Topmodel with Trill Vybz Only

The following text has been published on Sagaboi.com. It has been edited by my editor Geoff Cooper

The Phvnix rises from the ashes

by Jazz Brown

One the day after Spotify made the long overdue decision to bring its service to Africa, Victor Ndigwe sends us a ‘must add’ to our playlist: Trill Vybs Only. Aka “the Phvnix” the 22-year-old male model from Lagos – known as one of the Nigerian top stars in the fashion industry- released his debut single Trill Vybs Only, and we’re feeling it.

Famous for being the face of Blamain and Missoni and working with brands such as Hermes,and United Colors of Benetton, to name a few, Ndigwe would have never thought him winning a modelling contest in 2014 would have lead to him not only being a top black male model globally but also a singer and songwriter.. 

“Only good times when you by my side…”

The day way before Nidgwe started his modelling career in 2014 he was inspired to write the primary version of Trill Vybs Only, after spending an unforgettable evening together with his friends. Trill Vybs Only is an Afro-fusion song including Afrobeats mixed with a spin of dancehall and hip-hop. The song is about good vibes and friendship and the talent to stay patient.

His nickname Phvnix (Phoenix) relates to the ups and downs of his life, him rising from the ashes of any negative situation. See below a few thought from Victor on his first single and music.

•How long did it take you to write Trill Vybs Only?

“I wrote the first version almost 4 years ago and I changed the lyrics over time. The final version was done last year in November.”

•What got you to do music in the first place?

“There are so many talented people out there and I wonder why I even try to make music, but I believe I have something to offer and I hope there will be an audience.

I am young and this is the time to take every possible risk, I am going all in.”

•What was the reason that got you into music?

“I can’t really say how I got into music. I didn´t even pass music lessons in school, but my mum is the choir mistress in church and my grandpa was a poet. My dad had the best collection of music ever and Victor just woke up one day and started writing, lol. ”

•What’s next after Trill Vybs Only?

“There will be another song coming maybe in a month or so. I have this far completed six songs that will lead to an E:P I hope.”

•The song deals with the gift of being patient, are you patient?

“I got the nickname the Phvnix during a time when I had basically lost everything and all I had left was the hope for a better future. The Phoenix is known for being very a patient animal, I believe that’s what it stands for.”

“this is life now take it slowly, …”

How Elle Uk blocked me

… and what I do now

A few weeks ago I run into an Instagram Post by Elle UK that was refereeing to Burberrys past fashion show, which was all up in the gossip due to Christopher Baily's rainbow dominated designs that he dedicated to LGBTQ+.

For some that work like me in the fashion industry, it is no news that not only the clothes matter during a fashion presentation but also the setting, and moreover the choice of models.

Fashion houses spend a big load of money for some of the girls and boys on the runway and the most important parts play the opening and closing of each show since that’s the part that gets the most attention and sticks longer in the viewers' mind.

Elle UK posted on Instagram a picture of Cara Delevinge saying that she opened the show. I simply commented that this was incorrect. Adwoa Aboah opened the Burberry show and Cara Delevinge closed it. (See post attached pictures) 

In the end, I did not receive a “thank you DM” or anything, which is usually common on Instagram as far as I experienced. So that got me wind up and I was maybe a little aggressive however I used that to show them how frustrating it is for upcoming independent fashion journalists to see sloppy work from the leading fashion magazines. Because sure enough Elle UK is not alone in this.

I got many positive feedbacks later based on that Insta story, why I put it into my highlights in the end (@jazz_brown instagram.com/jazz_brown)

As I mentioned there it was only an example of how frustrating it is to see similar minor mistakes all the time. Just a few days after that Elle UK situation I saw GRAZIA GER post in there Instastory that Prada had the coolest invitation to the fashion shows, but they meant Gucci (as you see in my Insta post 14:3:18).

Don’t get me wrong I am full of mistakes and all this would not be a deal if there would not be a bigger picture behind it which I gratefully will explain in one of my next blog posts.

End of the story,

Elle UK had deleted my comment, corrected their mistake after I pointed them to it, and blocked me. I used my JazzBrowns_diary profile to ask them why, but they simply ignored. I think this is not professional and a simple "thank you" would not have hurt, no?