Connect with us

MUSIC

Emma Nhamburo Brings Back the Good Old Days of Music Industry With Her Spectacular Sound

Published

on

It’s tough to imagine that 15 years have passed since Emma Nhamburo dropped her first single “Must Be Love” with the FYA. The swaggering vocal prowess that helped drive FYA into the Reggae fusion, R&B, dancehall, and pop scene—in line with the bandmates Kezia (Kizzy) Bennett and Tenza Foster. Although famous in the early 2000s, the band has taken a few hiatuses over the years to pursue their solo careers.

No rookie in the industry, Emma’s sensational vocals have been fronting her band ‘FYA’ over the years as her signature vocal style soared with the help of the bandmates Kizzy and Tenza. Wanting to step out and release music under her own title, Emma’s new release is a pivotal moment for the up-and-coming artist as she starts her solo career with an afro-beat-soaked bang.

Her new single, which is expected to be released in March, is just the tip of the iceberg for the singer, and 2021 will also see her releasing new music and collaborating with artists from around the world.

Find more about where she has been, her call to music, and her mesmeric music journey on this interview. Here’s the full conversation with the singer:

 

In 2003, you were eventually signed with Def Jam Recordings. Tell us a little about that and what the label expected of you.

They expected us to complete the deal with them, although we never did because we only had a single released on the label.

Emma Nhamburo Brings Back the Good Old Days of Music Industry With Her Spectacular Sound

Your debut single “Boops” is definitely far beyond your average debut track from artists in those days. What was the motivation behind such a lyrically rich and melodically unique single?

“Boops” was actually a cover, the original song was by a Jamaican artist called Sly & Robbie, so just covered the song. It wasn’t an official release, a lot of people don’t know about that but it was just a song that was meant to introduce us to the market as FYA. The official single that was released from our album was “Must be love” so that’s why a lot of people don’t see “boops” on any albums.

Throughout your career, tell us about your best show and your worst show.

My best show to be quite honest was when we performed at the Prince’s Trust awards the year when Jay-Z first mentioned that he was going to retire, that was amazing. It was Royal Albert Hall and for those who know Royal Albert Hall it’s a big deal, we had acts from Beyonce, Jay-Z and a lot of acts from both America and the UK

The worst show would have been when we got lost and we ended up getting there after the whole club was literally leaving. I remember parking up outside and we were just looking at people leaving, it was just so heartbreaking.

As a songwriter, what kind of topics do you see yourself writing about most often? Whether it be lyrically or instrumentally. Shed some light on your songwriting structure(s).

The most important thing to me is the beat, I know a lot of people have got their own way of structuring or writing. But I feel like for me when I hear a beat, it literally speaks to my soul, so what happens is that when I hear a beat and it draws me up, my pen and paper come up straight away or wherever I can pop melody it will all come out and I will start writing.

I think mostly my songwriting is based on inspiration, you know I get inspiration even from speaking to my producers to find out what inspired them to make that particular beat or just being in a different place at a different time cause then I got a story to tell. I believe songwriting or singing is like telling a story, and so what I would normally do is for example, if I wanted to write a song I would literary sit listening to a beat sent in by the producer and have a dictaphone or my phone recording all of these ideas that I have.

My favorite time to write a song would be nighttime, anytime past 10 in the evening that’s when I settle in my own little world and start writing. Sometimes it depends on the inspiration, cause sometimes I do get ideas then immediately write the lyrics, and when the beat comes the lyrics magically fit in.

 

What’s the biggest message(s) you put out through your music? What do you hope to inspire your fans with, and what do you hope they gain from listening to your songs?

The message that I put out through my music is mostly positivity cause I believe music heals, music is a universal language so for me I always want to put positive vibes and good vibes. I always want to put my character in there so that people get to know me as well not just about me singing about love, I like to make people feel that Emma Nhamburo is there either by a laugh, a chant, a scream you know, you got to know that I am in there somehow

The biggest message to my fans is to be who you are and that I try to be as much of me as I can in my music, cause I think a lot of people are being taught to be something or to be someone that we are actually not. So I think in my music it reflects cause obviously coming from an African you would expect my parent wanted me to probably a doctor or be a nurse but that never happened, I was a musician, I followed my dreams, I followed my soul’s calling and my soul’s purpose, be yourself and find what makes you tick, what gives you joy, or what you are most passionate about.

