea of this multilingual and multitalented queen. Her magnificent E.P., Afro Sexy, was released a few weeks ago. It shows that she is an artist that is very much here to stay! You can just tell that we will be talking about brazy for years to come. Earlier in the year, NATIVE spoke with an artist on the cusp of greatness:

“While female rappers have always been present in Nigerian, evident in the legacy of rap artists likes of Weird MC and Sasha P, their prominence within mainstream conversations is always overshadowed by the inherent dominance of their male counterparts. In recent years, more women—armed with braggadocios lyricism and standout vocals—have made it loud and clear that they are not to be sidelined. As they tell their stories unapologetically and spit the bars like no one’s looking, SGaWD, YTboutthataction, Daisy and more in the budding class of women in rap are taking up space. Another unforgettable frontrunner in this group of artists is Brazy.

Still a relatively new name to the scene, Brazy has been causing a stir since her debut on L0la-assisted “Siren” and one thing that’s remained consistent from the 2021 release till her Velli-produced breakthrough track, “Attends”, is the spontaneity of the craft. Preferring to go down the organic, easy-breezy route, most—if not all—of Brazy’s released tracks were recorded in one take. “I wouldn’t say I’ve started taking music seriously yet,” she responds rather honestly to the question of when she started taking music seriously. “It’s still very much about me chilling with my friends.”

As she takes her time figuring things out and going with the wind of her creative inclinations, Brazy still manages to standout out from the crowd for a number of reasons. Her self-assured lyrics and ear for beats that match her effervescent tone, mostly produced friend and collaborator Babyrixburger, as well as her ability to deliver something different on every track makes listening to Brazy refreshing each time.

Within reason, this drew the attention of alternative rap auteur and alté pioneer Cruel Santino. Sitting amongst many popular names like Koffee, Amaarae, Gus Dapperton and Skepta on Santi’s sophomore LP, ‘Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN’, Brazy’s clutch performance on opening track “Matilda” offered a standout cut from the 21-tracker. Her airy, mellifluous vocals and memorable adlibs, paired seamlessly with Santi’s eccentric production and futuristic sounds, set the pace for what many would consider one of the best projects from 2022. Just like that, from making music as a hobby and fun activity with friends, Brazy was opening act for Santi’s Europe Tour and recording the soundtrack that rocked the sound waves of many end of year festivities in these parts, “Attends.”

If you couldn’t already tell from the witty pre-hook, “cheat on me and I’ll cheat on you,” Brazy is here for a good time. She’s experimenting different sounds and genres but one things for certain, Brazy’s songs are one of one. We caught up with the genre-fluid rap artist on what these moments have been like for her. She goes into detail about working with one of her major inspirations, recording “Attends” in 10 minutes, her new collaboration with UK artist Len, what the future holds and much more.

Our conversation, which follows below, has been lightly edited for clarity.

NATIVE: Let’s kick off with your name. What inspired the name Brazy?

Brazy: It’s actually quite an uninteresting story. You know when finsta’s were a thing, my username was Brazybih and when I went to Uni I didn’t want people to know my real name. My Instagram was previously my full government name and when I went to school they butchered the pronuncialtion. I put my name as Brazybih on instagram and all my friends started calling me Brazy.

NATIVE: Lots of listeners don’t know Brazy studied engineering. Is this a career path you’re pursuing and how do you navigate that alongside the music?

Brazy: I studied Bio-medical Engineering at Uni and that’s when I was making most of my songs. I’ve always called myself a DIY queen. I’m always multitasking. When people find out that I studied Engineering or I speak Mandarin, they’re usually surprised. That’s what I enjoy doing. I like being able to have different sides to me. I will always purse dreams I have for myself alongside creative things. I’m actually not pursuing a career in Engineering because Uni was a scam. However, I am going to be working in sales at an investment bank from July. A lot of my music is based off the knowledge that I have and nothing is wasted. It’s a very integral part of who I am and if you don’t know those things about me then you can hear it in my music. We’re a package.

NATIVE: How would you describe your music to someone who’s never listened?

Brazy: I would say that my music is very, very fun. It’s full of personality. When you hear any of my songs, you instantly have a reaction and it’s normally a positive reaction. It would get you moving and you can really feel my personality in the song. All my songs are different so there’s not one way I can really describe it for now”.

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NATIVE: So far, it seems like you’re on the cusp of something much bigger. What more can we expect from you? Any projects or visuals in the near future?

Brazy: The “Attends” video is hopefully coming out soon. I hope to record an EP and drop that soon. I’m just looking for the right people to work with. More performances and more features too. I love doing features. This is just the beginning.

NATIVE: How would you describe your average listener and what audience do you anticipate targeting in the future?

