“Kola (koh-lar) no be Kola (coe-lar),” the gentle voice sweeps you, levelling as one of the most melodramatic openers in the Afro-pop scene at the moment. The next voice is a deep baritone that serves a vibrant pidgin-English toned hook and witty bars over a breezy mid-tempo melody. And in less than 3 minutes, the catchy tune dubbed, Bounce, sees Nigerian-American artiste, Seunkola, prove his mettle once more as one of the voices to watch in 2023.
“I wanted to make something I could vibe to. I’ve made love songs, I have conscious music, I have all different types of music I haven’t released yet but this is something strictly to bounce to; no pun intended,” he tells Guardian about the inspiration behind the hit-ready record.
Melding influences from Michael Jackson, Paul Wall, UGK, Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, among others, Seunkola has cut a path in the Afrobeats scene, with his emotive songwriting at the core of his artistic prowess.
Apart from serving as a prelude to his self-titled EP scheduled for release later in the year, Seunkola’s Bounce is really just leaps in the right directions for the young musician, exposing him on the centrestage where intentionality and originality are the crux of the matter.
From delving into the world of fashion, to fashioning mesmerizing tunes behind the microphone, Seunkola’s artistry seems to be soaked in passion. His relentless hunger for unique melodies, he notes, is a strong reason for this approach to his craft.
“I’ve always loved music. Since I was younger and being chased out of the choir as a little boy messing with instruments, being around music was something I enjoyed and still do. Being able to hear and create rhythms and songs from my mind amazes me, and I get better each time.
“My journey so far has been surprisingly great. Being a fashion designer I’ve been more in tune with the fashion world and no matter how much research I did about the music industry officially releasing music has taught me the most. Experience is the best teacher and I’ve been learning something new every day.”
He further shares his vision, projecting a career where he can freely “tell my story” and make music “at the highest levels” for the world to hear.
With the lightweight, feel-good cadence to Bounce, it’s effortlessly mood music for all the right moments. And definitely one aimed for the charts, with the right push.
Bounce is out across all streaming services.
