It Was All A Dream: The Birth Of Distant Relatives

On our debut newsletter, we pack an array of interesting content: a review of Ayra Starr's debut album, new music recommendations, articles and books to check out and some personal reflection.

WELCOME, DEAR FRIEND AND READER

I haven’t done this in a while and it means a lot you’re taking this step with me. It’s a pleasure to try to reach someone through storytelling. As humans, it’s instinctive of us to tell stories. Through them, we become familiar to each other, revealed as we truly are.

Creating means a lot to me. For anyone who tells stories, it’s important to know the story behind the story. Fun as it is, making sense of such a chaotic life can be draining, mentally, physically and otherwise. And yet something calls us to record that song, to write that poem, to pick up the brush, to capture some feeling in our heart.

During the peak of the pandemic last year, I quit my job at Notjustok.com, the popular entertainment website. It was a hard decision, considering I breathe and live music. Sending that mail, I couldn’t help but remember the excitement I felt months before when the graceful Ehis Ohunyon recommended me to the folks who’d become my future employers. And I sent the mail anyway, knowing I’d done good work and that I needed myself more than the music industry needed me. I knew too, that it was only temporary: I would be back, a better writer and person, and I’ll write on my terms.

Distant Relatives is the first newsletter I’m keeping. I hope it inspires discipline. It’s not usual for me to comment on things as they happen; I always favor the retrospective gaze. But, eventually, one learns to follow the threads of great stories being told today. I want to tell some great stories myself. I want you all to tell yours too. Through this, I’m united with you, wherever you are, whenever you read these words.

Again, welcome.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK – AYRA STARR 19 & DANGEROUS – AN ALBUM REVIEW

Across two decades of modern Nigerian pop music, no label has projected superstars with as much intent and creativity like Mavin Records. Evolving from Mo’Hits in the mid 2010s, a key element of that transition was the new focus on younger stars. Di’ja looked and sounded nothing like Tiwa Savage and the duo of Reekado Banks and Korede Bello appealed more to Nigerians who think Superstar is the first great album in our pop history.

2021, January 22nd: Ayra Starr was introduced to the audience, with a question posed: Who is Ayra Starr? Soon after, a self-titled EP was released, merging her records with the information on her: 18-year old; grew up and schooled in Cotonou, Benin Republic; she was signed after impressing with some freestyles. After listening, some thought she sounded like Tems.

It’s a valid comparison, and they’re certainly vocal similarities. But Ayra Starr is her own pop star. While Tems takes her mystic and poetic style from musicians like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, Ayra Starr finds more material in the stuff of day-to-day life, especially from the perspective of young people like herself. In terms of similarities, she angles towards confessional, exuberant musicians like Billie Ellish, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo.

On 19 & Dangerous, Ayra Starr’s debut album, her talent is bare. The 11-track project is a snapshot into the heart of a nineteen year old, on the cusp on womanhood with a lot of stuff going on. Her romantic reality comes under focus: on Toxic she sings of the aftereffects of heartbreak and how it can lead young adults into dangerous vices. “Why did you make me do it?\ why did you make me lose it?\ why did you give me the drugs I took, why did you force me to take it?” she asks. On Lonely and Karma, she reels from the boy’s absence, but beneath her evocative deliveries one can hear the stubborn optimism, and you know she’ll be alright.

19 & Dangerous works as a project due to the coherence of its story. It begins from Ayra’s current position as a trailblazer for the Gen-Z generation (“Cast”) before going into Fashion Killer, a record that further flaunts her appeal. “Yeah, my ass got thicker,” she sings to the old lover who’s revealed in the songs to come. CKay’s feature run continues on Beggie Beggie, an album highlight. He is the Boyfriend from his last project, witty and toxic, with lines like “girl, I made you cry and I gave you tissues” and “you say I led you on, you sef dey follow me.”

The power ballads bring some balance to Ayra’s otherwise introspective tape. Here she colors positivity into anthemic bangers like Bridgertn and Bloody Samaritan. The last song on the tape, Amin, is a slow burner reaching for inclusivity, her calm vocals praying one’s deepest desires into being. Her most striking lyric: “Say you have everything you want, don’t you ever give it to the cult.”

The album’s producers deserve plaudits as well. Crafting warm, elegant beats to match Ayra’s vocals, they take from the peculiarities of R&B, Pop and Soul music, maintaining a mid-tempo, house party vibe all through. Shunning what’s hot for what’s true, the beats mirror the eccentricity of the musician in a symbiotic manner. Mavin might be famous for their musical superstars, but they’ve also had an impressive roster of emerging producers in recent years—Baby Fresh, Andre Vibez, London, Ozedikus and Louddaaa, who produces five songs on the album.

