Young Jonn: An MM Exclusive Interview

Fresh off the release of his genre-blurring new album Blue Disco, Young Jonn steps into a bold new era, one where Afrobeats collides with disco shimmer, dancehall heat, amapiano bounce, and sleek electronic textures.

The album arrives stacked with a heavyweight roster of collaborators including Asake (twice), Wizkid, Rema, Shenseea, Olamide, Focalistic, Franglish, and DJ Tunez, and anchored by a trio of runaway hits, “Che Che” with Asake, “Cash Flow” featuring Wizkid, and the high-octane solo cut “Full Control” which together have already cleared more than 58 million streams.

With Blue Disco, Young Jonn presents his most expansive, globally tuned body of work yet: a vibrant, emotionally layered project built equally for the dancefloor, late-night drives, and those quiet moments of reflection.

We sat down with the producer-turned-star to talk evolution, experimentation, and what this new chapter really means for one of Afrobeats’ most unstoppable forces.

Congrats on “Cash Flow” with Wizkid — it’s already shaping up to be a big record. How did that collaboration come together, and what was it like working with him?

Wiz has always been an inspiration to me so working with him on this was truly amazing. Shout out to my guy DJ Tunez who happens to be Wizkid’s official DJ. I had sent the song in earlier and Wiz just added his perfection to it.

You’ve worked with so many major names — from Olamidé and Davido to Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, and now Wizkid. How does your mindset shift between being the producer behind the boards and the artist leading the track?

It’s truly exciting, I see myself as someone that can do whatever I want to do as long as I put my mind to it. I’ve always had passion for music whether being an artist or a producer and that passion has led me to where I am right now. I’m just grateful for the fact that people connect with my music and they keep supporting me.

You’ve had back-to-back viral moments with “Che Che” and “99.” What do you think it is about your sound that keeps cutting through and resonating with fans year after year?

“Che Che” and “99” are just the tip of the iceberg to what i have coming this year. Call it Afropianofunk or whatever, fact is my next album is on the way and i’m experimenting with a lot of sounds on it!

Your debut album Jiggy Forever was a huge moment — over 600M streams, #1 on Spotify Nigeria, and charting in 30+ countries. Looking back, what did you learn about yourself as an artist through that process?

Shout out to the listeners for real, they’re the real MVPs. That album is a true reflection of where I was at that time and I wanted my people to feel the same way; stay happy always. Looking back I’m reminded again of how much of a musical genius I am and how people just want to listen to music that would make them happy and feel good.

A lot of people link you with that “Jiggy” energy — fun, confident, and playful. Where did that identity come from, and how do you keep evolving it while staying true to yourself?

It’s my natural self, If you know me you know that’s my mantra, everyone should stay happy and stay fun that’s always been me.

You made your debut at Paris Fashion Week and have been on a European tour. How has being outside Nigeria — moving through different spaces and audiences — influenced your music and perspective?

I love travelling, So far I’ve enjoyed quite a lot of trips. Paris Fashion Week & the European tour were exciting. It’s just amazing to see how much and how well Afrobeats has transcended borders, I mean we have people singing our songs in every corner of the world. Being a part of it just makes me grateful for times like these.

Afrobeats continues to evolve, blending with amapiano, R&B, dancehall, and more. As someone at the center of it, how do you see the genre shifting in the next few years?

I think artists are all creative and we would keep evolving anyways. I mean before now we were making good music and we still are. I can’t exactly say what genre is going to look like in the next few years but I’m definitely sure we’re going to be at the top doing what we do well the most.

Congrats on the release of your new album! What can we expect from the album’s sound, and what was it like creating a track with Asake?

“Blue Disco” is another dimension of me to be honest. Blue disco is me aiming for global domination and taking my place as one of Afrobeat’s finest artists. I’ve been in this for over a decade as both a producer and as an artist and this project is a testament to how much work I put in. I can’t wait for people to enjoy what i’ve cooked.

With so many viral hits and milestones, how do you personally stay grounded in the music itself, beyond the streams and hype?

I enjoy travelling sometimes, just being in my own space and enjoying everything, You know it’s good to see when you’ve worked and seeing the products of all your hardwork. 

Finally, what does this next chapter — moving from Jiggy Forever into Blue Disco — represent for you as an artist?

Growth, That’s all it represents to me growth. I make good music and I want people to always enjoy themselves while listening to my music. I’ve achieved a lot and there’s a lot more to achieve,.