Artistes of the Week//Aug (Part 2)

Artistes of the Week:

Hi there, Welcome once again to Artistes of the Week. As usual we bring you amazing new music from your favorite artistes as well as new sounds and artists to explore. Dive in with us and our killer selection!

Tar1q: Bus stop

We begin the day with Tar1q and his new Afro-fusion single ‘Bus Stop’. Oluokun Temitope Tariq (born on the 1^st of May), professionally known as TAR1Q, pronounced TAH-reek, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter signed to Chocolate City Music. Tar1q has an enviable artistic power of capturing his thoughts perfectly and writing the things his mind has absorbed, creating music that feels like stories of the lives of multiple Africans and depicting their different unique realities. Blessed with a velvety voice and soulful tone, he easily stands out for his heartfelt storytelling and commanding stage presence. ‘Bus stop’ is a lovely blend of Afropop, dancehall music,and R&B.

Meeda: Change

Young, new, and downright angelic, Meeda is just the kind of Afrobeats star to be on the lookout for. The 16-year-old artiste hails from Ogun state, Nigeria, and is quickly emerging as a new and refreshing voice in the music scene. Influenced heavily by her Nigerian roots and other global inspirations, Meeda’s sound is a blend of Afro-pop, R&B and soul, and is definitively a fresh take on contemporary music. She has just released her debut single ‘Change’, promising to be a smash hit.

Larry Gaga ft Wizard Chan, Ayomaff: Fountain

From the vein of Intra-cultural domination and a display of the richness of African music, Larry Gaga gifts us ‘Fountain’, a new single featuring the Niger Delta boy raised in Okrika, Rivers, Wizard chan, an Afro-Teme and Reggae singer with the Afrobeats and fuji fusion sensation, Ayo Maff. More than just a single, this song is a beautiful exposition of how beautiful and harmonious Nigerian cultures can sound together. Speaking on the woes of existential sorrows, It is a delicate show that there is no barrier in music, and expressions can intersect too. Check out the lovely new single, ‘Fountain’.

Xplode: Neverland EP

Quayyum Onikeku Oladimeji, born March 8th and known professionally as Xplode is a Nigerian, Afrobeats singer and songwriter. The artiste originally hails from Abeokuta North Local government in Ogun State, however he’s spent most of his life and years in Ikorodu, Lagos. His love for music started at an early age, growing up listening to Hip Hop and Afrobeats. He initially started music professionally in 2019 when he finished  high school. His sound is characterized by an Afropop, Fuji fusion, and the popular Afro Hadurah music style. He has just released a new EP ‘Neverland’, filled with a range of delectable anthems, ranging from dance bops to stop-and- think pieces, his unique tone shining through with each track. Check out ‘Neverland’ EP now

Aema: Zeal

The girlies are finding their way to the alternative music scene and are determined to kill it, every step of the way. Aema is one of the female musical artistes who are determined to stretch and test the barriers of Nigerian music, creating a unique profound musical genre of their own, a palate of influences leading to a magical canvas creation. Her real name Chiamaka, is a strong influence in the coining of her name ‘AEMA’ pronounced (Eyy-Marr) and she is a singer, songwriter, and visionary. She grew up on a variety of musical influences, from pop to African music, with artists like Spice Girls, Westlife, Backstreet Boys and Bright Chimezie. This led to a perfect blend of cultural sounds which in time shaped her creative understanding of art and gifted her the ability to alternate between any sounds she desires. Check out her new single ‘Zeal’, a testament to this.

London, Ayra Starr & 6lack: Pinacolada

The most fly producer on the block, London, dons us with a fiery collab on his new single ‘Pinacolada’, featuring the Nigerian Afrobeats princess and Sabi girl, Ayra Starr alongside the American, alternative R&B Hip/Hip hop music guru, 6lack. ‘Pinacolada’ is a beautiful blend of Afrobeats, Afro-pop, and Afro-R&B . Ayra Starr leads the track with her beautiful vocals, switching up her pace and tempo later on as she nears the hook, then finally taking us back to a slower paced-chorus, bursting with that beautiful Afro-pop tone. 6lack slides in right after, laying on the R&B Trap vibe thick and heavy in the smoothest of ways. He begins his verse with a sweet, soft, and seductive ‘lover boy’ tone drawing you in and tilting gently towards an Afro feel, finally finishing the verse with a rap. London, once again shows his diversity as a producer and creative, bringing in such a seamless cultural collision between the two artistes. Check out ‘Pinacolada’, The song might be one of the most addictive bops you hear today.

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