Meet Wiztoni: A Rising Star with a Unique Afrobeat Sound

By Taiwo Okanlawon

During the early 2010s, it echoed with African music, instrumental jazz and sounds of blues. the Nigerian musician Wiztoni, real name Anthony Idris Olasunkanmi, began to find his way musically from performing his favourite songs at shows, writing and recording his own songs to auditioning for Project Fame in 2013 and making it to the show.

In this interview, Wiztoni sat down with Taiwo Alabi to discuss his career, the music business, and future plans.

Can you introduce yourself?

I’m Anthony Idris Olasunkanmi. I’m very much a calm and patient person, I like football. I was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, and I grew up in Ibadan and Lagos State. I graduated from Lagos State University of Science and Technology in 2016 and relocated to Europe the following year to hustle.

When did you come back to Nigeria?

I literally came back to Nigeria in 2021 to pursue my passion which is music.

Did you recently start making music?

No, my foundations in music started around 2010/2011 when I started performing my favourite songs of other people at shows before I auditioned for Project Fame for the 2013 season and subsequently started writing and recording my own songs at a local studio without releasing them. I started professionally in 2021 the same year I released my debut single Buddy Flip.

How long were you at the 2013 Project Fame?

Just the first stage before I got disqualified.

At what point did you become certain that music was something you wanted to pursue as a career?

Growing up in a music-loving family who listened to the likes of Fela Kuti, Brenda Fassie, Michael Jackson, Lucky Dube and Bob Marley. I fell in love with music very early and have always wanted to pursue a career in music starting from my teen age.

Music gives me joy, I feel every bit of emotion when I listen to good music and this actually made me start singing, I usually sing along with artists when my dad plays some CDs at home then. After I understood my passion for music and my parents are supportive of it, it really honed my skills musically and helped in making me understand who I am.

My love for music was boosted 100 per cent after I listened to Holla at Your Boy by Wizkid which was released in 2010. It really motivated me and added more gas to my moving train in pursuing a career in music which is my passion and seeing Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido’s achievements makes me want to do more.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Fela Kuti, Brenda Fassie, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and Lucky Dube are my biggest musical influences but seeing the way the likes of Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido are pushing African music inspires me also.

What was the creative process behind your latest release, Buddy Flip?

Buddy Flip is actually a dancehall song, one day I was at the studio and a female friend walked to me and stated Buddy Flip with jokes. The statement stuck in my head and I decided to make an impression by creating it as a song to ease stress, so basically, Buddy Flip was made to ease stress.

Would you say this is the best song you have ever written?

Well, I like this song so very much but I would say Erima is my best for now because I got a lot of positive comments on it, but a lot of people prefer this one.

Are you an Afrobeats artist?

Yeah, I’m an Afrobeat artist but I intend in inventing a new genre soon, we gat wait for it because it’s going to be special.

Wonderful, what would be the name of the genre, AfroToni?

Hehehe, I can’t disclose that now man, wait for it.

Do you have other goals aside from music?

Well, I’m more of a music guy and it’s all about music for now which is my passion but I’d like to have my clothing brand in future.

In one word, how would you describe Wiztoni?

Hardworking