What do you enjoy most about being a musician? What do you hate most?’

What I enjoy most about being a musician is the fact that I can create something that someone can relate to for example a love song, somebody might be able to relate to a love song I wrote when they are in love. I’ve got a couple of tracks coming which are so dear to my heart because I wrote them from a space of how I normally live my life, so for me, I get to live my life through a different lens, if that makes sense, I just literary pour everything in song and make it an experience for me as well as for my fans.

What part would I say I hate the most…that would be as a musician you just feel like you are always constantly on the go, you are in the studio, you are writing, creating, thinking about your next release, this person calling, you are having this conversation, so it’s a very demanding industry. Though I wouldn’t say I hate it because sometimes when I sit back and look at the amount of work that I have done, I feel really proud, though sometimes I just wish that I had more time to relax, but hey It is what it is, it comes with the industry.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I would say we need more women in top roles, women need to be empowered to record their music, to express themselves cause I still feel like even up to this day and age music is still male-dominated. I think women need to be put on a platform where they can be as mothers and as queens, they need to be given credits for some of their creation they have done.

For example, in the UK, we don’t really have an afrobeat platform for women, they are there but they are not put on the pedestal where they are supposed to be sitting. And also sometimes there is stuff like racism, you know things that are not morally right for any artist no matter what the race, color, gender, whatever they are. It’s a creative industry and I know a lot of people say we are there to be judged but we are really not, we should be able to express how we feel and enjoy it.

 

We can’t wait to hear more of your future releases. When can we expect new music? And is it gonna be a single, or is it going to be an EP or album?

New music is definitely coming this year, I have a single coming out this march in Africa and February in the UK. It’s a single featuring a Nigerian Artist, Terry G and it’s going to be available on Spotify. I am so so excited about the single because we worked so damn hard on it in the studio a couple of times just to get it right.

An Ep should be dropping but I can’t promise when cause when it comes it needs to be amazing and at the moment that’s what I am working on for it to be great and give people what they have been waiting for. I have been away from the industry for so long and now I am coming back, so I can’t just come back half-hearted, I have to give it my all, so the EP still has no date as to when it’s going to drop but it is coming, and you will be getting more music and in the summer you might just get a summer track who knows? I am still in the studio working that out but New music is definitely coming, so keep an eye on my Spotify, on my Instagram where I will be updating everyone telling them what to come, what dates e.t.c

If you had one message to give your fans, what would it be?

If I had one message to give to my fans, well,  at the moment we are all going through a tough time, I would say stay positive because nothing lasts forever, this is only a season that we are going through, and would also say I love you so much. Thank you for all the support when you have been giving me throughout all the years.

Even after taking my break, I’m still seeing a lot of people showing me love, so I really appreciate it, stay supporting each other cause at the end of the day we are all we have. I LOVE YOU ALL

For our final question, is there anything else you would like to add?

I am glad to be back in the music industry, I am glad to be a voice for women because for me I am really rooting for us women to be able to support each other, to uplift each other. Sometimes I see women are not together, and I wouldn’t wanna see that because there is so much to be achieved, there is so much that needs to be done in terms of connecting with each other, collaborating with each other as creatives. So I feel like that’s my two cents, to see women win, to see us even from the African side and from the UK being able to crossover boundaries and literally connect on a deeper level more than a surface level

Catch up with Emma Nhamburo on:

Emma Nhamburo  Emma Nhamburo Brings Back the Good Old Days of Music Industry With Her Spectacular Sound 

 

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

MUSIC

King Jay Da Blountman Turns Versatile Into A Day Off Fantasy With The Easygoing Pull Of “Fish’n”

Published

on

By

King Jay Da Blountman Turns Versatile Into A Day Off Fantasy With The Easygoing Pull Of "Fish’n"

When a former football player tosses the rulebook for modern music, the results can feel braver than any tidy genre label. That is the lane King Jay Da Blountman keeps choosing, a Florida based St. Augustine artist with one foot in hip hop, one in country, and both planted in sheer hustle. His 2025 album “Versatile” has been picking up momentum as one of the year’s more convincing independent releases, partly because it refuses to sound like it is trying to fit a template.

