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Author: Chioma Ugo Nwachukwu

  • DARCY reflects on fatherhood and sacrifice in “I’ll Hold The Ladder”

    DARCY reflects on fatherhood and sacrifice in “I’ll Hold The Ladder”

    Dutch artist DARCY has released “I’ll Hold The Ladder”, a progressive house and dance-pop single centred on a father’s sacrifices and the support he gives his son.

    Released on September 22, 2026, the song tells the story of a father who holds a ladder steady as his young son climbs, encouraging him to focus on where he wants to go rather than look down. The narrative follows the son into adulthood, imagining him performing on a stage in a foreign country while his father watches from the audience.

    The song uses the ladder as a metaphor for parental support, with its central message focusing on a father who puts his own ambitions aside to help his child pursue his.

    Musically, “I’ll Hold The Ladder” combines a piano-led melody with soulful male vocals and a progressive house arrangement. The track builds towards a heavier electronic drop, contrasting its reflective subject with a festival-oriented sound.

    DARCY is the musical project of Darcy Hoogenhout, a Netherlands-based artist from The Hague. His songwriting often explores personal relationships and the people who provide support through different stages of life. His previous releases include “Leave The Light On” and “Whistle Anyway”.

    “I’ll Hold The Ladder” is available on streaming platforms.

  • Kabusa Oriental Choir and David Acekeyz celebrate African heritage on “Cornerstone”

    Kabusa Oriental Choir and David Acekeyz celebrate African heritage on “Cornerstone”

    Kabusa Oriental Choir has released “Cornerstone”, a choral Afropop track featuring David Acekeyz that explores African heritage, cultural identity and the idea of returning home.

    Released on September 25, the song addresses wanderers, travellers and members of the diaspora navigating life away from their ancestral homeland. Its lyrics use the metaphor of a cornerstone to describe African heritage as a lasting foundation that cannot be erased or forgotten.

    The track also reflects on homecoming and reconnection, imagining the return of people scattered across the world and the significance of coming together through shared cultural roots.

    Musically, “Cornerstone” combines the choir’s Igbo vocal arrangements with contemporary Amapiano log drums, blending choral Afropop with Afro-fusion influences. The arrangement brings together traditional vocal textures and modern dance rhythms.

    The release follows the group’s earlier viral song “Soso”, which has accumulated more than 63 million streams, according to the release information.

    “Cornerstone” was written and composed by Austin Chinemezu Nwamara, who also handled vocal production. David Acekeyz produced the instrumental, while Samuel Adejoh (Samix) served as recording engineer. Mixing, mastering and Dolby Atmos were handled by Harry Chaplin.

    “Cornerstone” is available on streaming platforms.

  • Jake Bowman explores sensory overload in experimental sound project “Emesis”

    Jake Bowman explores sensory overload in experimental sound project “Emesis”

    California-based composer and sound artist Jake Bowman has released “Emesis”, an experimental sound project built from field recordings captured inside the Mega Don Quijote store in Shibuya, Tokyo, in November 2025.

    After returning to South Pasadena, Bowman processed the recordings using resonators, reverbs and modulation effects to create a dissonant ambient soundscape.

    The project draws on the sensory overload of the Don Quijote shopping experience, particularly its dense mix of consumer displays, sounds and activity. The recordings include skincare product advertisements, designer bags, Japanese sex toys, employee announcements and the sounds of intoxicated visitors gathered around the store’s only restroom.

    Through layers of distorted ambience, “Emesis” combines the store’s everyday sounds with uneasy, shifting textures. The work explores the overstimulation associated with excessive consumer environments and the physical reactions they can provoke.

    Originally from Blythe, California, Bowman is based in Pasadena and creates conceptual experimental music and sound work focused on visceral responses from listeners.

    His credits as a performer, engineer and producer include work connected to Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Chad Hugo, ScHoolboy Q, Curren$y, Lex Luger, Terrace Martin, Joey Bada$$, Statik Selektah, Burna Boy, Madeon and DJDS.

    “Emesis” is available on streaming platforms.

  • loveoleglove releases “Déjà Vu SRL (Reimagined)” ahead of original 2027 version

    loveoleglove releases “Déjà Vu SRL (Reimagined)” ahead of original 2027 version

    Independent electronic music project loveoleglove has released “Déjà Vu SRL (Reimagined)”, a reworked version of a track whose original release is scheduled for April 2, 2027.

    Released on October 30, the reimagined version moves between progressive trance and progressive house, retaining the original’s emotional theme while incorporating a more energetic electronic arrangement.

    Running for just over six minutes at approximately 129 BPM, the track features layered synths, arpeggiated melodies and a four-on-the-floor rhythm. Its arrangement also shifts into broken-beat sections, with a children’s choir and male vocals adding contrasting textures.

    The release is accompanied by artwork featuring a photograph taken in November 2008, after a date with the person who would later become the artist’s partner. The image reflects the track’s central theme of looking back on a moment whose significance becomes clearer with time.

    loveoleglove is an independent electronic music project that draws on personal experiences and memory, with releases spanning progressive house, trance, techno and melodic electronic music.

    “Déjà Vu SRL (Reimagined)” available on streaming platforms.

  • “ODUMODUBLVCK is still your daddy”: Seyi Vibez fires shots at Blaqbonez amid X exchange

    “ODUMODUBLVCK is still your daddy”: Seyi Vibez fires shots at Blaqbonez amid X exchange

    Nigerian singers Seyi Vibez and Blaqbonez have exchanged words on X after the rapper appeared to address people mistaking him for Seyi Vibez.

    The exchange began when Blaqbonez tweeted, “lagos agbero people please i am not seyi vibez dammit,” seemingly telling ageberos in Lagos not to mistake him for the singer.

    Seyi Vibez responded with a series of tweets, taking shots at Blaqbonez, his music and his standing in the Nigerian rap scene.

    “Agidi for lagos fit put you for trouble. Muyeez blow pass your papa,” he wrote in one post.

    In another, Seyi said he had wanted to curse Blaqbonez but would not give him “free promo”, before calling him “Aladanu”.

    He also dismissed Blaqbonez’s music, writing, “Rap is dead already jare ah beg leave me I nor dey your set aboy,” and telling him to take his “clout” elsewhere.

    Seyi further brought fellow rapper Odumodublvck into the exchange, as he refrenced the ongoing feud between ODUMODUBLVCK and Blaqbonez

    He wrote, “Blaqbones your daddy na still Odumodu if you like go up and down.”

    He also asked, “Abi make I sign blaqbones,” in another post.

    The singer continued with more jabs, warning Blaqbonez to “waka crayfish waka” and suggesting that a physical confrontation could follow if the rapper tried to align himself with him.

    Blaqbonez, seemingly confused by the exchange, later tweeted: “se this guy dey whine ni? 😂”