In a time where ingenuity is lacking and the number of indisputable creative artists is in decline, comes a 23 years old man from the Abuja music scene, FirstKlaz. With an arsenal of creativity so heavy it is individually recognised from his talents as a musician, Firstklaz’s imaginative power coupled with his craft as a musician makes his work an exhibition of greatness only in its formative years—one poised to shake up the drab sound that plagues the music scene seasonally.
Since 2019, he has been pursuing this endeavour, showcasing his music to a predominantly friend and family-focused audience. “I knew I wanted to do music at a very young age, and so I just began sharing my music with friends and family.” When he appeared on the screen for our Zoom call, FirstKlaz was in the back seat of a car driving down to the studio. He certainly didn’t look like someone who had just performed an intimate 80-person show, sharing both his released and unreleased songs in a visceral way the night before. With all the progress he’s made since his debut in 2019, Afromixx was curious to know how he’s been enjoying his journey, what he’s been up to, what’s next for him as a fast-paced artist quickly making a name for himself in the music industry, and his plans to ultimately cement his status as a force to be reckoned with. Born Justice Esla Joseph, FirstKlaz was relaxed in the backseat of his car to the studio. He quickly divulged to Afromixx the creative process behind how his music comes together. He claims it’s a gift, emphasising that he doesn’t have any specific rituals or stimulants required before the creation of a song.
“I want everything I create to be organic, so I just flow with how I’m feeling at the moment. I have this gift where I do not need to take anything before connecting with my creative side. After developing an idea, I’m able to really zone in on that, and everything else falls in place along the way,” he explains with intermittent chuckles. However simple the answer may seem, Firstklaz’s authenticity is undeniable, and the distinctive appeal of his sound is irresistible. It’s the core incentive for a growing fanbase, which started with just friends and family constantly rooting for him.
From his debut single in 2019 ‘Tonight,’ an Afro R&B record that showcased his signature mellow delivery on a minimalistic production to his 2024 breakout single, ‘Gen-Z Fuji’, Firstklaz explored diverse genres, borrowing elements and infusing it with a unique delivery pattern all while sticking to the essence of his mother genre, Afrobeats. It was impossible to tell what his next release would sound like.
After the success of ‘Gen-Z Fuji’, which paved the way for ‘Gen-Z Faaji’ featuring Joeboy, the media began labelling FirstKlaz as a Neo-Fuji artist. However, that label faded rather quickly with the release of ‘Gen-Z Arewa’, a track that came together in a spontaneous burst of creativity, showcasing FirstKlaz’s undeniable brilliance as an artist. He highlighted that the music group with which he collaborated, Iliya Entertainment, is now family, hinting at future collaborations. When asked if ‘Gen-Z Fuji’ shaped his perspective on the kind of artist he aspires to be, his response shed light on why each of his new releases carries a distinct sound.
“I’ve always known what I want to be, and I feel like every artist needs to understand who they want to be. It doesn’t have to be a guess. It has to be something you’re intentional about. And we grow; we evolve past our current stage, and at a time I feel like that will definitely happen.” But it appears Firstklaz isn’t well aware of the rapidity and spontaneity he evolves with, or perhaps he is, but only being humble. Hence, he doesn’t view the success of ‘Gen-Z Fuji’ as a template for his future releases but instead considers it one of his many creative brainchildren. In his conversation with Afromixx, he elaborates on this perspective when asked about upcoming projects and what can be expected from him next, “Singles that I’ve already put out this year are singles from my forthcoming project. And what I’m trying to do with my project is create a nostalgic vibe, and nostalgia means something that has happened before but would like to relish all over again. That’s why the songs sound like they’re ‘old school,’ and when you listen to them, it triggers bits of nostalgia”.
He also had a few things to say about the current sound state of the music industry. “To be honest, I feel like if everybody is doing the same thing, the music industry is not going to grow. From a musician’s standpoint, music is THE art, and you do not see a painter or an artist trying to recreate the popular painting of another painter. It’s best to create something from a personal depth that reflects whatever it is you’re going through in that moment. I make music that translates how I feel into sounds. Now, I can’t tell people if that’s the way to go, but personally, that’s how I approach my music; it is always organic. For instance, when I released Gen-Z Fuji, the trend was Amapiano, but Gen-Z Fuji is far from that. It doesn’t have log drums or the bounce Amapiano sound is characterised by.” Amid the surge of attention as a fast-rising artist, with endorsements from heavyweights like Olamide, Joeboy, Zlatan, and his long-time friend and colleague ODUMODUBLVCK, Afromixx sought to understand how he remains grounded despite the growing spotlight and the fast-paced nature of the industry.
“I don’t like to see things from the whole industry perspective; I just try to do things in my own way. I’ve also had this thought and mindset stuck with me before everything that’s happening now, and that keeps me grounded. Because at the end of the day, we’re all humans and can get arrogant. But I wouldn’t treat people the way I would not like to be treated.” On balancing between personal growth and public expectations for his person and music, he explained that the way he is, is the way he acts when he’s out there working. “I’m an introvert,” he spills. But it felt difficult to reconcile this statement with the amount of work he puts into staying in the faces of his audience, and he gave a reason for that. “I just think it’s because of my dreams and how much I’m so into it. It’s to the point where I can do almost anything to see it happen. I could climb a moving trailer for it, literally. I can do anything to see it happen; basically, I just started adjusting to what was demanded and as things unfolded.“ With the conversation time now far spent, Afromixx was interested in knowing the legacy he intends to leave behind in the music industry. He took a few seconds and, upon clearing his throat, answered, “In 2022, someone told me that as an artist, you need to find a particular sound to stick to and create all the time. For example, if you’re a reggae artist, you have to stick to that all the time. But what I’m trying to do is make people see that you could be a reggae artist and do a R&B song; you could incorporate dancehall with jazz, folk, funk, jazz, and even rock. I want to break that box. I want people to understand that you can create anything you want to create. That’s it; that’s the legacy I want to leave behind.” He stresses that sticking to a particular sound stifles creativity with risks of turning out boring and repetitive. As we wrapped up the conversation, he desired that Afromixx conveyed a message to the music industry. Amusingly and with unmistakable confidence, he stated, “Brace up, una go hear wehh.”
