By Ayo Onikoyi

After the success of his debut EP titled “Yugoszn” released on February 5, 2024  US-based Nigerian multidimensional  singer, Yugoszn  has struck again with “Heartbreak Hotel” single released on September 23, 2024.

The young fast-rising artist from Lagos, Nigeria, has soared since releasing his debut single, “Before Before”, in 2023. In April, Yugoszn released the follow-up single “Renegade,” which did well on TikTok, accumulating

over one million views. To his surprise, Cameroonian-American BET  award-winning singer Libianca shared Yugoszn’s “Jah” cover video with her growing fanbase on her Instagram and TikTok.

This year, on January 12, the gifted rapper-singer and songwriter released his most-streamed track called “Tombstone,” a

collaboration with Connor Price. At the time of the recording, the Nigerian artist had less than 20,000 monthly followers on Spotify. Today, he has over 500,000. After being featured on Live Nation’s Ones to Watch editorial playlist (“Now Watching”) and interviewed by SiriusXM’s DJ Anarchy for the new season of his show “Tropical Takeover”, which airs on Pitbull’s

Globalization, there’s no stopping the multifaceted  music artist in stamping his name on the global music landscape.

Adding “Heartbreak Hotel” to his repertoire, Yugoszn is poised to keep his foot on the throttle to launch his career right up in the sky to find his space among the stars. He speaks in this interview with VANGUARD Entertainment Editor , Ayo Onikoyi on his latest release, his style of music, his dreams, career and many more. Excerpts:

What is your “Heartbreak Hotel” single all about and what were the creative and production processes like?

“Heartbreak Hotel” is a downtempo EDM track about a woman unsure of her feelings. I produced it myself, drawing inspiration from Drake and WizKid’s Afrobeats classic “One Dance” and Drake’s album ‘Honestly, Nevermind’.

Is Heartbreak Hotel just another love song or is there more to it, in view of your style of music?

Well, it means more to me, personally…because that is also the name of the production powerhouse I’m working with. It’s an artist development/production company, dedicated to training young artists. Like actual, real artist training, from performance to production, to songwriting. That’s what it is in a nutshell.

How important are women to your music and how do they influence it?

Women are a huge influence in my music. I love women—God’s most beautiful creation.

The Nigerian music scene is already saturated with talents and emerging stars. What stands Yugoszn out from the crowd?

My sound is unique. Play my song after the top 10 tracks from Nigeria’s biggest stars or rising talents, and you’ll immediately feel the difference in what sets my music apart.

What genre of music do you really do and do you think it is advisable for a music artist to stick to just one genre?

I don’t limit myself to one genre. That puts you in a box. Growing up, I experimented with EDM, Afrobeats, rap, drill, R&B, and even classics like Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, Elton John, and Whitney Houston.

Can you tell us more about your debut EP and the influences that went into its production.

The ‘Yugoszn EP’ is a seven-track project, showcasing different sides of me. I was giving the world an introduction to me, but most importantly, I had to showcase Africa, home first— you know, I had a Highlife-themed song on the project because I’m an Igbo boy of course, I had the conventional Afrobeats on Before Before, and had Amapiano — street style though.

So I would say the EP is my first of many and I had to showcase who I am and where I’m from (Lagos, Nigeria).

What have been the most remarkable feedback from the EP and your intended response?

“Renegade,” the second track on the EP, blew up on TikTok, racking up over a million views. My work has been co-signed by many artists, I can’t even remember, artists like Libianca, Teddy Swims, Connor Price, and South African artist EeQue, the singer on the viral “Tshwala Bam” song that was hot this year. We were together in Lagos a few months ago. It’s so good to hear feedback and responses when you put out a piece so I’m thankful.

You are a cross-cultural artist, which culture affects your music the most?

I believe every culture brings something unique to my music, but Nigerian culture stands out the most for me. When I travel, people find it amazing that I’m Nigerian, from our delicious food to our ethics and morals. I guess that’s why home and abroad, there’s no place like it.

Which Nigerian music artist would you like to collaborate with and why?

There are so many Nigerian artists I’d love to collaborate with—naming them all would take all day! But Rema is definitely at the top. Our chemistry in the studio would be fire, and I already have a track I’d love for him to jump on.

What’s your ultimate goal and dream as a musician?

My ultimate goal? To touch lives the way Micheal Jackson did.