Out & about : Blues, an index ticking CKay’s ecstasy

CKay

Five star gulfs of ideas crack — hooked on an avatar of authoritative composing, arrangement, recording, editing, mixing and mastering — to create timeless music which would orchestrate the homecoming of the real stalwart in Chukwuka Ekweani’s voice, with acres of space to perfectly position the Emo-Afrobeats singer, ballad maker and producer in the scull of the hot seat.

Illustrious on-stage as CKay; the latter has justifiably so, extinguished the ‘doubting Thomas’ and took a sting out of naysayers’ tails, with a bonus blockbuster twofold dosage of tonal pattern — that is getting listeners into the bubble of being super capped in therapeutic exploits.

A mark of a beautiful artist causing all sorts of absolute sensational feelings to flare up in every nice looking way and worked really well shape; this 66th Grammy Awards nominee from Nigeria is always searching for someone over, as sparked in his — smartly done incredible like that — up-to-the-second oeuvre whips inalienably titled ‘Mysterious Love’ and ‘Is It You?’.

Hatched just in time for the Valentine’s season; the opuses — co-produced by CKay and Reward Beats — twig the intact life cycle of euphony exhuming.

“I decided to release two singles to give my fans a listening experience, not just a song. After my silence, it was only right. I’ve encountered love on so many levels and dimensions, so most of my music is about love. This is no exception,” CKay said.

Causing his magic, crafting a sonic atmosphere that resonates across genres is a no-brainer for CKay. After the resounding success of his first studio album ‘Sad Romance’ (2022); last 12-month, he achieved remarkable milestones with the racket ogle release of the deluxe edition to the latter work of blues, featuring some of Nigeria’s sought-after pitch contour audile communication brainiacs.

From romancing listeners with the battering canon ‘Nwayi’ (Igbo word for ‘woman’) to seducing audiences with the tinkle jam ‘Capture My Soul’ a quislingism with singer songwriter Joeboy; a Tekno tap would conceive ‘Nneka’, a charmer of the smitten young and young at heart tattle loyalists — that the singer-songwriter and record producer delivers with a dazzlingly rich croon! Given the chance to sprout wings; a too powerful hook up with rapper Blaqbonez on the Apple Music Daily chart (Nigeria) zenith mooring berceuse ‘Hallelujah’ — has since accumulated over 33 million streams, crowning a farfetched upwelling of sangfroid for CKay. 

Beyond the solo ventures of the latter — most often than not cited as ‘Africa’s boyfriend’ — the 2023 period also saw him join forces on countless fruitful offerings. CKay’s shuffling of feet for a quick chase foaled the lullaby

‘Trumpet’ alongside Olamide a Nigerian rapper, singer-songwriter and record executive, as well as the Grammy-nominated gem ‘Know Better’ in conjunction with Seun Kuti (the youngest son of Nigerian Afrobeats pioneer Fela Kuti) and Egypt 80 — his father’s former band.

The latter composition is a good-as-possibly-can tune correspondingly taking the lion’s share on American vocalist, composer, Hip-hop knocker and actress Janelle Monáe’s ‘in your face’ 14-track ditty sculpt known as ‘The Age of Pleasure’. CKay getting busier, he would further expand his global reach by teaming up with British songstress Tamera on the birdcall ‘40 Days’.

At this instant, despite the fact that the number ‘Mysterious Love’ is accompanied by a handsome means of telling and uncloaking through illustration; as luck would have it, the second single called

‘Is It You?’ is complemented by an engaging lyric visual companion piece, with the official cinematography to the hit scheduled for a February 9 premiere. A testament to his around-the-clock anthem chef-d’oeuvre evolution and stanch commitment to conveying unparalleled artistry; CKay’s sensual bit of dexterity has had him situate his fingerprints on the game, with his every hallway more driven on.

Reportedly named the best-selling African artiste in the United States of America, as ‘Love Nwantiti’ piled up over 1,6 million dollars in 2022; entering a virgin year 2024 with an upbeat three billion career streams, CKay’s seamless amalgamation of Amapiano, Afrobeats, and Pop into his unique sound — verves beyond his already remarkable chanted repertoire.

Into high gear, the first African artist to be the face of American cosmopolitan multi-billion-dollar enterprise Ralph Lauren’s fragrance franchise (‘The New Polo Oud’); returns from a slender sabbatical — to shove the precincts of harmonious mien in addition to spectacle delightful listening know-hows for aficionadas.

‘Love Nwantiti’ went viral 2 years after release, and my life changed in the blink of an eye. I was travelling the world, promoting and performing my music for 2 years straight. I got to a point of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, so I had to take a break. But I’m back and better with my best work yet,” CKay said.

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

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