The former startup founder and mental health activist finally decided to chase his lifelong music dreams and also lend his soulful voice to spread the message of mental health awareness through his music. With the release of his latest single ’Omotena,’ SMB Man Biza is looking to finally break into the mainstream music industry, now that he has a solid team behind him to help push his brand and music to bigger audiences. Album Talks caught up with the artist to chat about the highs and lows of his music journey, his creative process, and the surprising ways he’s using his platform to break the silence around mental health in Africa.
You have quite a unique stage name, what was the inspiration behind choosing the name and what is the meaning of the name?
The inspiration behind the name SMB Man Biza is a reflection of my creativity as a musical artist and songwriter. SMB means songs of man biza. Biza is an African slang, meaning ‘to summon’. When I write music it feels like I’m summoning a different kind of energy into writing and singing. Instead of saying “songs of man summons” I chose to go by SMB Man BIZA.
What language is the word ‘Biza’ from?
It isn’t just limited to one language. They all mean the same thing in different languages in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. The meaning in Zulu is the same as its meaning in Shona and it means to summon or to put together.
How long have you been in SA? Your sound seems like you’ve really integrated well into South African society, especially on songs like ‘’Hustler’s Anthem.’
I’ve been in SA since 2019, I’ve been living in Cape Town for five years now. Honestly, I didn’t even notice, I got subconsciously influenced I guess.
You have a unique voice and style that sounds very seasoned. How long have you been doing music?
Last month made it one year since I started doing music and ‘Threads And Needles’ was my first project as a musician. My first time using a recording studio as well. In my first session, I was nervous and shaky. I can’t lie, the producer had to ask me to calm down.
What influenced the decision to pivot into music from being a startup founder?
Doing something you have an interest in without adequate skill is not living a satisfactory life. I had to learn the basics of Python and also try so hard to make sure I’m not ignorant or living in anyone’s shadow. It’s a whole lot of struggle for something you have an interest in but with less skill. But music on the other hand comes to me naturally. My advisory board members still don’t know I now do music, but I think it’s also a good strategy for future business, hopefully, they get the perspective.
What sparked your passion for mental health advocacy and climate change activism, and how do you incorporate these themes into your music?
Growing up as a child in African homes, most parents have little awareness of how to cater to their children’s mental needs. An average home for example believes money is all that is required to raise a child, neglecting the mental wellbeing of that child. From my experience as a child, the father wasn’t in the picture and the mother had a different idea of how to raise children and did her best. What most parents do not understand is that; absence in a child’s life is akin to physical abuse of a child. As a proud member of the Mental Wellness Society, I’ve published an article on this topic on my LinkedIn page “Mental healthcare awareness for children.”
For climate change, during my Y combinator and FI alumni program, we were taught to develop concern for specific areas of the United Nations SDGs; my choice was first, the effect of climate change. This caught my attention due to the recent visible effects of shifts in temperature and weather patterns. As a choice I have made, I plan to incorporate this specific development goal into my music, setting a good precedent in the Afrobeat community.
I noticed a difference in your sound from the EP. It’s quite unique, it has the Mzansi influence but you sing in Nigerian Pidgin and there’s some Afrobeats influence too, with a sprinkle of a Lucky Dube influence. How would you describe your music style, and what sets you apart from other artists in the industry?
Truly I love reggae music, real soul reggae sounds of Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Burning Spears, UB40, Alpha Blondy, Sizla, Culture, etc, inspire me. The idea behind music generally is to communicate and I think incorporating reggae helps with the communication. If there’s a communication problem then it’s no longer music but just entertainment. My major Nigerian influencers in no particular order are; Burna Boy, MI Abaga, and Vector.
I can write about anything, my style and ideas are not confined to a particular pattern of music. You basically don’t know what to expect next but best believe you’ll love it! That kinda sets me apart from other artists in the industry.
Has your upbringing in Benin also influenced your craft in any way?
Yes in a weird way or what some may consider weird. My upbringing as a Bini boy has helped me to explore the art that isn’t familiar to our music community. Take for instance what Rema is doing, the bat has a traditional significance to our tradition as Bini (Benin) people
Your EP is called ‘Threads and Needles.’Why did you choose that title?
The Thread app came in when I didn’t know how to begin with the social media thing. With the Thread app, I felt inspired and even more accepted into a new community, and the people there are awesome. While anticipating, I got a lot of support from Thread users. Don’t forget Biza also means putting together and that’s basically what a Thread and Needle does.
What was the creative process like for the EP?
It took me 3 months to complete my EP project which I believe took the longest time to make. Some tracks I had planned for the EP weren’t ready at the time, so I uploaded the available songs. Overall the process was a learning curve in the business of creating music being a first timer. I’ve gained more knowledge and experience since then.
You took a hiatus after the EP dropped. Would you say you got the desired results after dropping the EP?
After the release of my EP, I took a break to better understand how the whole music business works; I realized it wasn’t just about recording music. The EP was mainly experimental and on a budget. Since I had no prior knowledge of the industry and how it operates I had a little bump here and there but overall it was satisfactory.
Moving on, Your new single, “Omotena,” marks your return to the music scene. What can fans expect from this new release, and what’s the story behind the song?
Omotena is a story of lovers. It speaks about a low-income man who fell in love with a sex worker. It talks about the barriers that can be overcome when there’s genuine love present between a man and a woman.
As a mental health advocate, how do you think music can be used as a tool for healing and support?
It’s basically incorporating the ideas and values learned in mental health study in song lyrics and sometimes visuals without altering the fun and creativity in the process of making Afrobeats sounds.
What advice would you give to young artists who want to use their platform for social good?
It’s important to know what you’re doing as a musical artist, being awake enough to live in the present and differentiate between what’s real and what’s not will help to be in line with your audience. The gift of music is divine; it doesn’t matter which genre. Treat every piece of music you create with love, care, and understanding and you’ll be exposed to an endless flow of creativity.
How do you balance your various passions and pursuits, and what drives you to keep making a positive impact?
When there’s passion, everything else becomes easy – And there’s this grace that comes with having a clear vision. That’s how you know it’s from God. The drive is simple; I love to make people happy and I realized it’s something that I can conveniently do through music. I hear my sound and I love it, then I want to do something better and better and better and there’s no end to these things.
What genre or subgenre would you place your sound under?
Afrobeats/ AfroFusion, World Music.
What’s next for SMB Man Biza? Can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations?
I have a few singles underway. OUTSIDE, PAULINA, AFRICAN WOMAN, IBIZA FEVER and so on. Hopefully, with the help of my management at CiDAR Africa, I plan to have a collaboration with Wizard Chan and Ayo Maff, and anyone else that I’m lucky enough to get a collaboration with. I really would love to do something with Rema, Burna Boy, and most importantly Big Wiz [wears a cheeky smile.]
I actually feel like you and Wizard Chan would blend together perfectly. Was your EP released independently or while you were with CiDAR?
I first released with TuneCore independently. When I met CiDAR, I had to redistribute with them after a successful business discussion and signing a contract.
Thank you so much for granting us your time.
Thank you very much, God bless you, my bro.
