CupidSZN: Igniting Afrobeats Flames with Mavin Magic

In the vibrant landscape of Afrobeats, where innovation meets raw talent, Mavin Records’ latest sensation, CupidSZN, born Stevenson Njoku Anyinachiso, emerges as a fresh voice ready to captivate the world. Hailing from Nigeria’s bustling Port Harcourt, this 21-year-old singer-songwriter drew his initial spark from a Juice Wrld video, channeling that inspiration into a debut EP titled ‘Myth Era’ upon his signing to the iconic label in November 2025. With Mavin’s powerhouse backing, CupidSZN blends introspective lyrics and infectious melodies, poised to redefine the genre’s boundaries. In this exclusive interview, he opens up about his journey, creative process, and visions for the future.

What was it like finding out that Mavin had taken an interest in you and you were getting signed to one of the biggest labels in Africa?

It was surreal. For a moment I couldn’t believe it was actually my reality. Seeing that they had genuine interest in me made my dreams feel validated, especially because they had never signed an artist who was already putting out music independently. That was a first. I never thought they’d want to sign someone who already had songs out, so when the signing conversation actually happened, it shocked me. My emotions were all over the place, I can’t lie.

How did you come up with the stage name ‘CupidSZN’? Does it have any ties to a previous relationship?

I used to go by my initials, “NSA”. But the story behind CupidSZN, people think I’m corny when I tell them or that I’m making it up, but I swear it’s true. I had a dream. In the dream I was on stage and the crowd was chanting “Cupid! Cupid!”. At the time I was still NSA, but when I woke up I immediately changed all my socials to Cupid. The handle “Cupid” was taken on Instagram, so I added “SZN” (season) behind it, and it just stuck. That’s literally how the name was born. No ex-girlfriend, just a random dream.

What real-life moment inspired the loverboy-vs-playboy theme in ‘Myth-Era’?

By default I’m a loverboy, 100%. I’m soft, I believe in love, all of that. But sometimes you have to switch the approach. People always say “girls don’t like guys who are too nice”, so every now and then you show the “bad-boy” side, not to hurt anyone, but to get the same result (her attention) using a different energy. The end goal is still to spread love and make her feel special; it’s just the delivery that changes. So the loverboy vs playboy thing is basically me flipping between my natural soft side and the more assertive, confident alter ego when the situation calls for it.

Walk us through the creative process of ‘Myth-Era’. Where did you record it, and what was your first impression of the project?

Everything on Myth-Era was recorded while I was in the Mavin Academy. It’s a beautiful body of work. I love every song from the first to the last.

“Famous” is deep storytelling for my day-one fans, family, friends, and everyone who believed in me before Mavin came into the picture. It’s pure gratitude. I even mentioned my parents and the sacrifices they made. When I recorded it I wasn’t unveiled yet, but I already knew a moment like this would come, so lines like “now your boy is famous” were pure manifestation.

“Zesty Money” was me stepping completely out of my comfort zone, fast tempo, experimental vibe, even threw in some French bars that flew over a lot of heads. It shows the diversity in my sound.

“Palava” is deep-rooted Afrobeats, hypnotic guitars, heavy percussion (shout-out Ozedikus). The delivery, the swing, everything screams classic Afrobeats.

“Otula” (produced by Rage) is the aggressive side of the loverboy/playboy theme. The beat hits hard from the intro, so there was no way I was going to be soft on it. I matched the energy, came direct and confident, but still chasing the same girl, just with the bad-boy approach.

We had over 100 songs in the vault, so picking just five for this introductory project was tough, but these ones perfectly fit the Myth-Era story.

What was it like growing up in Port Harcourt? How does the city show up in your music?

Port Harcourt is home. It’s my root, my foundation, my everything. You can hear it in my pronunciation, my slang, the way I flow sometimes; my people back home pick it up immediately and feel that PH connection. Even though my parents are Igbo and I’m from the East by blood, I grew up fully in PH. I only visited the village at Christmas. I carry that PH culture everywhere, and it’s super important to me that it stays in my music.

Compared to Lagos, PH is calmer, more serene. Lagos is chaotic, everybody’s moving at 100 km/h. I moved to Lagos in 2023 for the exposure because it’s the entertainment capital, but I still miss the food, the vibe, everything about Port Harcourt.

What’s been the biggest surprise about the Lagos music scene so far?

You can’t sleep. Everybody is insanely talented, everybody’s going for the same spot, and the competition is healthy but intense. If you snooze for one second, the next person takes your place. It keeps me on my toes 24/7 and makes me seize every single opportunity.

What was your first real conversation with Don Jazzy like, and what advice stuck with you?

He was just trying to know me: my background, why I love music, when I first fell in love with it. I was completely star-struck. This is Don Jazzy, the man who has shaped Afrobeats from Mo’Hits days till now, broken countless superstars. To be in the same room, have him talk about my music and say he likes it, and give me real advice was a blessing. Having someone with that much experience guide me means I’ll make way fewer mistakes navigating the industry.

What can fans expect from you in the next year? Any surprise collabs or new projects coming?

A WHOLE LOT of music. Undeniable music. Great music, surprise features, the works. I’m more of a “show don’t tell” person, so just stick around. The music will speak for itself. We’re about to make our own impact and tell our own story in this game.

What’s the energy like with your Mavin label mates? Do you have a favourite right now? (laughs)

I love everybody, for real. They’re family. Yesterday I was in a session with Bayanni, Magixx, and Elestee; the way they were freestyling off the top was insane. Everybody is crazy talented. We push each other, we support each other, and because most of them have been in the game longer, they drop free game whenever we link up. No favourites. I rock with the whole squad.

Who’s your biggest music idol and how do they inspire you?

Juice WRLD, hands down. He’s the reason I even started making music. I wasn’t that “music kid” growing up, no “I’ve been singing since I was in my mama’s belly” story. I finished secondary school in 2018 (I was 14), stumbled on a Juice WRLD video, and thought, “I want to do exactly what this guy is doing.” Rest in peace to him. He’s my GOAT.

That whole 2016-2018 SoundCloud era shaped me heavily: Juice, XXXTentacion, Trippie Redd, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Tecca. I was a trapper before I fully switched to Afrobeats, so those melodies, cadences, and emotions are still in my DNA.