The Indie genre is one of the –if not the–, strangest genres in the music industry. This is because it is not restricted to a particular spot, rather it cuts across various spheres of music.
The indie genre, culled from the word ‘independent,’ refers to music released and produced without mainstream influences. Basically, music produced, released and distributed solely by an artiste without record labels or, in some cases, publishing companies.
Songs like ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X and ‘Dance Monkey’ by Tones & I are indie songs that have gone viral recently.
So in an era where there are numerous record labels claiming to help independent artistes, what upcoming indie artistes are making waves now?
Moreover, it is difficult being an independent artiste in Nigeria. The infrastructure enjoyed by indie artistes in other countries is readily lacking here, making it a daunting task.
Here are some exciting upcoming indie artists out there in Nigeria:
Ric Hassani: The famous “Thunder fire you” singer. Known for his soothing melodies, and appealing lyrics, Ric Hassani is one of those few Nigerian artistes who prefers to be his own master. His record label is RiverLand Records, through which he manages his music. Some of his popular songs include “Gentleman,” “Beautiful to you” and “Marry me.”
Source: The Green institute
BNXN: Formerly known as Buju, the singer initially gained prominence under Burna Boy’s Spaceship records. However, he has since left to manage himself and has been doing fine since then. He has released numerous singles as well as some projects since then, notably “Sincerely BNXN,” an album which had features from Headie One and his artiste, Taves.
Source: The Teen Vogue
Kizz Daniel: After exiting G-Worldwide Entertainment due to unfavorable terms of work, the “Rich Till I Die” singer decided to be his own boss and do things his own way. With the look of things, that was a wonderful decision as he has been amassing a lot of hits since then.
Source: Punch Newspapers
Fozter: Any Instagram user that has an interest in Nigerian Hip-hop will undoubtedly have heard his name. He went viral a few years ago for his cover of MI and Vector’s “Crown of Clay” single as well as Eminem’s “Godzilla.” Known for his iconic intro:
Yo Pops, my name is Fozter.
Fozter
The engineering graduate of UNN is not receptive to the idea of record labels changing his sound, and as such has remained independent.
Source: Rhyme and Reason
Psamuel: An undergraduate student of OAU, Psamuel is well-known for his electrifying melodies and stage performance. Already a legend in OAU (a school that has produced the likes of Asake, Fireboy and Blaqbonez), he distributes his song by himself without any record label and his Spotify Numbers are proof of his excellence.
Source: The Headies
Wizard Chan: From the rugged city of Port-Harcourt, Fuayefika Maxwell known professionally as ‘Wizard Chan’ is a Nigerian Afro-Teme and reggae singer, songwriter and music producer with a degree in Marketing from Wisconsin International University College in Accra, Ghana. Wizard Chan decided to put his degree to use when he founded the Chan Empire with a friend, through which he manages his music.
Source: African Music Library
Show Dem Camp: Show Dem Camp (SDC) is a Nigerian hip-hop duo composed of: Tec (Teck-Zilla) & Ghost Formed in 2011, SDC is known for their witty lyrics, catchy hooks, and eclectic blend of hip-hop, Afrobeats, and soul. SDCs sound is influenced by hip-hop, jazz, soul, and Afrobeats. Their lyrics often touch on love, social issues, and Nigerian culture. Show Dem Camp has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s hip-hop scene. They’ve paved the way for alternative and experimental artists.
Source: Pulse Nigeria
Raybekah: Electrifying vocals and a beautiful face to match, Raybekah is so good that Blaqbonez had to feature her for his “Breaking the Yoke Of Love” single, an unusual collaboration at that time but definitely worth it.
Source: The African Music Library
Ajebo Hustlers: The group is made up of rapper George “Knowledge” Dandeson and singer Isaiah “Piego” Precious. “This country na wa oh.” Almost every random person on the street were singing these lyrics a couple years back. Having Davido on the remix of the song also help their cause in no small measure. In their words, this is no small feat coming from two independent artistes from Port Harcourt.
Source: Spotify
Nasboi: A famous comedian and skit-maker before he decided to get into the Music industry, Nasboi is famous for his single ‘Cinderella’ which had almost every Nigerian celebrity jumping on the Tiktok trend.
