“Expressing myself through art (music) was always inevitable,” the Nigerian hit-maker, Wizard Chan, points out regarding his introspective, storytelling writing style, gleaming on his new album, ‘Healers Chapel.’ Rolled out through an extensive tracklist of 14 songs, Wizard Chan does not release individual tokens of hope; it’s much more than that. As he owns his vulnerability, ‘Healers Chapel’ emerges as a cohesive body of work and, most of all, a beacon for healing powers.
With the release of his two EPs, ‘The Messenger ‘ and ‘Time Traveller,’ Wizard Chan has mastered his new album, ‘Healers Chapel,’ as an extension and an opportunity to build on the wisdom from previous projects, unleashing the healing process. The new record embodies a sonic parade of soulful and spiritual assistance for those seeking it.
“The world is bleeding, we all need to heal,” Wizard Chan says, encouraging people to let the light into their broken souls. ‘Healers Chapel’ is intended to carry you through your personal journeys and struggles. Born out of Wizard Chan’s personal experiences, when darkness felt too heavy, it was owning his vulnerability and faith that guided him towards peace and healing.
Celebrating the release of ‘Healers Chapel,’ Wizard Chan speaks with Noctis, elaborating on his mantra, his approach to having no boundaries in music, spirituality, and the importance of educating the mind.
Could you tell us the meaning behind your stage name?
The name Wizard Chan is basically me just said I am a musical wizard. Nothing is impossible with me, with music, I have no boundaries.
How did your first contact with making music look like?
My first contact with making music was when I was about 12 years old back in secondary school, a student died in school after a brief illness and I wrote a tribute song for him. That was the first time I wrote my own music. But I first recorded in a proper music studio in 2011 when I was only 16 years old.
Your discography stands out due to your unique storytelling style. How did you get so comfortable in depicting your vulnerability in the written form?
It is easier to write things that already exist that write things that are imaginary. That’s how best I can explain it. It’s my truth all I need to do is put my story or stories of people I know into mp3 format. Then it looks like I have done something so special.
Were you always prone to being able to express your emotions?
I consider myself a very self aware and truthful person so yes expressing myself through art (music) was always inevitable.
Your debut album ‘Healers Chapel’ is out now. The entirety of the project touches upon some vulnerable themes, what was the writing process like for this album?
Healers Chapel honestly had no direct writing process. All I needed to make this album was to be sure I was ready to be vulnerable to the eyes of the public with my stories of struggle. The moment I was okay with that the album was ready. The rest was just production.
Would you be able to share more about your near death experience and how it changed your outlook on life?
As I write to you now I am experiencing PTSD just thinking and remembering it. But what that experience has done for me is let me live more. It’s let me understand how short time could be and why you should make every moment count. I really don’t like talking about it but I am glad it gave me clarity of purpose.
What were some other moments that compelled you to tap into spirituality?
I would say just seeing people misunderstanding God. It made me really want to understand him at my own level and pace. Also knowing my story and knowing I am a testament of grace, experiencing near death, seeing my parents grow old. Etc
What lyric from the album carries a significant healing power to you and your personal journey?
Every single lyric carries a significant healing power, it might be an album but it’s one body. Every song has its own part of healing it focuses on.
Who would you mostly encourage to listen to ‘Healers Chapel’?
Anyone who is broken, anyone that is trying to find peace or healing, anyone who has found peace and healing. In fact the world is bleeding we all need to heal.
Last year, you dropped two EPs, ‘The Messenger,’ and ‘Time Traveller,’ is ‘Healers Chapel’ an extension or a completely new sonic dimension?
It’s an extension, everything I do connects. They are all my stories broken down into different sections. We have had the message, we have traveled through time to hear the messages from the past and future, so now we understand better so our healing is assured. So we are heading to the Chapel. Sonically the sound is different from other but the aim is the same. “Educate the mind.
How would you summarise ‘Healers Chapel’ to your new fans?
Music that mirrors you to you in order to heal from you.
What is the core of your artistic intention?
Preaching God to the world is a way that a non religious person will be interested in knowing God.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova