When you are the son of a professor and a prominent political figure, the default expectation is to follow a career path of more academic persuasion. The choice was very different for Ozonna Soludo, son of the current Anambra state governor and former CBN governor. He decided to pursue music professionally, and with over five million streams across all platforms, his decision has been largely justified. On the final day of the first half of the year, Ozonna released his comeback single, and there’s every reason to be excited about what’s to come as this unique talent enters his new era.
His family’s affluence means Ozonna might have enjoyed an upbringing different from the typical Nigerian. However, like most other young Nigerians aspiring to make music, he faced major resistance from his parents upon announcing his intentions to become a musician. Ozonna, who began writing songs at the age of 12, was not to be discouraged. He persisted till his family came on board and proceeded to receive expert training at the Institute for Contemporary Music Performance in London.
“Me And You On Top” was the title of Ozonna’s debut single, which he dropped in 2013 when he was just 19 years old. The track performed decently and generated buzz in the United Kingdom, where he lived at the time. But it was his debut project that cemented his status as a prodigy. “Believe It Till To See It” was a 5-track EP with some truly outstanding music, “We Glow” and the titular track being the pick of the bunch. Ozonna did record the EP with Grammy-winning producer Scott Jacoby and Jimmy Greco, so the quality should not be too much of a surprise. He took a three-year hiatus before resurfacing with “So Good,” a track true to its name.
Ozonna has built a respectable following in Europe, America, and back home; the key contributor to that is his voice. It was once described by TheRogersRevue as “velvety smooth and hypnotic” and more impressively by Live Jam TV as “smooth, silky, with no flaws.” These quotes are not in any way exaggerated because Ozonna’s tenor singing voice is quite the ear-tingler. His polished accent, which somehow combines his Nigerian, British, and American intonation into a sultry balance, also increases the appeal of his vocals. He’s no slouch in songwriting either and does a neat job of spreading positivity in his lyrics.
It’s been five years since we last got new music from Ozonna, but he announced his return on June 30 with “Take It Slow.” The alternative track boasts a fluid mixture of Pop, Dance, and Afrobeats. He croons about taking a slow and steady approach to love on the instantly catchy record that’s perfect for the summertime. It’s an excellent comeback for a man who seems poised to finally fulfil his immense potential and is certainly worth adding to your playlist today.