A clear highlight is “Fish’n,” a 2-minute-and-54-second feel good cut that shows how naturally King Jay can blur styles without turning it into a gimmick. The track grabs you fast with a cadence that feels lived in. Instead of sitting on top of the beat, his voice folds into the groove, so the vocals and the production feel made for each other.

That ease matters because “Fish’n” leans into the space where singing and rapping overlap. King Jay slides between the two with a smooth rap sing touch that keeps hip hop and country in the same frame. The song lands like a snapshot of a mood, one that pulls you outdoors and away from the buzz of everything else.

The imagery is simple and it works. You can picture the fishing gear, the boat that is ready to go, the cooler packed with beer or whiskey, and the sun hanging in the sweet spot. “Fish’n” carries that particular kind of freedom you only get when the day is yours. It makes a fishing trip feel overdue, along with the permission to take a real day off. The music stays relaxed while still earning repeat listens.

There is crossover charm here that recalls Shaboozey’s 2024 hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”. The difference is that “Fish’n” stays unmistakably King Jay. It draws from lived experience and unfiltered real talk, and it keeps its own shape even as it nods to multiple worlds. The hookiness is the point, a cadence that lingers after the last note fades.

The best moments come from the tight fit between performance and production. King Jay’s vocals lock in with the beat, reinforcing the track’s quiet confidence and natural flow. It is the kind of song that belongs on open roads and open water, and it rewards listeners who like their playlists with fewer walls.

“Fish’n” sits on “Versatile,” a nine track project that earns its title. The album has been performing strongly, with several songs quickly becoming fan favorites, including “Whisky Man,” “Respect,” “Blue Cheese,” and “Kings.” Each cut shows a different angle of King Jay’s approach, yet the project holds together through a consistent sense of authenticity and risk taking.

You can hear how this run builds on what came before. “Versatile” follows the success of Jay’s 2022 album “Level Up,” which included the track “By the Water,” now with over 104,000 streams on Spotify. That earlier momentum set the table for what he is doing now, expanding his reach while sharpening his sound.

King Jay Da Blountman has always moved across lanes, from drums to raps, funny videos to serious storytelling, and the streets to global streaming platforms. His story reads as growth and openness, an artist still stretching toward the next version of himself. With “Versatile,” and with a standout like “Fish’n,” he shows how music crosses borders through heart, honesty, and a beat you can live inside.

As King Jay keeps spreading his wings globally, one jam at a time, “Versatile” works as both statement and invitation. Come as you are, grab a drink, and press play.

| INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK |

Continue Reading

MUSIC

Omaye keeps it brief and hits hard on “Tell Them”, a focused Afrobeats and Amapiano promise of what is coming

Published

on

By

Omaye keeps it brief and hits hard on "Tell Them", a focused Afrobeats and Amapiano promise of what is coming

Fast-budding Nigerian artist Omaye’s single “Tell Them” arrives with assurance that usually takes artists a few releases to earn. He keeps it tight, too. The track runs 2 minutes and 17 seconds, and it uses every second with purpose. In a lane where bigger often gets mistaken for better, Omaye shows how far a clear idea can travel when the writing and performance stay focused.

“Tell Them” plays like a self-empowerment chant built from a hardened, never-say-never mindset. The message is straightforward: put in the work, stay locked in, and trust destiny to meet you halfway. Omaye delivers it with a calm steadiness, the sort of quiet confidence that suggests he already sees the finish line. You can hear the belief that his moment is on schedule, and that nothing is going to shake him off course.

The sound matches that mindset. Omaye’s Afrobeats foundation gives the record its swing, while gurgling Amapiano synths bubble underneath and add a subtle lift. The production stays clean and restrained, leaving plenty of air for the vocal. Omaye’s delivery is crisp and polished, gliding over the beat with clarity. He never rushes the pocket. Each note feels chosen, each inflection considered, as if he’s more interested in landing the feeling than showing off technique.

What makes “Tell Them” linger is its emotional balance. It’s catchy and undeniably infectious, yet it carries weight. The hook sticks because the sentiment does, and the track rewards replay for more than its bounce. Omaye isn’t reaching for drama or putting on a persona. He’s capturing a mindset shaped by struggle, resilience, and self-belief, then letting that honesty do the heavy lifting. By the time the song ends, the confidence feels earned rather than advertised.

