Garvicii, the Warri-born artist, grew up with a curiosity for sound. The name ‘Garvicii’ itself is a fusion of two words: ‘Garvie’, meaning pride or dignity, and ‘Vicii’, meaning to conquer. Together, they form a declaration of intent: with pride, I conquer. It’s more than a stage name; it’s a mantra that captures the spirit of an artiste learning, experimenting, and carving out his place in Nigeria’s evolving soundscape.
Raised within the rhythm of Warri and the layered influences of Benin and Urhobo culture, Garvicii’s early experiences shaped a perspective that’s both grounded and daring. After earning a degree in Computer Engineering from Benson Idahosa University, he moved to Lagos—a move that would spark the creative awakening behind his debut EP, Becoming Garvicii.
The six-track project traces his evolution from a dreamer to a doer, capturing the tension between faith, vulnerability, and ambition. In this conversation, Garvicii opens up about the journey behind Becoming Garvicii, his creative process, and how he’s learning to merge experimentation with identity.
Becoming Garvicii is described as “documentation” of your journey and self-discovery. Can you walk us through the moment or experiences that made you realise you were ready to share this part of yourself with the world?
It’s something that has been growing for a while, but the realisation hit when I moved to Lagos after school. I met new people, different producers, and started seeing the music business differently. Before, I thought music was just about recording and dropping songs, but Lagos showed me it’s more than that; it’s about connection and story. I became more experimental and started writing about the things I experience daily. When I noticed how much people could relate to my stories, I thought, “Maybe I should put this out.” If a few people around me can feel seen by what I say, how many more out there would connect to?
Your EP moves between celebration, vulnerability, intimacy, and defiance. How do you decide which personal truths to reveal in a song and which to keep private?
Honestly, it just happens. I don’t sit down to plan what part of me to show or hide; it’s whatever emotion I’m in when I’m creating. Sometimes I tell myself, “Okay, maybe this part of my life is not ready to be shared yet,” but even then, it usually finds its way into a song naturally. I believe in timing — when the time feels right, the truth comes out through the music.
Tracks like Conversations explore a dialogue between you and God. How has faith influenced your music and your creative process?
Faith is everything to me. It’s in the smallest decisions, even outside music. I’ve learnt to let God guide things, even when they don’t go as planned. Sometimes I’ll be frustrated, wondering why something didn’t work after I prayed about it, but I’ve realised it’s part of the process. My faith helps me stay grounded and patient. It’s in my writing too: that honesty, those doubts, those little moments of surrender. I do my part and let God do His.
You blend Afrobeats with experimental and avant-garde sounds. How do you approach experimenting with genres while keeping your music authentically Nigerian?
I listen to everything, from K-pop to reggae, indie pop, and even EDM. Anything that sounds pleasing to my ears. Those influences always find their way into my sound, but I never lose that Nigerian base. It’s like when you cook; no matter what you add, you can still taste home. I’m not the kind of artist who puts himself in a box. I’m a Nigerian artist, yes, but I’m also just an artist who likes to explore.
Your collaboration with Studio Killers on Jenny (I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship) introduced you to an international audience. How did that experience shape your vision for your solo career?
That collab was wild because it started so casually. I made a cover of the song because I liked it and told people to tag them. I wasn’t expecting anything. Then one day, they reached out. I was shocked! The video I posted wasn’t even high quality, but they saw something in it. That experience gave me a huge boost, mentally and creatively. It made me realise that you never know who’s watching and that even the smallest effort can lead to something big. It pushed me to take my craft even more seriously.
Warri has produced some incredible musical talent over the years. How has your upbringing in Warri influenced your sound, style, and approach to storytelling in music?
Warri is a whole vibe. The city has energy, humour, slang, and a deep love for rap and storytelling. I actually started out rapping before I began singing. Growing up there, you pick up that expressive way of telling stories. Even when people in Warri describe a fight, they’ll make it sound like a movie. That kind of expression rubbed off on me. Plus, the lingo — our Lambo — it’s colourful. You can hear that in how I phrase things or play with words in my music.
Looking ahead, what does Becoming Garvicii mean beyond the EP? How do you see yourself evolving as an artist over the next few years, both sonically and personally?
Becoming Garvicii is me owning my purpose. There was a time I didn’t know what direction to take. I was balancing school and music, and thinking maybe I should pause. But I realised this is what I want. This is plan A. The name itself, “With pride, I conquer”, is a reminder to keep pushing.
Sonically, I’ll keep experimenting, testing new sounds, and pushing boundaries. Personally, I just want to keep growing, stay curious, and stay ambitious. I don’t ever want to be comfortable in one spot. Every stage of my life should sound different; that’s what “becoming” means to me.
