Lojay and Sarz’ hit single Monalisa toes the line between amapiano and afrobeats. Some feel it’s an afrobeats song with amapiano influence, others call it an amapiano song that’s crafted from an afrobeats perspective. Whatever it is, this thumping hybrid anthem is a megahit of note.
And where exactly Lojay’s unique vocal delivery fits into traditional vocal classifications is another story on its own. But somehow it just works.
For the past year, Monalisa has been one of the biggest surprise hits on the continent. As a consequence of its success, last year Lojay, who’s 26 years old, was nominated for two All Africa Music Awards (Afrimas), including Most Promising African Artist. During a brief call with Lojay and Sarz, I ask Lojay if his recognition at one of the biggest award shows on the continent so early into his blow up is something he’d expected. “I was shooting for it, but at the same time I wouldn’t say it hit me by surprise,” he says. “It was exciting to be honest. Goals going forward is to put out more music and perform at different venues, not necessarily getting awards.” It’s an appropriately level headed answer from a not-so-young artist who’s been grinding and hustling his way through the crowded Lagos musical landscape for a while now.
Recently, the song was boosted by a Chris Brown-assisted remix. While the song was already making waves beyond the continent, Brown’s co-sign has helped the song propel up the charts and further its global reach. With its current trajectory, the remix has every chance of extending the song’s lifespan and allowing it to dominate yet another year.
Speaking to The Africa Report, Lojay explained how the feature came about: “We basically just sent it out to different people that we had in mind that we would want on the remix,” he said. “Chris Brown was one of them, because he just floated so effortlessly on afrobeats and we just felt like he was one of the people who could take it to a whole new place and still maintain the same essence.”
Brown sent his verse back almost immediately, he recalls, and the entire process was a breeze.
Given its breakout success, it’s easy to forget that Monalisa was released as part of the pair’s joint EP titled LV N ATTN and, furthermore, the EP’s title track features afrobeats stalwart, Wizkid. Despite not getting much attention due to Monalisa’s success LV N ATTN, both the song and the EP, are worth a listen or two.
Sarz, a veteran producer who’s worked with the likes of Skepta, Niniola, Drake and Beyoncé, explains how the Wizkid collaboration came after he linked up with the Starboy in London and started playing him music he was working on. “I’ve known Wizkid for the longest time,” says Sarz, who notably produced Wizkid’s gorgeous single Closer featuring Drake in 2017. “Me and Wiz have been friends for over a decade, so anytime we link up we always just check on each other, see what we’re up to and play music.
He was playing me stuff from his last album, Made In Lagos and I played him stuff I was working on, and one of the projects I was working on was Lojay’s so I played him a few songs from there.” The moment Wizkid heard LV N ATTN he had the song on repeat the whole night in studio. When Lojay got to studio later that night, Wizkid insisted on jumping on the record. The rest, as they say, is history.
Now, Sarz has his sights set on completing and releasing his debut solo album. “This is gonna be my first solo album because all the projects I’ve worked on are usually collab projects,” he says. “I’m enjoying the process and the challenges I’m currently facing working on that right now.” It’s going to be a fusion of a lot of things, he adds. “I’m hopeful that it’s going to make people see a new soundscape of how afrobeats music can proceed.”
