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When I think of Nigerian music, my mind usually goes to one of two places - afrobeat or Nigerian hip-hop, so I was pretty surprised when I came across Bez and his relatively stripped down sound. Instead of the over produced wailing that I’ve come to expect from male R&B singers (sorry, but you know I’m right) I was treated to a number of airy tracks featuring some folksy guitar and sober vocals. Bez refers to his musical style as “Alternative Soul” and it’s easy to see why. He gives equal billing to his guitar playing and singing, allowing the former to give the song just as much emotional charge as his lyrics.
Bez is a rising star in Nigeria, and has opened up for artists like Nneka and Angie Stone. His album Super Sun is set for release later this year (we’ll be sure to give you more info as it comes in) and I’m interested to see the full range of his musical gifts. The tracks “Zuciya Daya" and “Super Sun” in particular lead me to believe that his debut album will be worth the wait. Until then enjoy the video for “More You” above ....and believe me, there are many things to enjoy about that video. For more Bez, check out his site.