Zeeno Foster

Ewomazeeno Foster (born 8 April 1971), known professionally as Zeeno Foster, is a Nigerian audio engineer, record producer and entrepreneur. He is credited with production and engineering contributions on several notable Nigerian music projects, including Game Over, the third studio album by the duo P-Square; Superstar, the debut album by Wizkid; Wizkid’s single "Jaiye Jaiye" and his second album Ayo; "Body and Soul" by Plantashun Boiz; Away & Beyond and The Ascension by 2Face Idibia; "Reggae Blues" by Harrysong; No Bad Songz by Kizz Daniel; Cupid Stories by the duo Bracket; and Thankful by Flavour. He has also worked on recordings involving artists such as Davido, Femi Kuti, Olamide, Ruggedman, Lagbaja, Mr. May D, Weird MC, 9ice, Jim Iyke, 2Baba, Kcee, Eedris Abdulkareem, ID Cabasa, Tiwa Savage, Sean Tizzle, Wande Coal, Faze, Blackface, Plantashun Boiz, and Sunny Neji, Nelson Brown and others.

The Ascension debuted at number 12 on the Billboard World Albums Chart in 2014, making him among the first Nigerian sound engineers to be associated with a project that entered the Billboard chart. In 2015, he received the award for “Best Mixing and Mastering Engineer” at the inaugural Beatz Awards. He was also nominated in the 2016 Beatz Awards for his contributions on Kizz Daniel's New Era album.

He has been described by The Sun Nigeria as a significant contributor to the development of sound engineering in Nigeria.

Early life and education

Ewomazeeno Foster was born in Lagos State, Nigeria. he attended Igbobie Primary School in Delta State and later studied at Boys Model Grammar School (formerly Oproza Grammar School), also in Delta. He subsequently enrolled at Anajat International Computer Institute in Apapa, Lagos, where he studied computer technology. During this period, he also trained as a recording studio apprentice, gaining experience that contributed to his later career in sound engineering.

Career

In 2000, he was the lead audio engineer on Body and Soul, the first studio album of the Nigerian band Plantashun Boiz, In 2007, he produced and engineered Game Over, the third studio album by the Nigerian duo P-Square, released on 1 May 2007. In 2009 he was nominated for a Headies award on the best Reggae or Dancehall album with My shine by Black Solo. In 2010 he co-produced "T.W.O Legit" by Tunde and Wunmi Obe. In 2011, he mixed and mastered Superstar, the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid, released 12 June 2011. In the same year he engineered Cupid Stories by Bracket. In 2012 he mixed and mastered Away & Beyond, the fifth solo studio album by 2Face Idibia, released on 30 April 2012. In 2015 he was the audio engineer behind Wizkid and Femi Kuti's project titled "Jaiye Jaiye". He mixed and mastered Thankful, the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Flavour, which was released on 14 November 2014. He engineered The Enterkraner, the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Dammy Krane. Released on 21 August 2014. In 2015 he mixed and mastered Expensive Shit by Wizkid. He engineered "Reggae Blues" by singer-songwriter Harrysong, which was released on 4 August 2015, which earned him his first Beatz Awards nomination in 2015. In 2016 he mixed and mastered "Bend Down Select" by Young John and Lil Kesh, which was released on June 25, 2016. He was nominated at the 2016 Beatz Awards for his contributions on Kizz Daniel's New Era album. He engineered 2Baba's "Unconditional Love" in 2017, which released on October 25, 2017. He mixed and mastered "Titilailai" by D'tunes featuring olamide which released on January 19, 2018. In 2018 he co-engineered No Bad Songz by Kizz Daniel, which was released on November 30, 2018. He mixed and mastered Mr P's "The Prodigal", which released on April 2, 2021.

Philanthropy

He has conducted workshops and collaborated with organizations such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), focusing on training and capacity-building for emerging sound engineers and musicians in Africa.

Awards and nominations

Year

Awards ceremony

Award description(s)

Results

2009

The Headies

Mix and Master Engineer for Best Reggae or Dancehall album by Black Solo

Nominated

2015

Beatz Awards

Best Mixing and Mastering Engineer

Won

2016

Beatz Awards

Best Mixing and Mastering Engineer

Nominated

Production and mastering discography

Artist

Album/EP

Release date

Plantashun Boiz

Body and Soul

2000

P-Square

Game Over

May 1, 2007

Black Solo

My Shine

2009

Tunde and Wunmi Obe

T.W.O Legit

July 1, 2010

Wizkid

Superstar

June 12, 2011

Bracket

Cupid Stories

July 26, 2011

2Face Idibia

Away & Beyond

April 30, 2012

Wizkid & Femi Kuti

"Jaiye Jaiye"

May 2, 2013

Flavour

Thankful

November 14, 2014

Dammy Krane

The Enterkraner

August 21, 2014

Wizkid

"Expensive Shit"

May 13, 2015

Harrysong

Reggae Blues

August 4, 2015

Kizz Daniel

New Era

May 14, 2016

Young Jonn & Lil Kesh

"Bend Down Select"

June 25, 2016

Tee World

"Kpo Kpo Love"

October 8, 2017

XBusta ft. Humblesmith

Somebody

December 8, 2017

2Baba

Unconditional Love

October 25, 2017

D'Tunes ft. Olamide

Titilailai

January 19, 2018

Kizz Daniel

No Bad Songz

November 30, 2018

B Naira

Fall On Me

May 24, 2019

Minister Ladi

My Offering (EP)

July 6, 2020

Mr. P

The Prodigal

April 2, 2021