Noon Dave…Evergreen gems from Afrobeats’ loverboy

When Noon Dave signed with the Chocolate City Music label in 2021, his fluid Pop-soul fusions spotlighted him as an act to watch out for. Born David Obafemi, the young maverick had been an impressive rising singer, with a unique vocal texture and songwriting.

After joining the label, he showcased his artistry with only three debut songs, Too Late, Brunch, and Hillary, with one song each year from 2021 to 2023, respectively, and still managed to grow a fanbase and highlight his talent among the emerging class of Afrobeats artistes. 

After his slow-burn start, the 29-year-old returned to the airwaves, last month, with his debut extended play, Noon At Noon, garnering fan-favourites like Pressure and Mi Casa, among the four-track record. And, barely a month after, he’s back with another extended play dubbed, Gem, a five-tracker that deepens his display of his singing technique and soothing melodies. 

Across the playlist, Noon Dave tag-teams Jamaican reggae star Projexx, as well as Nigerian pop sensation Oladapo, subtly elevating the groove of the record with the dancehall and Amapiano elements. With a full-length album in the works, Noon Dave continues to beef up his come-up journey with interesting new additions to Afrobeats’ library of romantic neo-pop/soul melodies. 

READ ALSO: Choc City’s Noon Dave returns vibrantly with Hilary 

In this chat with Guardian Music, the soft-toned maestro unlocks the sonic world that keeps him inspired from noon to dusk, unfurling his muses, creative process, dream collaborations, forthcoming debut album, and his mission to build his legacy with the blocks of evergreen music. 

How do you feel right now with this project? 

I’m elated. This is the first major project that I’m putting out. 

How did you discover your musical talents?

Growing up, I used to listen to a whole lot of RnB and Hip-Hop music. My mom also put me on some 70s and 90s musicians. So, having consumed a whole lot of music growing up, I used to sing. There was a day I was walking on the road, and it was the first time I ever thought to write a song. While I was singing it, I heard myself, and I was like, ‘This is amazing.’ I sounded really good. And from that point, I just decided to take music seriously. I remember watching Usher and R-Kelly on TV back then, singing their lyrics, and I thought to start writing my lyrics. I started working on just writing. Looking from then, up until now, I can see that I’ve really grown, and I know I can only get better. 

How did you start professionally?

I started professionally in 2019 when I released my first song, You Do Need Me. Then fast-forward to when I got signed. This producer, Olumba—he’s produced for AQ—used to send my songs to 10Ten, who was the head of A&R for Chocolate City. Although 10Ten had known me for a while, I didn’t know him personally. He had been listening to my unreleased music, and it impressed him. 

Around that time, Chocolate City was looking to sign new artists. Olumba sent some songs I recorded with him to 10Ten, but unfortunately, the entries were closed, and they couldn’t take on more artists at that time. When I released Brunch in 2021, I sent the link to 10Ten, and he was blown away. He asked me to come to Chocolate City for a meeting, and my manager and I went. They took down the song and offered me a signing deal. That’s how I got signed. Blaqbonez also heard my music and played Brunch for the Chocolate City team. He recommended that they sign me, which further solidified the deal. 

What inspired the EP? 

GEM isn’t a random project. Before I got signed, I had been refining my sound. I was a rough diamond. That’s the idea behind the name. I’ve been refining it, trying to get it to the point where it appeals to the Nigerian market. I wasn’t initially an Afrobeats artist. My sound was more RnB and Hip-Hop, with a bit of a Dancehall. It was a mix of different genres before Afrobeats. When I put out Brunch, people liked it, but it was selective. It was compared to the success of Hillary because Hillary is more Afrobeats Nigerian.

Some people loved Brunch but it wasn’t widely accepted. It was a niche sound. So, I had to find a way to balance that. I had to look for a way to incorporate Afrobeat into my sound and blend it, making it sound good. It’s just evolving. 

READ ALSO: Noon Dave serves Brunch in Chocolate City

What were your core messages in the record?

I’ll say it’s a lover boy-themed project that couples can just vibe to. But it doesn’t just touch on romantic love. If you listen to Merry Go, the third song on the project, you can relate on different levels. It’s not just the romantic type of love. It’s open; the way you will relate to it will be different from the way another person relates. 

Tell us about a few memorable sessions in the making of the EP.

The second song, Face Card, was the first single I released before the project. It is more Afrobeats-focused. There’s no RnB on it. The third song, Hold Me, was with Oladapo. I suggested featuring someone on that song. Then my team mentioned Oladapo. I loved his songs, so I reached out to him. We linked up, and it was amazing. The session was great. It was seamless. 

As for the fifth track, Vibration, I was playing my guitar and coming up with ideas when the melody came to me. I didn’t have the full lyrics yet, but I knew I had something. Later, during one of my writing camps, I played the melody for everyone, and we built the song together. Oxy, who produced Face Card, brought in that Dancehall bounce I was looking for, while still adding some Afrobeat elements. When we finished the song, everyone was blown away. It was insane. That Dancehall vibe isn’t common anymore, so it felt nostalgic yet fresh.

How would you describe the strengths of your artistry or your strengths as an artist? What would you say they are?

I’d say I’m versatile. I can blend in with any genre, and I write quite well.

So, what are you looking to do next?

For now, I’m still promoting this one I just released. But I have a lot of ideas saved up on my phone. I’ll just keep [exploring those ideas and releasing more music.]

What’s the vision for your career?

Touring the world, working with bigger brands, and touching the world musically.