June 6, 2025 |
Joeboy exudes positivity; in his presence, his style and in his music. A multiplatinum artist hailing from Nigeria, the infectious sounds he makes – a vibrant fusion of Afrobeats rhythms, soulful melodies and catchy hooks – resonates far beyond borders.
Off the back of his Viva Lavida album release back in April, which received critical acclaim and global commercial success, Joeboy is taking off on tour. Landing June 7 at Manchester Academy and at London’s Outernet on June 15, this UK leg of the tour follows a sold-out run of shows in Australia and a whirlwind series of performances across Europe
Viva Lavida – meaning ‘Live Life’ in Spanish – represents a significant creative milestone for Joeboy as an album born out of introspection and growth. It’s a project where he not only reconnects with longtime producer Tempoe, whose touch has defined some of the biggest Afrobeats hits including Victony’s Soweto, Omah Lay’s Soso and Joeboy’s own breakout single Sip (Alcohol), but also expands his sonic palette through collaborations with Olamidé, Qing Madi, Wizard Chan and Elana Dara. For the soul-stirring track Free Of Charge, Joeboy and Olamidé exchange verses that explore themes of resilience and freedom, capturing a raw authenticity that underscores the album’s core.
The artist’s journey through Viva Lavida is a sonic odyssey marked by vulnerability and self-awareness – a deliberate embrace of imperfection and the pursuit of inner peace amid life’s constant fluctuations. It transcends mere entertainment, inviting listeners to reflect and find solace in shared human experiences.
Joeboy first burst onto the scene in 2017 when he was discovered by Afrobeats household name Mr Eazi, a moment that marked the beginning of his rise as one of Afrobeats’ brightest stars. Today, with over two billion streams globally, a growing catalogue of anthems and collaborations with international icons such as Ne-Yo and Ludacris, Joeboy is not only shaping the sound of contemporary African music but also bridging cultures worldwide. Here, we sat down with Joeboy to chat about all things Viva Lavida, finding inspiration for a song in the bathroom and gearing up for the UK leg of his tour.
1. What inspired the name of the album, Viva Lavida?
Viva Lavida basically means I’m living free and that signified the mindset that I’m in right now. I’m at a point in my life where I just go for the things I really want to do, and I just make the kind of music that I love. I’m just really excited about anything that I’m putting my hands to.
2. Is there one song on the album that feels particularly personal to you? And why?
Track 12, Sinner. It’s a very introspective song. A song that I really, genuinely made for myself. So, it was a song that I didn’t ask anybody ‘Oh, what do you think about it?’ I just really made that song for myself, and it just speaks about my state of mind at that particular point in time. I got to really talk about a lot of stuff, a lot of situations.
3. What was it like teaming up with Olamidé on Free Of Charge?
I’d say it was definitely a full circle moment. Olamidé is someone that’s was very supportive of me from the very start. So, I’m happy I finally got to put out this song together.
4. What is one moment in the studio from creating this album that is particularly memorable?
After I created track five, SMH, ’cause that song was like a bouncer that I’d never done before and when we got to the final point of the song, I was really happy that we were able to make something that sounded really great and different. And I was just excited, and when I finished that song, I was very excited for the album.
5. Which track from the album are you most excited to perform live?
Magdalene for sure because of the energy and tempo; it just makes you want to jump. And I think that’s one of the major things when it comes to performing shows and everything, so I just like the energy of the song tempo and how it makes people feel when they listen to it.
6. You’re headed on tour, what is one thing that you always have in your rider?
The one thing I always have on my rider has to be fruit. And water. I really like grapes and I like watermelon… so just stuff that would just hydrate me.
7. And what can we expect from the UK shows that you have in June?
Serious amazingness. My last UK show was one of my favourite shows I did that year. And I get so much love from the UK. I know that the energy for this one will be way bigger and stronger, and I’m just really excited to connect to my UK audience.
8. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
White Ferrari by Frank Ocean.
9. And what is the most unusual place that you found inspiration for a song?
The bathroom.
10. What is next for you?
Global domination. I’ve made so much amazing music and I’m at this point in my life where I just want to spread it to the world. Hence the tour. And so, I’ll just be touching on different regions, different continents and spreading my music.
Photography courtesy of Joeboy.
