The rising Nigerian musician ZahZah releases his eponymous debut EP today, July 30th. Opting to fully showcase his sonic abilities, the 5-track project solely features Ceeza Milli, the singer-songwriter formerly affiliated with Wizkid. On production duties, Runcheck goes behind the boards for three records (“Maranma,” “Jara” and “Enta”) while the accomplished duo of Phantom and Kel-P dazzle respectively on “Miss You” and “Ground Zero,” the latter track being a high point of the project which finds ZahZah in the role of the eagle-eyed observer, perusing the demands of fame and success.
Stoking anticipation for this project, his last single “Miss You” had enjoyed a good run in the last quarter of 2020. It was released in August, just in time to rock open spaces and summer-themed playlists with its sunny melodies. Even as a song about missing one’s old lover, the events of the year sparked its resonance in the hearts of listeners. Turntable, who publishes the most revered music charts in Nigeria, recognized ZahZah among its eleven acts to watch out for in 2021, following the exceptional performance of “Miss You” across charts. In their accompanying piece, they observed that ZahZah has always “straddled between underground notoriety and mainstream popularity.” With his forthcoming project, there’s greater prospect for his complete initiation into the latter.
ZahZah’s educational background also marks him out for greatness. Graduating with a degree in Computer Engineering from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), he won some awards in the institution which counts pop mainstays like Fireboy DML, Blaqbonez and Cheque as fellow alumnus. The fullness of the contemporary Nigerian experience collapses into the project. At times introspective and bubbly, it is finely cut from the Afro Pop tradition—percussive, immersive, crafted for fun times and a roomful of bodies. It is engineered by Vtek (Simi, Yemi Alade) and his mastery allows the songs to move seamlessly, offering a snapshot into ZahZah’s heart like he’s never shown before.
Beyond music, ZahZah is passionate about healthcare. One of his saddest memories is the loss of his father, an avoidable event which depended on responsive, effective healthcare which, unfortunately, Nigeria has consistently failed to provide. A documentary on the subject will be released soon, inspired by the solemn mission to spark conversation among stakeholders and fans alike on the dangers of the nation’s crippling healthcare system.
Surely, ZahZah’s heart is in all the right places. A listen to the EP only introduces his person through his most beloved medium: music.
