2023 was a banner year for Nigerian talent Pheelz: the in-demand producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist released Pheelz Good, an eight-track treasure trove that featured the hit “Electricity”, a collab with Afrobeats titan Davido.
The EP’s centrepiece was another smash, “Finesse”, which featured rising star BNXN. The track proved to be a career-high for Pheelz, clocking over 300 million global streams and counting, with more than 93 million YouTube views on the video. “Finesse” also spent 20 weeks on the Official UK Afrobeats Chart and was included on the FIFA 23 soundtrack, and the year before was included on Obama’s 2022 Summer Playlist.
Pheelz ended 2023 with Pheelz Good (Triibe Tape), a bonus four-tracker featuring three originals: “Joy” with Olamide, “Jelo” with Young Jonn, and “Riddim & Blues”. This year, however, is already well on track to beat it. At the top of this month, he released “Ruin”, a collaboration with none other than Usher, an exquisitely timed release that landed just before the R&B icon triumphed with his Super Bowl Halftime show, and his new single, “Go Low”, is currently doing the rounds.
As the gifted hit-maker looks forward to an even bigger year, Pheelz linked up with his official DJ, Mike West, for a Complex Sessions mix below and, on the flip, we caught up with Pheelz for a Q&A to find out some of the music that has inspired him over the years.
Tell us a bit about your selections in this mix.
My selections in the mix are a collaborative effort between myself and my DJ, Mike West. We just created a mix of songs we vibe to and party to at the crib.
What was the one track you absolutely had to include?
I absolutely had to include “JOY” because it’s Pheelz featuring Olamide, and it’s been a long time coming. Also, because of the feelings and emotions that the song evokes. It’s a song that uplifts no matter the mood you’re in—higher vibrations and higher frequencies all the way!
Any tracks that narrowly missed the cut?
I think Victony’s “Different Size” narrowly missed the cut, but it got in because it’s an amazing record. It was so hard to fit in all the amazing records I’ve been listening to recently. Shout out to Victony and Burna Boy, that’s one hell of a jam.
What's the first single or album you ever bought?
Wow! I don’t think I can remember the first one. Probably a Kenny G album or a Fela Kuti album.
What's the last physical record you bought?
That would be a vinyl copy of Fela’s album, ODOO. I have it in my room. It’s the one with his band.
What do you want to see happen musically over the next 12 months?
Musically, I see a lot of cross pollination happening, especially with the Afro genre. I believe the Afrobeats sound is a spirit that can cross-pollinate with other genres to make little genre babies, like Afro-punk, Afro-rock, Afro-hip-hop, Afro-R&B, Afro-EDM. That’s what I would like to see in the music space. Also, a lot of tours, collaborations, and performances.
What trend or scene absolutely needs to die right now?
For me, I think the messages we pass across in our music could be better. I believe, as artists, we have the responsibility to pass messages and frequencies. I believe the frequency that we’ve been passing in recent times could be less violent; we could preach more about love, culture, art, God, spirit, craft. So yeah, the trend of violence and negativity needs to die.
Tracklist
1. Pheelz f/ Olamide - JOY
2. Pheelz f/ BNXN - Finesse
3. Odumodublvck ft. Black Sherif - Woto Woto Seasoning
4. Burna Boy - City Boys -
5. Ayra Starr - Commas
6. Usher & Pheelz - Ruin
7. Teejay f/ Davido - Drift
8. Byron Messia - Talibans
9. Byron Messia f/ Burna Boy - Talibans (Remix)
10. Asake - Lonely At The Top
11. Burna Boy f/ Victony - Different Size
12. Yimeeka - Issues
13. Sarz f/ Asake & Gunna - Happiness
14. Wizkid f/ Wande Coal - Ololufe
15. Pheelz f/ Young John - Jelo
16. Pheelz f/ Young John - Jelo Henry X & Lexyz Remix
17. Felo Le Tee f/ Mellow, Sleazy, Keynote & LK Deepstix - Midnight Prayer
18. Omah Lay - Holy Ghost
19. Shallipopi f/ Odumodublvck - Cast
20. Asake - Only Me (Baddest Edit)
21. Costa Titch f/ Pheelz & Ma Gang - Goat
22. Pheelz - YOLO
23. Pheelz ft. Davido - Electricity
24. Davido - Feel
25. Davido f/ Musa Keys - Unavailable
26. La Mezcla - The Art Of Amapiano
27. Caltonic SA - 2.0 Bambela
28. BNXN f/ Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez - GWAGWALADA
29. Rema - Woman
30. Rema - Smooth Criminal
Pheelz’s new single, “Go Low”, is out right now.
