By OpeOluwani Akintayo
He was the Faze of the now defunct popular R & B group- Plantashun Boyz.
Together with TuFace and Black face, they made good music before they decided to go solo. In no time, Chibuzor Oji aka Faze established himself as one very capable of swinging the music tides alone just like his ex-band members. 

His high-pitch vocal clearly distinguishes him from all other male artistes in the industry and won him the Best Vocalist Category at the 2006 Hip Hop World Award. Faze has refused to fade away like an old dress, instead he keeps coming stronger and stronger with each song released, about ten years down the line. His three-album solo history consists Faze Alone, Kolomental and Originality.

They are collectors’ items any day, anytime boasting songs that will always resound even many years after. Ths sonorous singer, songwriter and producer has had musical alliance with popular international act, Akon. Here, he talks about his recent ventures and his plan to re brand his image.

*Faze... Changing faces

The Plantashun Boyz. Do you still miss them?

Yes, I still miss them. In fact, we’re still the Plantashun Boyz because wherever I go to, people still ask after Blackface and 2Face. So, no matter how far we all go in life, we’ll still remember that we started as the Plantashun Boyz.

What exactly do you miss about the group?

Basically, it’s the different textures of our voices. When we were still together, our fans could easily recognize our voices whenever we sang. So, the different voices actually made us the Plantashun Boyz.

It’s been a while since you’ve been in the media .What have you been up to?

I’ve been working on my new album and been keeping quiet because I want it to be a surprise. The album is almost ready and it will be out soon. But I think that I’m ready for my single.

How soon will it be on radio?

Very soon. I don’t want to specify.

What’s the title of your up-coming album?

I don’t want to let it out now

Aside working on your album, what are your plans for this year?

I have my new year resolution which hasn’t been easy living up to. I have one on how to live my life, that’s my life style. Okay, I’ll let you in on this. I want to change my image in the person of Faze.

Is there anything wrong with your present image?

Nothing is wrong with it. I’m just trying to get a new look. I’m going to see if it’ll work and if my fans will accept it.

How exactly do you mean about trying to change your look?

I want to change my dressing and my hairstyle.

I know you wear dreads. Do you still have it on now because I can see that you’re wearing a head band.

Yes, I still have my dreads on. But I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag now. You’ll see it in my next album. I’ve decided to change what I look like. My new image won’t be just about me. I want to try it and see if my fans will accept it because after all, life is all about change.

What other things do you have on ground aside changing your outlook?

I’ve been going for shows. I’ve been on Star Trek. I’ve been invited for shows outside the country several times. I’ll love to shoot some videos too, to let my fans have a feel of the new Faze that’ll be coming soon.

Is it true that you’re still having some issues relating with your former band mates?
No, we don’t have any misunderstanding.

We still meet and chat with one another. It’s just that we have different times of engagements that don’t make us meet most of the time. I was with 2Face last week and the two of them (2Face and Black Face) were here two weeks ago. We had a meeting. We’ve been to shows together. We travelled to Abuja  together. So, it’s just that our schedules are not the same but whenever we meet, we’re happy to relate.

We heard you’ll begetting married soon. Is it true?

Yes, I’m working towards it. It’s God’s making not mine. At times when it (marriage)comes up, one or two persons come along the line. I just have to weigh the person well. I’m working towards it. I don’t want to waste time because my friends are already getting married and having kids. So, I’m praying about it that God should give me the right person.

Are you saying that you’ve not found someone yet?

Actually, I have somebody but I’m still checking her up to be sure because we have our differences which brings misunderstanding at times. I’m trying to tidy up.

And who is the mystery lady?

I don’t like telling names. But she’s a nice, loving and sweet person. I can assure you that when people see her, they’ll easily like her. She respects me and the people around me.

Is she in the music industry too?

No, she’s not.

What should be the expectation of your fans when it comes to the quality of your next album?

Music is crazy. By the time you listen to full-time Reggae and Calypso today, it doesn’t take time before fans change to liking High life and other genres of music. Nowadays, people want to listen to fast-tempo songs and not slow ones. Also, people no longer want to listen to songs that make sense.

All they want is a dance-able one. So, I don’t see music as something you have to make sense of most of the times because most people don’t actually go for CDs that make sense anymore! Majority of our fans are from the street, ladies inclusive. So, we have to give them what they want. To me, music should be from the mind because that makes it versatile.

So, on which side are you, lyrics or beat?

At this period, the trend has changed. Most people are interested in only the beats. I’m on the lyrical side but there has to be a fusion of lyrics and good beat because I want both the educated and those on the streets to enjoy my music.

What are your challenges so far?

That would be thinking about how my fans will accept my songs after my effort in the studio. Also, after releasing several hit albums, there comes the challenge of what to do next.

What’s the craziest thing that has happened to you?

I can’t really say because they’re many. I don’t have a specific answer for it. If I start counting them, there’ll really be no time.

Any regret venturing into music?

Every regret is a blessing. I be God pikin (child) and I have a clean heart. So, for any bad thing that happens to me, I know something better will come out of it.

Where do you hope to be in five years time?

I hope to be one of Nigeria’s biggest artistes with Grammy Awards. I hope to get international awards and to represent Nigeria in a big way. I want to be a mega star and I know I’ll get there.

If you retire from music today, what are you going to do?

I’ll start up a record label, of which I’ve already started. I want to promote up-coming artistes to be like me and like the Plantashun Boyz of those days. I can’t leave the entertainment world because that is what I love to do. I may end up writing songs for artistes.

Are you into NGOs?

I don’t want to leak out my secrets because I don’t want my colleagues who are looking for what to do to also pick it up. You’ll get to know when I’m done. It has to do with the youths, the elderly and the kids. If you see the new video I did from my old album called Tomorrow’s Leaders, I did it for BBC, Nigeria and for the kids.

I just put it on air four days ago. It talked about the products of education, all about education.
I always like to say a word to my fans. Thank you all for the support and I also thank Vanguard Newspapers for supporting me.