Brazy: My average listener is someone who loves to have fun and isn’t too stuck in their ways. They would listen to me singing on “Gingerbread” but they’d also listen to me giving dance music on “Attends.” That’s my ideal listener and that seems to be my audience. They’re very open minded. They love everything that I do. For the audience I anticipate targeting, that would be the nightclub scene. Songs that can be played over and over at parties and nightclubs. I have that with “Attends.” I could never perform it just once. I performed at a concert once and did that song back to back 5 times. An audience that wants to have fun and vibe just like me”.

PHOTO CREDIT: Obi Somto

Wonderland. spoke with the beguiling and sensational artist who was on so many people’s lips. For people like me who are catching up, it is amazing learning more about her! I think that his year is going to be the best of her career so far. The sublime and mesmeric brazy is an artist in her own league right now! I think she will release an E.P. and get involved with some big-name collaborations very soon:

“One of the hottest young talents emerging this year, Nigerian-born, London-based rapper brazy has been demanding an increasing level of attention with every passing release. Despite being merely 21 years old, there is confidence, charisma and craft oozing from her artistry.

Known for her multi-lingual approach to songwriting – rapping in English, Yoruba, French and Zhōngwén, the rising star blends the styles of afrobeats, amapiano, electronica and dance into a dynamic, coherent and progressive amalgamation of genre, self-coining the approach as ‘afro-sexy, afro-future’. She recently had a stint with Casablanca soundtracking Mugler, an indicator of her chameleonic and characterful ambitions.

PHOTO CREDIT: Obi Somto

brazy has returned with a new single, “omg”. There is something immediately undeniable about the track; she flicks between from English to Yoruba effortlessly, seamlessly spitting atop the energetic production from Parked Up. Augmenting her acclaim, brazy has the sound, skill and image to become a global force.

We caught up with brazy, discussing the impact of her cultural background on her creativity, her musical output, and what the future holds.

How has your cultural background shaped you as a musician and creative?

Growing up in Nigeria and around Nigerians has absolutely shaped my creative work. It’s where I got my confidence, my work ethic, my swag – have you ever met a Nigerian who cares about what anyone thinks? Not the ones I know, and that boldness radiates through my music. My love for studying other cultures and languages has also had a huge impact on how I create, I’ve unlocked a whole new range of sounds that I never would have if I limited myself to write in English alone – music is about the bounce, it really doesn’t matter what I’m saying.

How would you describe your essence as an artist?

My essence is fresh, it’s new, it’s fun, sexy, it’s “what already exists is great, but why don’t we add to it with something even better”. I’m an innovator, I like to create new things – why not?

To you, what stands out to you as an artist?

You really never know what you’re going to get with me – I’m full of surprises, whether it’s the genre of the song, the language I’m speaking on the song, how I speak, what I do in my free time… I’m the most random, spontaneous person and it definitely reflects in my art. I genuinely try everything, do whatever I want and let myself have fun with it all and you can hear it, that’s very rare”.

The more interviews I read from brazy, the more I love and respect what she is doing. Simply amazing! I am going to source quite liberally from NOTION’s interview from last summer. They chatted with a style icon, incredible young artist, and someone who is no doubt already inspiring so many other people with her creativity and fashion. A mighty and enormously important voice in music:

“For 2023, Brazy’s mission is growth. She’s collaborated with Nigerian Alté legend Cruel Santino [“Matilda”], UK rap whiz Len [“Addicted”] and the genre-bending Odeal [“Be Easy”] – sandwiched in-between stellar performances at Boiler Room and RECESSLAND.

Her discography is full of motivational anthems for the girls, making for the perfect addition to your summer playlists. The L0LA-assisted “Siren” is a serene trap-soaked offering. On the other hand, “Gingerbread” is a stick of bubble-gum pop-rap The Powerpuff Girls would probably listen to as they wallop Mojo Jojo. Describing her music as an uplifting reminder that women can do anything they set their minds to – Brazy is easily one of 2023’s most promising new artists.

On a sun-kissed Thursday afternoon in Hackney, for her first sit-down interview, we spoke to Brazy about her musical journey thus far, the difficulties of being an independent female artist and her fashion endeavours.

You’ve been making music since 2021. How has your sound developed since then?

My journey into music was very spontaneous. It was just me, hopping on beats my producer friends would make. She put out a song, and everyone thought it was crazy.

After that, people would ask me for features, so it was just based on demand. Now, my music is much more intentional. I like my new sound, and it’s still very experimental. The 2021 Brazy is still a part of me, though. I still have the high-pitched thing that I do, coupled with my Afro-type instrumentals from Selecta.

PHOTO CREDIT: Radhika Muthanna

Recently, you’ve worked with Len and Odeal. How did these collaborations come about?

Len was a friend. He just messaged me, and we crafted “Addiction” from there. It was a very cool process – it was random and spontaneous. When people hear “Addiction”, they must think, ‘Who are these two young sexy artists?’ [laughs].

