Music
Image courtesy of the artist.

Lojay Crafts the Soundtrack For the 'Romantic Gangster'

Lojay has taken his claim as one of the new Nigerian artists with the potential to become a superstar. We talk to him about the success of his early projects and his new EP.

After the massive success of his debut EP, LV N ATTN, and the ‘Afro-sexy’ cocktail of well-served hits like "Monalisa" and "Tonongo," Lojay took his claim as one of the new generation artists with the potential to become a superstar. It's a vision he capped off with the highly-successful release of "Monalisa" remix featuring Chris Brown, taking his music to a more global audience currently clamoring for Afrobeats.

Lojay’s music is a captivating mash-up of different genres blended together by his brilliant penmanship—a skill you wouldn't expect from an Afrobeats artist but one he’s eager to show off.

After taking a break to tour his last project—performing around the world’s biggest stages and festivals and working with the biggest names including Wizkid, Ayra Starr, DJ Neptune, Show Dem Camp, and Zlatan amongst others—Lojay is back with a new project, Romantic Gangster.

He’s been teasing fans with singles from the project since last September, including "Canada," a collaboration with Amapiano heavyweights Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, and "Leader." Finally, the new project is here.

We talked to Lojay about life after the success of his debut EP, the songwriting process, and his new Romantic Gangster EP.

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Music
Photo Credit: Savannah Falzarano

Nigeria’s Lojay Returns With 'Gangster Romantic' EP

Lojay's new EP, Gangster Romantic, features seven new tracks from the Nigerian star.

Nigeria’s breakout star Lekan Osifeso Jnr., also known as Lojay, has released a body of work called the Gangster Romantic EP. The superstar, who gained national and international commercial success with previous projects, has unveiled a new EP via Koratori Recordings. The collection, which includes a curation of seven tracks, features heavy-hitting records like “Moto,” “Leader!," and"Canada " featuring DJ Maphorisa, Herc Cut The Lights and Kabza De Small.

Other songs included in the project are “Yahweh,” a hypnotic song that features Lojay’s signature vocals, garnished with icy instrumentals and animated intonations. Another song on the EP is “IYD,” which is a dreamy, easy listen, with percussion influences that heighten the overall musical experience. On “Avalabu,” Lojay brings a dynamo of energy that has come to truly embody the spirit of Afrobeats. On “Ova” the 26-year-old singer closes out the EP, a P.Priime-produced record that ties the entire project together. The EP has influences of Afrobeats, Amapiano, nocturnal R&B, and infectious pop that all bounce off of each other to create a sound that is true to the artist, yet refreshing to the listener.

While discussing the track, Lojay said he didn’t create the EP for a viral moment, he created it for the quality and meaning it would bring to the fans.

“I didn’t make this project because I wanted to have hits out. I made this project, because I wanted people to listen to something they can connect with and hold onto for a long time,” said Lojay. “Of course, you want to do numbers and be on the charts, but that isn’t the point. All I ask is that you listen to the project from beginning to end as one full body of work. There is a reason why I placed all of the songs where they are. I want you to have that experience in unison and just take it in and connect.”

Listen to Lojay’s EP below.

GANGSTER ROMANTIC by Lojay

GANGSTER ROMANTIC by Lojaymusic.apple.com



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