With “Tell Them,” Omaye comes off as a storyteller who knows what he wants to say and how to say it. The track reads as proof that he has the tools to connect with fans of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Hip-Hop alike, and to do it without diluting his voice. The direction is clear. The hunger is right there in the phrasing.

Now streaming on Apple Music, “Tell Them” lands as a statement of intent and a clean introduction for anyone meeting him for the first time. If this single is a preview, the question around Omaye’s rise is timing, not possibility. Time feels like the only gap between him and the next level.

The release is also a milestone: “Tell Them” is Omaye’s first professionally recorded single, and it sets the stage for his upcoming EP “17EEN,” which is close on the horizon. Keep the name Omaye in your head. You’re going to hear it again.

LISTEN HERE

Connect with Omaye Music:
Instagram | TikTok

Continue Reading

MUSIC

IurisEkero turns “AURA” into a sunset ritual of cinematic pop, where synths hold your feelings close

Published

on

By

IurisEkero turns "AURA" into a sunset ritual of cinematic pop, where synths hold your feelings close

IurisEkero has always had that producer aura where every synth feels like it’s holding hands with your feelings. On AURA, that instinct expands into cinematic storytelling. He even marked the release with a sunset ceremony at the base of the Andes, like he was unlocking a secret level in a music RPG. You can’t fake that kind of commitment. It gives the album a clear vibe: this is meant to be lived, not treated like something you leave running in the background.

He stays in a contemporary pop lane, polished but heartfelt, digital yet soft around the edges. The textures are warm. The vocal layers feel like a hug. And there’s a sense that each song stands as its own emotional chapter. The point is mood-building, not novelty. AURA ends up feeling like 16 different emotional passports, each stamped with a slightly different shade of hope, doubt, desire, or relief.

The album kicks off with “The Password Of My Heart,” a title that sounds cheesy until the production hits. Then it turns into a confession wrapped in shimmering synths. He moves gently, almost whisper soft, and the chorus floats in like he’s opening a door you weren’t sure you should walk through. It’s a smart opener because it sets the standard early: sweetness, yes, but with detail and control.

“Didn’t See You Today” brings the jolt. It’s dance pop in full gear, bright, jumpy, and built around a beat that sounds designed to rescue someone from a bad mood. The female vocals glide across the instrumental with precision, as if they arrived already locked into the same emotional tempo. The track is glossy, but it keeps the album’s softness intact, the warmth never drains out.

In the middle, “Aura” sits like a breathing space. It’s modern pop with emotional density, yet airy enough that you can drift with it. This is the one you play while staring at something far away, pretending you’re in a movie even if you’re just sitting on a bus. The hook doesn’t have to shout. The feeling does the work.

The crown jewel is “We Are All In One,” the single that has already pushed past 222k streams on Spotify. The appeal is immediate. The lyrics read like a sunrise pep talk from your favorite person:
“Woke up dreaming. Sky is clear, got the world beneath my feet…”
“Every moment, every glance feels like magic.”
“You’re my fire, my best friend.”
It’s warm, melodic, and sweet, and it carries an electronic bounce that keeps it from getting too soft. Romantic, yes, but it avoids the clingy tone that can flatten songs like this. It lifts you up without turning into a self-help poster. This is the track for the walk home after a long day, the moment you need a reminder that life can still glow.

The deeper cuts give the album its emotional spine. “Even Miracles Take a Little Time” and “Invisible Gravity” lean into introspection with an almost therapeutic honesty. Then he pivots into higher energy with “Let’s Ignite the Night” and “Cut Loose,” tracks that feel like the soundtrack to the moment you decide to stop overthinking everything. The shifts don’t feel random. They read like a real emotional arc, the way a night out can start with doubt and end with release.

As the album closes with “Don’t Get Your Hopes Up,” he returns to vulnerability, the real kind, not the Instagram caption version. The yin and yang in his music stays front and center, joy alongside uncertainty, light alongside shadow. That duality is what makes AURA feel human.

And that Andes launch seals the whole concept. He turned an album into a communal moment. As the sun dropped, each track played like a ritual chapter, a shared breath between strangers. It transformed AURA from a playlist into a lived memory. Artists talk about unity. Here, he actually staged it.

If you want more than background music, AURA is a recommendation. Each track is layered with feeling, melody, and energy that makes you hit replay before the last note fades. Stream it, share it.

| INSTAGRAM |

Continue Reading

Trending