I love working with Len. We make music in a similar same way. With “Addiction”, we worked virtually because I was in Lagos at the time. But this year, we had our first studio session and made four songs in a few hours.

When it came to Odeal, the process was different. He messaged me, telling me he loved my music. He told me he made beats and wanted to sample “Attends”. It worked out great because I’m a massive fan of Odeal, and the way he sampled my song was beautiful.

Do you feel pressure to use social media, especially as an independent artist?

I feel so much pressure, and it isn’t very pleasant. Social media is just not my vibe. As much as my social media looks put together, I’m all about face-to-face interactions. I like to meet people. I take cute pictures and post them, but I don’t really post with a purpose.

It’s so hard for me to find a balance. In this day and age, social media is so important. Even with “Attends”, the way it took off on Tik Tok showed me that if I push something, things can happen. So, with social media, it’s a real love-hate relationship. It can create so many blessings but also share many expectations.

PHOTO CREDIT: Radhika Muthanna

What other challenges do you face as an independent artist?

There are lots. I’m young and only 21 years old – people don’t take you seriously sometimes.

People always ask for validity. It’s hard to provide the evidence and say, “I am a good artist”. Just because I don’t have a label backing me doesn’t mean I’m not good. “They have wanted to (sign me); I just don’t want to”.

Your music is definitely for the girls, would you agree?

It’s funny because my music is for the girls – it’s empowering. It’s weird because I have a lot of male fans, too. It’s I love you guys, but it’s not for you. I’m joking, my music is for everyone, but I have the girls at the forefront of my mind when creating.

And finally, what’s up next for you?

Expect more visuals. I’m trying to merge Brazy the icon with Brazy the artist. An EP is definitely on the way too. Expect more performances and generally just more fun shit. That’s all I can say for now”.

I am going to finish off with an interview from The Face. They spoke with brazy in December. With Afro Sexy about to be released, this was an opportunity to speak with someone who was going from strength. One of these artists that you can well see taking over the music world and conquering the globe! She is more modest but, given the quality of the music she’s putting out, brazy should reach for the stars:

“It sounds weird, but I don’t really have a creative ‘process’,” the 21-year-old says with a laugh, Zooming in from her home in London. “I go into the studio, and then me and the producer create a relationship first. Making the beat is the bulk of the session, I’m very involved in that. Then I just say the first thing that comes into my head. My process is based on vibes!”

The vibes in question: uninhibited sensuality and an “Afro-future, Afro-sexy” sound, as Brazy puts it. One of her latest singles, the compulsively replayable, super-smooth omg, nonchalantly flits between English and Yoruba; on Brazy Skank, she blends Afrobeats and baile funk rhythms with plenty of bravado and French lyrics.

Given the confidence with which Brazy approaches her music, it’s surprising that she’s only been releasing music since 2021. Having bounced around London and Nigeria her entire life, over the pandemic, she found herself hopping on friends’ tracks, which inspired her to make her own.

“Growing up in Nigeria had a huge, huge influence on my taste,” Brazy continues, “which then influenced my sound. There’s nothing I don’t listen to – techno, Afrobeats, American music, Chinese music, Indian music. I think that’s reflected in my music, which has no limits, no borders. It’s a blend of everything I’ve experienced and everywhere I’ve been.”

“40% You rule the world for a day. What’s going down?

I’d lift travel barriers so everyone could go wherever they wanted to. Maybe remove financial barriers as well – so that if you went to a country, you could try any food you wanted, do whatever you want, any activities you want, so you get to experience a different space [with] no restrictions.

50% Love, like, hate?

I love travelling and experiencing new cultures. I like dancing. I hate when people are super negative and don’t give things a chance. I hate bad vibes, essentially.

60% What’s your dream holiday destination?

I would love to explore Africa and go to places that are unexplored – waterfalls, mountains, beaches, places you wouldn’t think to travel like Tanzania or Zanzibar.

70% What’s a bad habit you wish you could kick?

I’m super independent and I want to do everything by myself. I wish I could just relax!

80% If you could go back in time and watch any musician perform, who would it be?

This is a classic answer, but Beyoncé. I’ve watched her every single time she comes to London. Every single time. She’s so amazing. I love how much detail she puts into her shows.

90% Can we expect an album soon?

Expect a lot more singles, is all I can say! Then maybe a full length project next year…

100% What can artists do to help save the world?

Continue making great music. Music saves lives”.

Someone I have recently come across, I am playing catch up I know! I am not really invested in brazy and her world. I am in awe of her music and who she is. A really positive force in the music world, I am crossing my fingers this year gives her nothing but good fortune and love! Her fanbase is growing and, with every single, more and more notice her. The magnificent brazy is a rapper charting her own course. If you have not followed her already then make sure you do, as there are…