soundz

Biography

Samuel Idowu Oluwadarasimi, professionally known as Soundz, was born on December 12, 2000, in Lagos, Nigeria, with origins in Ijebu, Ogun State. Developing a passion for music from an early age, he emerged as a multifaceted talent in the Nigerian music scene as a singer, songwriter, and record producer. Signed to AfroNext Entertainment, Soundz gained initial traction in 2020 with his breakout single 'Darasimi,' named after part of his full name Oluwadarasimi, which popularized his production tag 'Wicked' on platforms like Triller Nigeria.[1][2][3]

Soundz's career accelerated in 2022 with the release of his debut extended play In The Rough on July 27, featuring the sleeper hit 'Attention,' which debuted at number 6 and peaked at number 5 on TurnTable's Afro-Pop Songs chart after gaining momentum on TikTok. The EP itself reached number 36 on TurnTable Top 50, marking his commercial breakthrough. He followed with singles like 'Personal' and 'Cinderella,' and a feature on Laycon's 'Drunk in Love' in 2021. Describing his style as Afropop and R&B—aligning with genres like afrobeats, afrofusion, and afro soul—Soundz explained to BellaNaija that the EP reflected a personal 'rough patch,' symbolizing unappreciated potential.[1][2]

By 2023, Soundz was recognized as a Nigerian artist to watch by Pan African Music, with tracks like 'Fever' (with Fave) and millions of streams across platforms, including over 32 million for 'Attention.' His music blends romance and Afrobeat elements, positioning him as a rising star with steady career growth and significant streaming success.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• His debut single 'Darasimi' is named after part of his full name Oluwadarasimi, and it popularized his production tag 'Wicked'.[1]
• The EP In The Rough was inspired by a personal rough patch, titled to represent 'unappreciated potential,' as shared in a BellaNaija interview.[1]
• 'Attention' became a sleeper hit, taking four months to explode via TikTok and peaking at number 5 on TurnTable Afro-Pop Songs.[1]
• Also known by the alias Funwon in some contexts.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Maleek Berry - Key stylistic influence and inspiration in early career (General influence on music style) [Early 2020s]

Key Collaborators

• Fave - Featured collaboration on single ('Fever') [2023]
• Laycon - Featured artist on track ('Drunk in Love' from I Am Laycon (The Original Soundtrack)) [2021]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Fever (Fever)
2. Attention (ATTENTION)
3. Pressure (In The Rough)
4. Down
5. Water
6. Blessings (Alubarika) (feat. Soundz)
7. Attention (In The Rough)
8. Kiss 'N' Tell
9. Attention 2.0 (ATTENTION)
10. at your Service

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz