Songwriter and singer Preyé has been a musician bubbling under in Nigeria’s R&B space. She has released a few singles over the past year and is ready to make her statement to the world with her debut project, “Don’t Look Down!”
The seven-track EP follows the success of her lead single, “Crayons” which landed her on Spotify’s Africa Month global campaign for Spotify Sounds Of Africa and the song was featured on Billboard as one of the best new R&B singles in June.
Bubblegum Club sits down with Preyé to talk about her EP.
Lee Nxumalo: What does this project mean for you at this point in your career?
Preyé: ‘Don’t Look Down1′ for me, means breaking a cycle, and a start of a new era. This project has been in the works for such a long time; so being able to release it, especially at a time when there is so much attention on the Nigerian and African music scene is amazing. Everything is coming around full circle and the dots are finally connecting. I’m just so grateful that I made it here and that the project is being received well.
Lee Nxumalo: What is the significance of the title ‘Don’t Look Down!’?
Preyé: It’s all about embracing the rush of emotions you feel; be it fear or doubt or sadness or hope, when you are about to do something you really care about. It’s about following and living out your dreams even when you’re uncertain, having a laser focus and doing it scared because your dreams are valid and can come true.
Lee Nxumalo: How long did it take to prepare the EP?
Preyé: Phew! It took a while. I have been preparing this EP since 2017 but my perfectionism meant it had to be at a certain standard for me to feel comfortable releasing it to the world. I was stuck in a place where there were so many songs to pick from, it became overwhelming.
In 2020, I decided to put my fear aside and properly curate this body of work that would become ‘Don’t Look Down!’ It was a journey of self-discovery and it became important for me to create songs that reflected that, and the release for me puts a full stop on a very important chapter of my life. I’m so happy with the seven songs that make up this body of work and happier that people are connecting to the themes the way I do.
Lee Nxumalo: You open the record with “You can Dream, But”. Why did you want to set the tone of the EP with that song?
Preyé: The dreamy and immersive production of the EP intro was very intentional. I wanted the listeners to feel they were entering a new world when they hit play. I chose to keep the lyrics simple and repetitive so the album’s theme, which is about embracing fears, is very clear from the jump and I think we did a good job of that. Crazy thing is, we worked on the intro of the album last. The idea came up during our final mixing sessions and we just went with it and replaced the original intro, one month to release.
Lee Nxumalo: ‘Love Today’ features Ladipoe. Why did you choose to feature him?
Preyé: So I’ve never been a fan of features, in fact, LADIPOE is the first artist I’m featuring on any of my songs. I had written a 2nd verse but the song just never felt complete. I played the beat for my manager and he immediately felt LADIPOE – who we didn’t know at all – would be a great fit. We spent almost a year trying to get LADIPOE’s attention; we went through everyone! But with his busy schedule, we thought it just wasn’t going to work out. One night, 3 weeks to my release, I got a call from my manager that Poe was in the studio recording his verse – I dropped everything, drove for an hour to the studio and the rest is history.
Lee Nxumalo: What do you think he brought to the song?
Preyé: I recorded ‘Love, Today’ in the summer of 2021 after a period of feeling stagnant in my career. It’s a very honest and reflective track and I think Poe’s verse was exactly what I was looking for – it’s personal and he opens up about balancing success with the need to stay true to who he is and that although life could be crazy, there’s always something we can be grateful for. So yes, the relatability Poe brought is something I think fans are connecting with.
Lee Nxumalo: You worked with different producers and writers on this project. How did you manage to maintain sonic continuity?
Preyé: I’ve worked with most of the collaborators on the project for years, in fact, these are some of my closest friends; so as DLD was taking shape we were always on the same page regarding the creative and sonic direction. It took a lot of work and patience and we went through so many drafts but I’m glad it all came together nicely. I am happy with what we made in the end and it just shows that the best things take time.
Lee Nxumalo: You end with possibly the best track on the album with ‘Crayons’. What do you think makes that song special?
Preyé: Both lyrically and sonically, ‘Crayons’ is a special record. It’s an ode to my younger self, on the record I’m drawing inspiration from a more lively and colourful place. It’s that nostalgia, that feeling of simpler times that people key into when they listen to the record. The production and engineering of the song work very well to guide you on that journey of connecting with your inner child.
Lee Nxumalo: What do you hope the audience takes away from the project?
Preyé: I want people to see that Love is powerful! Expressing your love for yourself, be it romantic, platonic, or self-love, is not weak but empowering. We need love in order to survive, Life is Love, and God is love. There is power in vulnerability and showing love to yourself and the people around you. Love is free and love wins.
