Joeboy’s Musical Adventures with MUSON

Iyke Bede

At the premiere of YouTube’s ‘Up Close with…’ series — a platform where African music’s brightest stars get up close and personal with their fans and share their latest projects — in Lagos, where Nigerian afrobeats singer Joseph Akinwale, famed as JoeBoy, announced his upcoming studio album, the singer proved his musical ingenuity with a genre-defying collaborative performance with the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON).

Performing a medley of ‘Contour,’ ‘Surviving,’ and ‘Sip (Alcohol),’ on the backdrop of orchestral arrangement, creating a captivating fusion of contemporary afrobeats and the note precision of classical music from students of MUSON, audiences lauded his evocative live performance that warm, humid evening.

Throughout the night, Joeboy delved into his artistic journey, taking the audience on a trip back to his breakout hit ‘Fààjí,’ to chart-toppers like ‘Baby’ and ‘Sip (Alcohol),’ sharing insights and reflections along the way. In a revealing fireside chat, he shared the stories behind his music, the evolution of his sound, and the creative challenges he’s embraced along the way to establish his artistry.

He also revealed some of the details about his upcoming album and how underground musicians of the ‘80s have helped influence his creative direction to extend his artistry. “The new album will be out this year,” he declared. “However, I want to take some time to really prepare for the release. This way, when it finally drops, everything will be set up perfectly for a grand launch.”

According to YouTube Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa, Addy Awofisayo, “Joeboy’s album announcement and innovative MUSON collaboration are a testament to the relentless creativity and global ambition of African artists. Beyond the music, this series casts a spotlight on the vibrant cultures and communities driving the global appeal of African music.”

Awofisayo continued: “Over 70% of views for top Sub-Saharan African artists come from outside the continent, reflecting our platform’s commitment to bringing African creativity to the world.”