Five minutes with Magixx — the Afro-fusion star who dreams in colour

Nigeria’s Magixx isn’t just another Afrobeats artist with impressive streaming numbers, though with over 400 million career plays, he’s certainly got those in spades. His debut album, I Dream in Colour, is exactly what it sounds like — a vivid explosion of genre-bending sound that refuses to fit neatly into any prescribed box. “It means the world is mine. It means I am the light,” he explains of the album title with the kind of unshakeable confidence that doesn’t feel like posturing.

Unlike many of his peers racing to capitalise on Afrobeats’ global moment, Magixx has been methodically constructing his artistic universe since his 2021 breakthrough. The album oscillates between the amapiano-tinged catharsis of “Alchl” and the traditional Owambe rhythms of “Sexy Lady” (complete with talking drums that wouldn’t sound out of place at a Lagos wedding), all while mapping emotional landscapes of romance, heartbreak, and personal rebirth. 

And when our conversation turns to measuring success, Magixx doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the ego boost of streaming numbers. He does, however, do a pivot to the DMs from fans who’ve found solace in his music during dark times. It’s this self-awareness – combined with his sterling vocals and fluid artistry – that has critics labelling him as the vanguard of Afrobeats’ new school. And while he’s already making forays into fashion with a distinctly “artsy” aesthetic to match his sound, his focus remains refreshingly straightforward: “Promoting this album, touring and making sure my family is good. That’s my happy place.” No pretence, no gimmicks — just an artist seeing his path in full colour, even if others haven’t quite caught up to the vision yet.

Amber Rawlings: How are you? How’s life treating you at the moment?

Magixx: I’ve been fine — blessed and thankful for growth. Life has been fair to me, but of course I’m always aiming to make things even better. 

AR: The album’s name, I Dream In Color, is a profound statement. What does that actually mean to you?

M: It means the world is mine. It means I am the light, and I see everything as it is. The stadiums, the big features… Those days are coming, even if nobody sees it. That’s why it’s a dream. 

AR: You’ve talked before about not wanting to be boxed into one genre. How does this album push against those boundaries?

M: I made sure I was able to show range and diversity with the song selections. I deviated from what people would usually expect of me — experimenting more and working with more creatives. The arrangement of the album was quite intentional too. It was about making sure the diversity was evident while the listeners enjoyed the body of work. From “Consistency” to “Sexy Lady”, to “With You”, to “Sempe”, I made sure the songs were carefully selected to tell a sonically balanced story. 

AR: The album explores themes of romance, failure, and rebirth. Which of those resonated most deeply for you while creating this project?

M: Failure and rebirth — both factors have been a motivating factor at every point in my career. 

AR: “Winter & Summer” feels like such a specific emotional landscape. What was the story behind that track?

M: I had a long-distance relationship that was going well but unfortunately she got married. And I still found myself texting and talking to this person like nothing had happened. That inspired the song.

AR: You’ve described this as an album for “hustlers” — or people on a journey. What journey are you specifically mapping out?

M: The journey of self. And the journey of mental strength against adversity. 

AR: You’ve been building this incredible streaming legacy. How do you measure success beyond the numbers?

M: Honestly, it’s hard not to measure success these days without numbers. There’s always the charts to remind you that the number of streams equals income. And we tend to shy away from talking about how that ego boost serves as motivation. But in all of this what makes it all worth it is when people send DMs about my music — or when I meet people that listen to my songs and they say how my song has being instrumental in their growth. How listening to a song of mine pulled them through a dark time. And how people will spend money that’s hard to come to watch me perform. It’s humbling and reminds me why I love to do what I do  

AR: There’s something fascinating about how you’re blending RnB, neo-soul, and Afrobeats. How do you approach creating that sonic landscape?

M: It’s something that comes to me naturally. I don’t think too much about it. I have been able to hone my art enough to understand what piece of myself I’m giving when the beat comes on. 

AR: You’ve been nominated for awards like ‘Rookie of the Year’ and ‘Best Vocal Performance’. How do industry recognitions factor into your artistic vision?

M: I appreciate every form of recognition that is shown towards my art. But it’s never my driving force

AR: What are the tracks on this album that feel most personal to you?

M: All the songs are quite personal to me but, for the purpose of this, I’ll say “Voices”, “Consistency” and “With You.” 

AR: You mentioned wanting to explore fashion and media beyond music. How do those broader creative ambitions intersect with this album?

M: Fashion has been something I’m passionate about. And I think that in the months leading up to the album, you could see an obvious change in the styling approach. Every element used at the start of the campaign – the hair and clothing – were quite distinct and artsy. Kind of like my music.

AR: What’s left? What are you still hoping to explore or prove with your music?

M: Promoting this album, touring and making sure my family is good. That’s my happy place

You can listen to I Dream in Colour here.