On the opening track, “I Love You”, Seyi Afeni starts with a Pop-RnB reverie where he expresses his undivided fidelity and love for God. The track opens with some dramatic pianos and Hip Hop bounce that set the dreamy, chilled soundscape that filters through the entire EP. His rich use of falsetto, and silent fillers, help brighten the slow pace of the song, driving home his message.
“Cheap Ponzi” takes some slight twist with the subtle log drums that alternate the EP’s pace with extra momentum. It’s a breezy pop delight that preaches against shortcuts in life, with Afeni living up his sermons in his versatile compositions. The next song “Acrimony” continues the upward pace, ushering in the added flair of Seyi Afeni’s Yoruba-laden and metaphorical lyricism, still stringing listeners along the didactic themes of patience and steadfastness. And by the EP’s first quarter, Afeni goes directly into contemporary Christian gospel Worship, with a distinct melange of highlife guitars and pop percussions.
Seyi Afeni’s most brilliant halo in this record are his vocal arrangements and sonic fusions. From the EP’s mid-point, “Makose”, he ushers in soothing Jazz trumpets and Cajon percussion. His smooth poetic RnB verses, and use of backing vocals, cojoin the entire composition into a slow-burn groove. For most of the songs, Afeni strives to achieve shock value with his daring mix of influences, from Jazz, to Amapiano, to House, to Afrobeat, and also Afro Pop. On “Don’t Go”, he continues his evangelism with moody sing-rapping and a catchy tempo that comes alive with the heartbeat of an Afrobeat and highlife refrain.
The EP continues its religious pontification and pep talks with the organized allure of dance music, from “Shagilo”, to “Can’t Pretend”. The diverse themes of human living and self-development sandwiched within the central theme of love help to create a wholesome and meaningful listen. And it’s an easy finish for Afeni who returns to a sombre sonata, “Don’t Let Me Go”, where his funk-styled cadences also appear in true fashion to his fusion-driven approach.
The entire EP breathes, first, before it dazzles — and this is Afeni’s sweet spot in creating compositions that actually roar with message and chuckle with groove. It’s an easy mood-lifting listen, for busy or dreary mornings, and it commands just enough cohesiveness and replay value to shine for its merits.
He joined the choir at a tender age based on his love for good music. He groomed his singing and songwriting skills while in the choir.
Seyi Afeni debuted, in 2021, with a 4-tracker extended play, Set Me Free, and a year later he released an 11-tracker album that captivates with Afro fusion Christian gospel music. He’s cited global talents like Kirk Franklin, among others, as some of his muses. He’s also mentioned that he hopes to create a collection of songs that would impact the body of Christ.
