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Cover Star Interview
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Fireboy DML joins Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest single, the Lagbaja collab, “back n forth.” He also discusses some of his favourite tracks from his new album, ‘adedamola.’
This Week’s Hottest New Tracks
Nandi Madida shares the hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Bayanni feat. Ruger, CKay, Aymos & Cassper Nyovest, Kususa & ANATII feat. MaWhoo, Noxolo Ngema & King Deetoy, and Lebza TheVillain & Luke M feat. Nkosazana Daughter, Azana & Musa Keys.
Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday, August 30th at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow and broadcast on YFM Accra every Sunday at 2pm, YFM Kumasi on Saturdays at 3pm and YFM Takoradi on Saturdays at 6pm.
Fireboy DML Tells Apple Music About His Track, the Lagbaja Collab, “back n forth”
That’s a special record, right there. It means a lot to me getting a legend like Lagbaja on that record, in [the] time that we are in now. One major theme around the album is nostalgia—there’s this nostalgic feeling when you listen to the album, so it’s only right that I employed my legends in the game to help me push this message. Right from the very beginning, I knew this record was special, and I could not wait for everyone to listen to it.
You would not believe this: [Lagbaja] was masked up in the studio. It was crazy—I did not get to see his face. I had a few interesting thoughts; I wanted to ask him if I could see his face! But you know, all that matters is that we made the music. That’s what makes Lagbaja, Lagbaja. You know, “lagbaja,” where I’m from, in the Yoruba language, means like, “Mr Nobody,” an anonymous person; so it’ sonly right that I do not get to see his face. I’m glad he got to be on the record—a special person, a special artist, a special record.
Fireboy DML Tells Apple Music About His Track, “iseoluwa”
I recorded that song at a sort of low point in my life. It was a period of learning, and relearning, and learning lessons from experience. It’s not always a pleasurable experience, to be honest, but it was very essential for growth, and during that period I realised a lot of things. A lot of things came into perspective—a lot of things that truly mattered, over everything I had been chasing, or everything else I had aspired to have.
I just had more clarity during that period, so I made that song out of that clarity, and it just made sense to open the album with that song. A lot of my fans that are very familiar with my music over the years know that I’m always very intentional about my intros. My intros on my albums are always inspiring in some ways, so I felt it was only right to introduce a very personal album like that.
Fireboy DML Tells Apple Music About His Track, “ecstasy (feat. Seun Kuti)”
Big shout out to Olamide, one of the A&Rs on the album. When we worked on the song together in the studio, he advised me, “I hear Seun Kuti on this,” and the moment he said that, it just clicked. I just imagined him in one very dark room, spotlight on him, with the sax just blowing away, and it just made perfect sense to me. He’s a very cool guy, Seun Kuti. Amazing person, very funny, down to earth and really hilarious. He has a very colourful personality and it was fun making the record with him.
Fireboy DML Tells Apple Music About His Track, “wande’s bop (feat. SPINALL)”
I recorded that in 2021 I think, in SPINALL’s studio in Lagos. I was like, “When the time is right, this record will come out”—it just made a lot of sense. I listened to the beat once and it just immediately took me back to 2015-2016, when I was listening to one of Wande Coal’s records. It just sounded like something Wande Coal would love, something he would have loved to have spit on. I was like, “What would Wande of 2016 do? Let me just try that.” It’s sort of like a tribute to him; [everyone] knows I respect him so much.
This whole album is more like a tribute to all the legends that shaped African music over the years, and also a testament to myself, of course, and my growth over the years.
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