Aninooritsewarami Alero Oritsesan as well as Anueyiagu Chukwubuikem Emmanuel’s fresh faces have set their hungry eyes on the huge chunks of musical turf — up for grabs! Of Nigerian origin, both cantabile performers live for those stories that carry a lot of weight and are barely not-too-hesitant to snag a grip on what they stand for — sonically. Potentially large as well as containing multitudes of gutsy; mutually, the former who goes by the alias Kold AF and the latter whose pop into the euphony scene saw daylight under the moniker Bkay East Gaad — are splurging birdcall industry loyalists, deeply staring at their fate with purr appetites bigger than an ogre’s.
Wanting another go, Kold AF, whose stamp as an artist is her versatility, seamlessly blending genres to fashion her inimitable Afro-fusion sound — an animated synthesis of Afrobeats, Dancehall, Pop, Soul, Hip-Hop, as well as Rhythm & Blues; astoundingly found her rhizome with a spanking up-to-the-second donut called ‘Manyana’. A charming blend of Pop as well as Dancehall, encapsulating a philosophical message: “life extends beyond our daily grind, and true inspiration often emerges when we pause to appreciate our surroundings.”
This one might stick; the ditty was in her profundity conceived two days ahead of the official hatching of Bkay East Gaad’s “downy in its message, yet butchery delivery-wise” oeuvre titled ‘G.B.A (Good Boys Anthem)’. A single that captures the nub of remaining factual to oneself as well as being poised, in spite of societal challenges and pigeon-holes; with its groovy beats as well as infectious tempo, ‘G.B.A’ is calculated to be an unforgettable and repeat-worthy banger!
Having industrialised a complex — keys as well as strings — palette that sets him at a distance in the panorama; Bkay’s storytelling, ashore in real-life discourses and practices, makes his magnum tunes echo acutely with listeners. Scripting his particular story; ‘G.B.A’ is a testament to Bkay’s aptitude to turn everyday jiffies into authoritative consonance arias that speak to a global audience.
The concept for the number arose from a chat Bkay earwigged among his friends. Thus, a discussion on affairs as well as involvements. One axiom stood out: “There are still good guys out there.” This remark would then kindle an idea in the mind of the artist, who canals the soul of Africa into his Afro-fusion and rap conceptions; drawing stimulation from the electric thuds of his rearing — to merger barebones of Hip-Hop, Highlife, Reggae, as well as Dancehall.
Despite the fact that myriad Hip-Hop tracks deify sundry lifestyles, few lionize those who remain guileless and unswerving. Hence, Bkay — by and large — hit the studio to cook up a jam for those who circumnavigate life with veracity, while still savoring the ecstasy of living. With a watchword to — “Be Kingly and Yearn”; Bkay East Gaad, who embodies ambition in every lyric as well as rhythm, heavily channels his experiences as well as those of persons around him into this canon.
Thereupon, earning him a gully of comparability unambiguously tailored to luminaries such as Grammy-winning Nigerian Afro-fusion maverick Burna Boy, and South African rappers, songwriters as well as record producers — AKA and Nasty C.
Whether or not Kold AF — recognised as “an artist to watch for 2023/24” by media outlets such as Okay Africa, Culture Custodian, as well as Turntable Charts — made herself stronger by fighting with the wind; being a beacon for the future of African auditory sensation is “in spades” — an idiosyncratic quality the lawyer-cum-singer songwriter has in common with Bkay East Gaad!
Her sound is coloured by the likes of Barbadian singer librettist, businesswoman and actress Rihanna, London Grammar an English indie Pop band, British vocalist, composer as well as actress Mahalia, and Sean Paul a Jamaican singer as well as Dancehall Disc Jockey. Letting herself fly; Kold AF correspondingly lures deeply from the rich harmonious traditions of Nigerian opus gods like: Burna Boy a singer, lyricist and record producer, Rema a vocalist, rapper as well as ballad maker, Cynthia Morgan a songsmith, and Omah Lay a singer as well as lyricist.
Spurring into Kold AF’s reminiscence boulevard, her melodic voyage took off on a bird’s-eye note. A two-song EP (extended play) known as ‘Kold Szn’ (2022), made her recognise the weapon in her mind; leading to the birth of an EP last 12-month, dubbed ‘Kollided’, a Quislingism with BGRZ — a French multi-platinum producer.
The former offering harvested protuberant playlist placements on the Swedish audio streaming and media service provider — Spotify’s ‘Sizzlers’, as well as on the tonal pattern player with over 100 million chanted gems across different genres like Pop, Rock, Afrobeats, Afropop and Reggae from top artists — Boomplay’s ‘Young & Pop’, as well as ‘RnB & U’.
Since then, she has been on a stanch hunt to whittle out her own space in the tempi making, lilt as well as crooning landscape. Yet the trip has not been shorn of its challenges! The gravities of Kold AF’s mushrooming vocation took a significant toll, compelling her to pace back and pursue rejuvenation. This much-needed respite turned out to be the fertile ground for her spic-and-span lullaby — ‘Manyana’.
‘Manyana’ is from the Spanish word ‘Mañana’ which means — ‘Tomorrow’. In context with the lyrics and overall theme, I’m calling on everyone to forget their worries for a brief moment and just ‘dance till tomorrow’. I feel honoured to be working with the great minds at Warner Music. I’m with people who I think really hear me and are ready to propel my sound to the world. I’m extremely excited for what we will accomplish together,” Kold AF said.
Her chronic quest of fineness backed by stamina as well as thirst; she is of the notion that “everyone needs some time to heal” — and ‘Manyana’ is the composition blast for it! Her ancestries kicking in, Kold AF, who latterly scored a ‘Up Next Artist’ — a prestigious programme devoted to illuminating as well as fostering mounting talent — nod, on Apple Music; aptly situates: “As we commonly say in my country — ‘Problem no dey finish’. So why not choose to be free and unwind sometimes?”
*Grant Moyo is a prolific writer, innovative media personality, entrepreneur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on X: @TotemGrant