Freddy Meiway’s Zoblazo inspired my francophone style of music – Skrewfaze

Hiplife musician Skrewfaze, known in real life as Jehoshaphat Eshun, has opened up about how Ivorian music icon Freddy Meiway influenced the development of his unique francophone-inspired style in the Ghanaian music industry.

Reflecting on the impact of Meiway’s hit song ‘Zoblazo,’ Skrewfaze explained how the melody and rhythm of the track captivated people, even though they didn’t understand the lyrics.

In an interview with Amansan Krakye on Property FM, Skrewfaze recounted how watching people dance to ‘Zoblazo’ made him reconsider his own approach to music. “I saw people dancing to Meiway’s song, but they didn’t understand the words. They were just vibing to the melody and the beat,” he said. “That made me think, why not switch my style and find my own identity?

Skrewfaze shared that his decision to adopt a francophone influence was driven by a desire to differentiate himself from other artists, particularly after being frequently mistaken for fellow Ghanaian artist Samini. “People would confuse me with Samini, which isn’t a bad thing because he’s a big artist and a legend, but I needed to carve out my own path,” he noted. “Big shout out to Freddy Meiway for inspiring me.”

The musician, who grew up in areas like Chorkor, where Meiway’s music was widely enjoyed, emphasized how the influence of the Ivorian artist’s sound helped him find his distinct voice. “In the Ga communities, we used to hear Meiway’s songs all the time, and people really danced to it,” Skrewfaze recalled. “It was amusing to see how people vibed with the music without understanding the language.”

Inspired by this, Skrewfaze decided to fuse the francophone style with his own language, giving birth to a new sound that has helped him stand out in the Ghanaian music scene. “I realized that if Ghanaians can vibe with these beats, then why can’t I switch to this style and blend it with my own language?” he added.

Through this evolution, Skrewfaze has created a musical identity that reflects his unique blend of Ghanaian and francophone influences, earning him recognition in the industry.