Bez (musician)

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For the performer associated with the bands "Happy Mondays" and "Black Grape", see Bez (dancer).
Bez

Bez in 2009
Background information
Birth name Emmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula
Born (1983-11-10) November 10, 1983
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Genres Alternative soul
Occupations Musician
Singer-songwriter
Composer
Instruments Vocals
Guitar
Piano
Years active 1998-present
Website bezworld.com

Emmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula, known as Bez (born November 10, 1983), is a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer, working in a genre known as "alternative soul", a hybrid of soul, rock, jazz and R&B. He is known as the first Nigerian artist who had his single, That Stupid Song, premiered on the renowned BET's 106 & Park, an American hip-hop and R&B music video show.[1] In January 2014, he was featured in Pulse Magazine as number one on the list of "Top 12 Musicians To Look Out For In 2014".[2]

Early life and education

Emmanuel Bez Idakula was born in 1983 in the city of Jos in central Nigeria, in a home where his parents were mainly listening to gospel and country. As a child, he sang in choirs and began playing his father's guitar at the age of nine. Later, he sang at open mic nights while at university.[3] Upon finishing Loyola Jesuit College, Emmanuel attended and graduated from Covenant University in 2005 with a BSc in Information and communications technology.[4]

Bez is currently based in Lagos.[5]

Career

Super Sun

Bez's album Super Sun was released in 2011, and includes the single "Stupid Song". The Boston Globe placed this song at number 3 in its top ten world music albums of 2011, calling Bez a "superb alternative-soul singer".[6] Connect Nigeria called it "unusual and just a perfect blend for a debut album"[7]

In interview with Vanguard Nigeria, Bez stated that "Stupid Song" was created accidentally when someone entered the studio requesting "a stupid song". At that moment, the idea came to Cobhams Asuquo, Bez's producer, to create a song that was a mixture of different songs they were trying that day. The next day, Praiz was invited to do collaboration with Bez to record "Stupid Song".[8]

Untitled 2014 album

In November 2013, Bez premiered the first single off his second album, produced by Cobhams Asuquo, to be released in 2014.[9] The title and release date are currently unknown. In the interview of April 2013 with Vanguard Nigeria, Bez stated that his next album will be a departure from the sound he is known for, stating he will be putting a more African sound in his music, with a bit of mainstream and rock while keeping the soul present in the music.[10]

Tours

In 2012, Bez performed at multiple events: SXSW in Austin, Texas;[11] The New Africa Shrine in Harlem, New York; the Applause Africa Award ceremony honoring Angélique Kidjo in Manhattan, New York; Arts Alive Festival and Moshito Music Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa; Africa Utopia at Southbank Centre in London, UK; Africa Leadership Network Annual conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,[12] and Nigeria House pre-Olympic concerts in London, UK. He also performed for Sol Village at SOBs in Manhattan, New York, and for the TML100 event in Nairobi, Kenya.[13]

In 2013, Bez made the American tour in March, while the European tour was held later in the summer of the same year.[14]

Awards and nominations

Bez received five nominations in the 2012 The Headies, Nigerian Music Awards, Recording Of The Year (single "Stupid Song"), Best R 'N' B Single ("Stupid Song"), Best R 'N' B/Pop Album (Super Sun), Best Collaboration (Stupid Song featuring Praiz), Best Vocal Performance, and Hip Hop World Revelation.[15]

Discography

Personal

In January 2014, Emmanuel married Bolatito Ladoja, daughter of former Oyo State Governor Rasheed Ladoja.[16] Bolatito works as a banker at First City Monument Bank. She had graduated International Relations from Warwick University in the United Kingdom, with a Masters in Management from Imperial College in London.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Rafiki, Aqua (5 July 2012). "Bez: Nigeria’s Super Sun". Okay Africa. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  2. ↑ "Top 12 Musicians To Look Out For In 2014". Pulse Magazine. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 
  3. ↑ "Africa Beats: Nigeria's Bez". BBC. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  4. ↑ Babalola, Bimbim (6 September 2012). "An Acoustic Look Into The Life Of Nigerian Soul Sensation, Bez". Ono Bello. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  5. ↑ Jennings, Helen (2011). "Unplugging Away". Arise Magazine. Retrieved 30 August 2012. 
  6. ↑ Mitter, Siddhartha (December 18, 2011). "World music’s top albums of 2011". Boston Globe. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  7. ↑ "CN Music Review: Bez "Super Sun" Album". Connect Nigeria. July 28, 2011. 
  8. ↑ Suleiman, Yemisi (9 april 2013). "Stupid song came by mistake – Bez". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 25 January 2014. 
  9. ↑ "Music Premiere: Bez – My Baby". Jaguda. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 
  10. ↑ Suleiman, Yemisi (9 april 2013). "Nigeria: Stupid Song Came By Mistake - Bez". Vanguard. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 
  11. ↑ "SXSW Band of the Day: Bez". Austin360. February 23, 2012. 
  12. ↑ "ALN - Bez Idakula". African Leadership Network. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 
  13. ↑ "Nigeria: Bez in Kenya for Tusker Malt 100 Club". All Africa. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 
  14. ↑ Enengedi, Victor (23 January 2013). "Bez prepares for tour of Europe and America". The Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 25 January 2014. 
  15. ↑ Mgbolu, Charles (28 August 2012). "Nigeria: P-Square, Bez Lead Headies 2012 Nominees List". All Africa. 
  16. ↑ Alonge, Osagie (5 January 2014). "More colourful photos from Bez Idakula and Bolatito Ladoja wedding". The Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 
  17. ↑ Alonge, Osagie (4 January 2014). "Bez weds today! Check out first photos here". The Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 22 January 2014. 

External links

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