Fave has found her rhythm. On RnBling, she turns love, vulnerability and self-discovery into a rich mix of RnB, Afrobeats and dancehall.
There are only a handful of voices in contemporary Nigerian music as distinct as Fave’s. Born Chidozie Ugochinyere, the young chanteuse has been one of the poster-faces for RnB’s shift across the scene since her 2021 breakout moment. In her sojourn, she’s scored hits that reflect her soulfulness and endearing groove, a trait that arrives in her latest extended play, RnBling.
Fave’s ascent has unfolded alongside a broader emotive shift in Nigerian popular music. Her records often move through RnB, Afro-pop and dancehall, while her voice remains her strongest musical anchor. Over the years, she has morphed from an exciting newcomer into one of the recognisable faces of this new wave, as her music continuously documents relatable experiences in love and self-discovery.
In RnBling, she playfully reimagines RnB, with her soulful vocals wrapped in Afrobeats and dancehall rhythms. The music itself feels like a refinement of Fave’s strongest artistic qualities: emotional depth, vulnerability and sonority. Altogether, the six-track project extends itself as a fuller expression of an artist who has grown increasingly comfortable inhabiting her own sound world.
In this conversation with Guardian Music, Fave reflects on the making of RnBling, her creative process; working with Chike and Yemi Alade; and the emotional connection she hopes listeners continue to find in her music, among others.
Congratulations on your new project. Why did you title it RnBling?
I just like playing on words. ‘RnB’ is a very staple phrase or term, so I wanted to take it and twist it a little. The songs on the project are a blend of a lot of worlds, but mostly my voice gives a soulful rendition, while the drums and rhythms are very Afrobeats and dancehall. When you put those together, you get R&B with a little twist, and that is where the “bling” comes from.
It feels like you’ve been building towards this sound for a while. How intentional has that journey been?
Honestly, I don’t necessarily try to sound a certain way. I don’t really have a fixed intention. I just try to be as much myself as possible on a record, and however it comes out is how it comes out.
Take me through your creative process. What was the process for this project?
My creative process is quite simple. I’m usually in the studio with a producer who plays a number of beats, and then the story comes from there. I write first and record afterwards. I spend most of my time writing, and recording comes right after.
Sometimes I record a song in a few days, and sometimes a song sits for months before a new idea comes to me. I could get fresh inspiration for a song two months after I thought it was finished. That is generally how I work.
Where did you make most of the music?
I was in Lagos for all the songs. They were not all recorded at the same time, but Lagos was where all the songs were made.
The EP features voices like Chike and Yemi Alade. How did those collaborations happen?
I didn’t really sit down and select them strategically. The collaborations happened naturally. We already had relationships, we were in the studio together, and these songs were recorded before I even decided I wanted to release an EP.
Because the songs already existed and the relationships were genuine, it felt right to keep them on the project. I didn’t want to force collaborations.
What was it like working with Yemi Alade, especially as two strong female voices on one record?
It was awesome. Yemi is a powerhouse, not just in Nigeria but globally. My goal was to complement her energy while she complemented mine. If you listen to Paparazzi,you can hear how completely she owned that song. That is the kind of energy I love in a record.
When you’re not making music, what is Fave usually doing?
I’m still making music in one way or another. If I’m not recording, I’m performing. My life revolves around music right now.
Are there artistes you’re looking forward to collaborating with in the future?
I’m open to collaborating with talented artists from anywhere in the world. Right now, though, my focus is on RnBling. I want people to listen to the EP, sit with it, share it with people they love, and connect with it before I start talking about what comes next.
Looking ahead, what is the long-term vision for Fave?
The most important thing to me is connection. I want people to feel seen when they listen to my music. A lot of us feel alone or misunderstood, even by people close to us, and music often becomes a place of comfort.
I want my songs to be that place for people. I want listeners to feel my emotions, and I want the songs to become a channel for their own emotions too.
