Fela influenced Burna Boy, Wizkid, other Afrobeats artists – Sarz

• Sarz asserts that the late legendary singer is an inspiration to present day Afrobeats artistes such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema and others.
• He also disclosed that he still makes use of beats from Fela’s works.

Nigerian record producer, Osabuohien Osaretin, popularly known as Sarz, speaks on the influence of music legend, Fela Kuti in the lives of the new generation of Afrobeats artists.

According to the prolific music producer, Fela’s profound impact on the genre cannot be overstated.

He claims that the late legendary singer is an influence to upcoming generations of musicians as well as current Afrobeats artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema and others.

Sarz stated that with Fela’s distinctive fusion of Afrobeat rhythms, jazz, and funk, he created a musical landscape that transcended borders and empowered a new generation of musicians to express their artistry.

In a recent interview with ARZ, Sarz revealed that he also uses beat samples from Fela’s compositions.

He said:

“Recently, I listened to Fela’s catalog and I just find things I can sample or flip. Even in modern Afrobeats, you can tell his influence on a lot of us, from Burna Boy to Wizkid to Rema, and to the generation even coming. I’m sure they will still be inspired by the legend.”

Few years ago, music producer, Sarz recalls how he Forced himself To Produce ‘Longtime’ By Wizkid, Skepta .

Sarz noted that he already concluded he would not work the day the song was recorded, however, he had to psyche himself to put the beat together for them.

In the chat with Native Magazine, the veteran music producer added he was glad he produced the song for them despite being exhausted. In his words;

“I remember making the song in LA, and I was so tired that day. Wiz and Skep, I feel like they’d been trying to work for a while, but they hadn’t hit the right vibe or something.”

“I’ve experienced them in sessions before and I know, ok maybe nothing’s going to come out of it. So, on this day that they came into the studio, I had already blocked my mind from trying to do anything, but something kept telling me, “no just try, just try, see what happens.””

“So, I made the beat. I remember Skepta just kept listening to it for hours until he was ready to record. Once he recorded, we all knew it was banger, it’s just such a sick tune. So, I’m really glad that I psyched myself into making it because I was really tired, and I didn’t even want to do it.”