Nigerian singer-songwriter EKENE, signed to Mars, makes his official debut with his first-ever single, “Lullaby,” now available on all DSPs.
Like many of R&B’s most inward-facing voices, EKENE approaches music as a site of emotional excavation, using music to confront the complexities of self-expression and vulnerability. “Lullaby” offers a first entry point into that world, unfolding through themes of memory, identity, and relational fracture that resist easy resolution.
Documented from the perspective of someone still close enough to be remembered, yet no longer acknowledged in the same way, the record inhabits a space defined by absence as much as proximity. It lingers in that dissonance; reaching toward familiarity that has already begun to recede.
Produced by Grammy-nominated London-based producer Tudor Monroe, whose work across contemporary R&B informed the track’s minimal, slow-moving structure, the production remained deliberately sparse, giving space for EKENE’s phrasing and tone to carry the weight of his emotions.
EKENE’s work is shaped by an ongoing negotiation with conflict, drawing from childhood, contradiction, and experiences that remain unresolved. These elements are not treated as separate moments, but as something carried forward, informing both his writing and sense of self.
“I just want to create a lasting impact,” he says. “I want to use this as an outlet to lay myself bare, to connect with people across the world, and to leave something behind that lasts.”
Self-described as a “religious recluse,” the Lagos-born singer-songwriter approaches music with a clear sense of intent. Having spent years releasing independently on SoundCloud and performing in intimate settings, “Lullaby” brings EKENE’s voice into sharper focus, establishing him as an artist attentive to the weight and precision of his own storytelling.
LULLABY is available now on all streaming platforms.
STREAM LULLABY HERE
MEDIA ASSETS HERE
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Writers: Ekenedilichukwu Obiago & Pablo Bowman Navarro
Artist: Ekene
Producer: Tudor Monroe
Recording Engineer: David Rotimi, Enwere Obinna James
MIXING ENGINEER: Spax (Samuel Akano)
MASTERING ENGINEER: Gerhard Westphalen
ABOUT EKENE
For Ekene, music is truth: “It’s a form of documentation, just like a photographer, I capture what I’m going through in song.” The 24-year-old singer-songwriter’s first chapter unfolded in Lagos where he was raised on a diet of gospel music and cartoon jingles, while singing in the choir. He knew early on that music was a calling he couldn’t ignore. And as his tastes evolved to contemporary rap, pop and R&B, so did his experimentations. In high school he dabbled in a rap group, honing his pen-game, and eventually picked up a guitar to recreate some of his favourite R&B songs. “All those hours I put in were almost unintentional. It’s really interesting how passion and doing what you love can make learning feel so effortless.”
His music is a journey that’s still blossoming. As we watch it unfold, Ekene’s deepest intention is to use his gift as a vessel for human connection. “I would like for my music to mean something even when I’m gone. I want my music to reach a point where it’s impactful enough that even when I’m no longer here, a part of me still exists with people.”
