Emerging artists like LB have continued to be an integral part of the evolution of Nigerian music as their contribution adds sonic diversity and ingenuity to the scene.
One artist who is set to bring his unique touch to the Nigerian Afropop scene is the emerging star LB, who’s crafting music that effortlessly resonates with listeners.
Like several other music stars, his first love for music was fanned by his immediate environment, where, as a kid, he grew up around a family who loved music. Having been exposed to music across different continents, LB soon finds himself falling in love with music, which has become his easiest form of expression.
“I grew up in a family that listens to music a lot. Growing up, I listened to a lot of R&B, Dancehall, Hip Hop, and even Highlife.”
LB’s earliest attempt at honing his skills came in the highly musical environment of the church, where his love for music drove him to join the choir.
“When you grow up in the church and spend a lot of time in the choir, it shapes the way you understand and make music,” LB says about the role of the church in aiding his artist development and his foundation as an artist.
He started as a drummer in the church before being talked into singing by his pastor’s wife. After making the switch to singing, LB fell in love with the art, which became his safe place.
2baba, Wandecoal, Sean Kingston, Dbanj , 9ice, and Neyo are some of LB’s earliest influences. These influences highlight his fervent love for music that cuts across different genres and superstar personalities. It’s these influences and love for music that combine to shape his decision to pursue his passion professionally.
“I have made a lot of sacrifices for my passion for music, with the most important being my time. Back then, in school, I always chose the studio over class because music was a haven for me. I have also sacrificed my resources and taken a lot of shit in my journey,” LB says about the price he has had to face in his desire to share his talent with the world.
These sacrifices are indeed bearing fruit, as his latest single, ‘Mula’ has enjoyed some level of impressive success. The single, which is an Afropop record that combines pop melodies with tingling highlife strings, promises a good time to a beautiful damsel, while the composition offers the same to listeners.
“Mula is a happy song. A song for men to appreciate their women and spoil them as they deserve,” LB says on the single that showcases his seamless ability to mould infectious melodies and deliver party-starting records.
With the impressive success of his single ‘Mula’, LB intends to bring the feel-good message to life through the music video scheduled for later in 2023. The music video isn’t the only thing he has in the works, as he plans to drop an EP in the coming months.
When quizzed about the artists he would like to someday collaborate with, LB shares that he would love to work with artists whose music inspires him, and this includes Victony, Oxlade, Burna Boy, Rema, 2Baba, 9ice, King Promise and Sean Kingston.
As Afrobeats continues to enjoy global success, new artists can be expected to emerge with refreshing sounds. He is set to be among the sensational talents that will light up the Afropop scene.