While she schooled in Benin Republic, Ayra visited the nearby beaches quite often. The wavy vibe associated with such spaces is present on her album as she connects Lagos and diasporan cities like Cotonou and Brazil through her infusions of Yoruba over sonic embellishments that could be present in a Santeria festival. Among Africans, water represents spirituality and freedom and on records like In Between and Amin, her chants expose her familiarity with the traditions of her ancestors. In Sare, off her debut EP, she sampled Orere Elejigbo, the late ‘70s record from the influential sibling group Lijadu Sisters. These African influences fuse into her coming-of-age in the internet era and supplies an interesting edge to her music and brand. Going by these, the ‘celestial being’ tag is surely no fad.

Rating: 7\10

Favourite tracks: Beggie Beggie, Lonely, Bridgertn.

PLUS-IBLE ENJOYABILITY

Vader The Wildcard finally releases his debut tape. Titled To Be Frank, the 7-track EP finds the 2018 Hennessey VS Class winner fusing his rap sensibilities into genres like Trap, Amapiano and Afro Pop. Featuring Kemena, the opener “Insha Allah” is an atmospheric mood setter, segueing beautifully into “Seke,” a song that pulls from the Falz playbook to deliver witty, enjoyable lines about the affairs of various social classes. Closing out to the affirmative “Checklist,” Vader recruits longtime friend and sparring partner TheGeekyMidget (TGM) to chart the valleys of his journey. “Big checks on the checklist o…”

Our favorite Yoruba demon Skepta shared All In, a concise tape of four songs. Like OGs have recently been doing, Big Skep is owning all his stripes, floating over beats as luxurious as sparkling champagnes. Peace of Mind features Nigerian rapper Teezee (from the DRB Lasgidi collective), who raps a most interesting line: “Baby girl talk to me proper, don’t you know I’m somebody’s father.” You should also checkout Skepta’s interview with BBC Radio 1extra where he talks about being Nigerian, producing for Rihanna and his expanding interests as an art curator.

In the spirit of British rap albums, you should definitely check out Dave’s sophomore album We’re All Alone In This Together. It’s packed with poignant bars about everything, from Dave’s personal life to football, British society, institutionalized discrimination, fame, immigration, family love and relationships. If you want to go know the intent behind the album’s messages, there’s a really good G-Q cover you should read.

Another great news: Obinna Agwu’s game-changing podcast Listening Sessions is back for its third season, with a pilot episode featuring Muyiwa Awoniyi, a talent manager who counts Tems as a partner. I’ve learnt a lot about the music industry from this podcast. The host is a seasoned music businessman whose questions ripple with deep thought and experience, always inspiring genuine and practical responses from his guests.

Listen to the Muyiwa Awoniyi episode HERE

The Queens Are Back: Nigerian music royalties Yemi Alade and Niniola both released new jams over the weekend. Ms. Alade’s Ogogogoro is a Caribbean-tinged record, with bright flavors and sweet vocals. The Apata sister Nini continues her foray into the South of Africa with Sweet, remarkably finding fresh ways to relay heart-racing messages that drips with sensuality.

Following closely behind, the younger crop of female pop artists like Dunnie (“Mosalejo”), Ria Sean (“Money Bag”) and Tomi Owo (“Through the Never”) all excited with fresh releases as well. Right now, I’m really loving Dunnie’s Amapiano-inspired record.

RECOMMENDED READS

The American writer Jamel Brinkley’s collection of short stories, A Lucky Man, is profoundly moving. It delves into the lives of black, male characters dealing with their traumatic history in unique ways. The stories mirrors an uncanny aspect of real life and readers might hate some characters, but the writing is exquisite, poetic and cinematic, always moving. If you’re a writer, you’ll surely love Jamel.

It’s August and football season, again, is upon us. Few books about the sport has thrilled me like Musa Okwonga’s A Cultured Left Foot, an ambitious piece of nonfiction which offers eleven unmistakable traits of great footballers. Okwonga takes us into the personal and medical, offering academic reports and surveys, interviews and anecdotes, all delivered in assured, lyrical writing.

Internationally published Nigerian culture journalist Wale Oloworekende moderates a conversation between veteran Nigerian producer Sarz and Obongjayar, an American-based Nigerian with whom he collaborated on Sweetness, a joint EP. They touch on their Nigerian roots and the sheer power of music to connect diverse minds.

American superstar Young Thug is a reclusive character but every now and then, he grants a writer a peek into his glamorous lifestyle, the sweat of his technique and how it all comes together. Checkout this visual profile from Jeff Ihaza on Rolling Stone.

Dami Ajayi is culture intelligence and poet, and his writing gloriously marries both in a refreshing way that cannot be replicated only admired. In this era-spanning piece, he spells out the musical history of Lagos, delving into pockets of history and culture as he does so.