WITHIN the eldorado that is the Nigerian music industry, there’s a rising surge of fusion-focused musicians. And among those set to have a noteworthy run for the top seat is Afro-fusion helmsman Shun Breezy, the young musician carving a niche for himself one record at a time.

The Ogun indigene is also very notable for his affectionate display of culture in his music, having garnered influences from his Fuji and Gospel background.

With a blooming career as a singer on the rise, Shun Breezy also taps into the exciting realm of songwriting, having scored some significant writing gigs as an emerging player in the field. His input on Davido’s Timeless album is fool-proof of his depth of talent.

Catching up with Guardian Music, the young maestro delves deep into his come-up story, narrating his bittersweet experiences, writing for Davido, as well as leaving a legacy while making a run for the top.

How did you get the name Shun Breezy?
First of all, the name actually came from my names Oluwaseyi and Sonke. So, but then the Shun breezy, Shun stands for the ocean and the Breeze. My own definition and style.

Take us back to when you began doing music and why you chose to do music.
I actually started music when I was, when I was 14, 15. For me, music has always been part of me, growing up in a celestial church and my family as well. They are like music heads too as well. I actually listen to all kinds of music like gospel, fuji music and of course, hip hop. So then, but then I always just lip-sync those songs then and gradually I started writing my own songs.

So I started, vibing, I started singing in church from there, I just know that I have it like that I can do it and I started. I actually started doing music properly, like in 2013. Like I started recording.

That was probably a pivotal moment in your career. What made you decide to do music professionally?
I lost my mom, you know, and while I was in school I couldn’t continue at that point in time. So I was like Wetin I wan do? I Dey sing, I Dey write then I started sourcing for shows wherever is happening, I just wanted to put music out. I started just because that was the hustle for me.

What was the first song you made and what was it about?
Actually, my first song was about my name, funny enough. Like it was about Shun Breezy and then I started with rapping. So that was my first record ever.

After that moment, what made you keep going?
I mean, I wouldn’t say there wasn’t a point in my life that I thought about quitting, because it was crazy, we just recording, recording, going for more shows. Seeing that other people too are doing it and my music is still not, you know, like that kind of stuff. So I definitely thought about it but then I couldn’t stop writing, so it just became a very strong part of me that I noticed that I can’t quit just like that.

Do you have any body of work out now?
Currently, I just dropped my single, personal.

Do you have any EP or album you’re working on?
Yeah, of course. My EP is dropping sometime this year before the end of the year too. I’ll be dropping a couple of singles before the project drops.

What do you listen to while you’re making your own music?
I do Afro-soul mainly. I do Afro-soul with a little bit of RnB. I listen to more RnB. I listen to some rap songs, and I listen to Fuji music as well. I listen to gospel music too so it just is a bit of everything for me.

Any specific names?
I listen to Burna, I listen to Chris Brown, I listen to these old fuji artists and I listen to Ayuba and Pasuma, but not often.

As one of the young emerging or the next generation of superstars in the industry, how do you perceive, like where the sound is currently?
Trust me, I mean, where Afrobeat is right now, I feel like that’s where it should be. That’s actually like a good place that it is right now because you can bring in your sound, you can do your sound without trying to sound like anybody else in the game. your sound can be accepted like that’s where the Afrobeat sound is right now. So you can just, you know, just make it nice and make it a good one. So I’m just trying to create my own sound and just expand.

Now, what part of your artistry, what would you consider as your biggest strength?
Production. I’ve not really been getting on stage but I mean I would still get into that.

So you are heavily involved in the production process. Do you produce as well?
I don’t really produce beats, but I can record myself like I have a personal recording setup that I record myself with. I make my voice sound like I can control that.

You have some new songs recently and most of them are heavily inspired by love. How fictional are these stories?
Positives, real life, streets and all that stuff but right now, I mean, my few songs, the first one that I dropped in the past years now has been like love songs and, yeah there is a point that I was, I was actually in love with this person. It was a true story. It was just I love this love story in it and it was just a vibe that I caught. like my recent song that I just dropped, that’s personal

What song have you written that is most special to you and why?
My special song is not out yet, to be honest. I have a couple of songs that people like.

Can you give us an idea of the song?
I mean, it was at the point that you know, that there was a change that, personally, I felt and I knew that, it was a mood that I caught. There is this song of mine that is not out yet, “Billy Dreaming.”
You should watch out for it. It is one of my favourite songs.

Do you write for other artists? And if yes, who is the favourite artist that you’ve written for?
Right now, I just wrote for Davido, on his last album, Timeless. I co-wrote “In The Garden.”

Can you tell us how that came about?
It was mad. It was a very mad experience because it was just natural. They sent the beat to me and said that I should listen. Morravey had already laid her hand on it already. So they sent me the vocal and everything to me. Then I actually recorded myself and I sent it back to them and Davido liked it and said I should come to his place and we should finish up. Then I went to his place, and we recorded the song and he started mixing the song the same day because he liked the vibe and everything. It was just natural.

Looking at the future of your career, what are you going to say is your vision for it?
I just wanna keep breaking the boundaries like just keep going. I just want to keep going for real. I don’t see myself stopping music at any time or trying to rest. I just see myself going.

What do you do outside of music?
Everything actually for me is around music. But I mean, aside from recording or doing anything music-related, I just go to see the water or watch movies. I don’t really do too much stuff.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Actually I will say I’m more of an introvert. But I go out as well; because if you see me, you just be like, ‘This guy doesn’t talk,’ and other times, I’m catching a good vibe. It just depends on how the vibe comes to me.

Tell us some fun facts about Shun Breezy.
Yeah, the music, the lifestyle and me as a person; because I no like wahala. I’m an introvert. I just do my thing, man. I can’t think of anything else right now.