Artiste of the week: SolidStar

SolidStar is a Nigerian Hip hop, RnB, dancehall, Afro-Pop singer, producer and songwriter. He sings in English, Pidgin English and other Nigerian languages. He achieved national fame on the basis of his hit single, “One in a Million” featuring superstar, 2face.

Born Joshua Iniyezo on 8 November,  1988, Solidstar hails from the Isoko minority ethnic group in Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, his village is Aviara in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state. He was born and bred in Ajegunle.

Solidstar is an RnB singer who started singing and playing instruments, such as drums at the age of eight in his church choir and took to singing professionally in 2004.

He attended Goriola Primary and Oshodi Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Olodi Apapa for both his primary and secondary school education. He is looking to further his education soon.

SolidStar has previously mentioned 2face as a mentor and has also cited artistes like R. Kelly and Kelvin Little as having had a strong influence on his personality and music. He claims to also be inspired by God to write inspirational songs and is especially grateful to the African Queen crooner for all his contributions and fatherly advice being a senior colleague in the music industry.

The songwriter believes that ‘the greatest songs tell the best stories and come straight from the heart to heal the people who listen.’ This has affected him and thus shaped his distinct style. He calls his brand of music afro-pop.

Solidstar is officially signed onto Achievas Entertainment Co Nig. Ltd., based in Festac Town for a period of three years to produce two albums.  Solidstar is the first debutant in West to Africa to release an Enhanced Audio CD. His debut album (with enhanced CD+2videos+Wallpapers+Ringtone) is a 14-tracker featuring some of Nigeria’s finest producers and artistes, the likes of 2-Face Idibia, W4, Ill Bliss (that Igbo boy), Clever Jay, Cartiair, Jacuzi and a very young African-American rapper, Breeze who is also signed to the same label. The album was mixed and mastered by Foster Zheeno for Zane Pros Studio.

Solidstar’s single and video, “One in a Million” featuring 2-face Idibia enjoyed massive airplay on radio and television stations globally, and the video was number one for three weeks on Trace TV top 10 for Africa. It is the first homemade Nigerian video to go on Trace TV. He has since released many other hit songs with several other musical videos on air. The hiphop and dancehall star has also worked with major acts like Tiwa Savage, Pantoranking, Davido, Ycee etc and rappers like Ill Bliss aka Dat Ibo Boy, Cartiair, W4, Buchwyla, etc.

His latest song, a refix of ‘Wait’, featuring Tiwa Savage and Patoranking is a song, which entertainment watchers say should put him on another level as one of the most consistent artistes in Nigeria.