On the hook of Sakura, the pre-released single from ShineTTW’s new debut project, the singer dips into a piercing falsetto, belting out divine melodies that scintillate the ears, and immediately takes the song to a new level. Some songs only require a pocket of brilliance to catapult them from good to great, and Sakura has that moment.
The stellar performance surprised several listeners (this writer included) and served as an effective appetizer for his debut EP, scheduled for release a week later. ShineTTW is an emerging artist who has been bubbling in the scene and among conscious music consumers. Industry insiders who have seen him up close and personal have been singing his praise.
His single Alinko was popular among a handful of music listeners, but it’s far from what you would describe as a breakout single. ShineTTW went viral earlier in the year after he was abducted by corrupt officers of the Nigerian police force. An unfortunate situation that could have turned out far worse than it did. Fortunately, he has been able to put that behind him and returns with his debut project, The Chosen One.
ShineTTW’s voice is the strongest element of his artistry. It is bright and fluid, allowing him to mold and roll out divine melodies that hypnotize his listener. He utilizes it to devastatingly good effect across the seven tracks on this EP. He is well aware of the potency of his melodies and urges his listeners to listen closely. He sings, “Listen to my melodies; it’s like a place you’ve never” seen before. It is this supreme confidence in his talent that inspires the title of this project. An emphatic and confident declaration that he is THE CHOSEN ONE.
A declaration he repeats multiple times on the opening track, Glory (Chosen One). Aided by lavish production laced with lush instrumentations drawn from a variety of musical stylings and cultures but minimalistic enough to allow his voice to dominate the records, HE crafts a fine body of work defined by multiple moments of brilliant vocal performances. On these songs, he is a preacher of love, displaying his affection by harnessing the power of physical expression to deepen the bond with lyrics that lack cinematic quality and fail to offer a panoramic perspective, opting for a more intimate approach.
“Give me your body, make me chop,” he sings on the enchanting Sakura, a brilliant fusion of Afro-pop and Japanese pop with bubbles of Caribbean percussions infused underneath, another testament to the malleability of Afrobeats and proof that there is more to the genre than we have explored.
He seems to be in awe of her bedroom virtuoso on Standing Ovation, a tale of a liquor-laced encounter ending in a night of excess. While he leaves his imprint on the record, the incredible production work by Deftouch and Bigfish eclipses his performance. It’s the best song on this EP.
Babito is a sensual mid-tempo Afro-pop record celebrating a woman’s body, which is the ultimate masterpiece of creation. He conveys his admiration and reverence for his woman’s feminine beauty before going on to demand that she love him. ShineTTW displays his ability to craft potential hit songs on the Semzi and Bigfish streamer, Hii. An Amapiano-inflected record that shares some similarities with Rema’s Bounce and does not offer anything we’ve not heard before.
He is appreciative of the calm, serenity, and tranquility her existence brings to his life on the Afro-pop and R&B fusion AMG seasoned with soaring guitars and then likens her to the astonishingly beautiful blood-sucking demon on the hauntingly eerie karashika when he seems to realize some of the negative effects of her existence in his life. An impressive closer with a creepily tantalizing atmosphere defined by a chilling melody.
ShineTTW demonstrates in sufficient proportion and showcases why he is highly rated by industry insiders, and he is ready to prove it to the mass market. He gives a good account of himself on this project, displaying his talent and crafting enjoyable songs. His voice shines brightly on this project. It feels like there was a deliberate insularity that placed the utmost importance on his voice, which did not extend to his writing. Not to say the writing is bad; it’s just one-dimensional and explores a singular focus
RATING- 3/5
