Nigerian Superstar Tekno returns with New single

On Sep 7, 2023

Nigerian Superstar Tekno, released his smash hit ‘Pana’ in 2017 which brought with it a stunning bounce that would change Afrobeats’ sonic direction.

His use of punchy kicks, percussions, Highlife chords, and inimitable deployment of colloquialism (lamba) in making simple, straightforward, and easily digestible yet richly arranged music sets him apart.

I really like the project. No skips https://t.co/zf4MWjRQDN

— MR ROLLOUT©️ (@OreoluwaPeters) September 6, 2023

Pana’ would go on to become a smash hit for its musical novelty and the excitement it offers would be recreated in subsequent records like ‘Yawa,’ ‘Go,’ and ‘Jogodo’.

Amidst his electrifying 2017 run, Tekno lent his talent to Davido for whom he crafted the smash hit ‘IF’ that repositioned Davido for success after a forgettable international stint with the ‘Son of Mercy’ EP.
Such is Tekno’s emphatic influence and contributions to the evolution of Afrobeats. This influence goes unnoticed, especially due to his seeming inability to curate a convincing body of work.
The reality of this risk was captured by renowned Culture Journalist Ayomide Tayo (AOT2), in a tweet where he opined:

“Tekno might have gone down as the forgotten man in Afrobeats if not for this well-arranged, spectacular album from him…”

At the time when the ovation is lowest and listeners may have forgotten about his genius, Tekno delivers his sophomore album ‘The More The Better,’ a defining project that etches his name in the annals of Afrobeats history.

For his sophomore album, Tekno showcases the genius embedded in simplicity. A quality which make him one of Afrobeats’ most brilliant minds.
When he announced himself on the mainstream with the Davido-assisted hit single ‘Holiday’ in 2014, Tekno’s music struck Nigerians as one that doesn’t demand much from listeners. This overt simplicity in production, lyrics, and delivery led some listeners to hurriedly dismiss it as unsophisticated yet for listeners who are willing to pay closer attention, Tekno offers impressive musicality.

If there’s a major advantage in the simplicity of Tekno’s music, it is that it allows for relativity across demographics such that when the record sticks it goes on to become a nationwide hit. In this writer’s opinion, the inherent disadvantage is that Tekno’s music was incapable of nailing down a reliable listener base. Hence his music only satisfies the desires of listeners whenever he crafts sounds that arrest their attention.
After failing to put out a body of work during the commercial run he enjoyed year 2017 – 2018, it was going to take another round of brilliance for Tekno to recreate that moment. When he put out his debut album ‘Old Romance’ in 2020, the album completely fail to deliver the nostalgia of his commercial peak nor did it offer the novelty to kick off another run.

It took a while before Tekno would recover from this slump as he suffered vocal issues that required medical attention. Between 2021 and 2022 Tekno released different records but it was ‘Buga,’ his partnership with Kizz Daniel that reminded listeners of his genius.

Having gained the attention of listeners, Tekno quickly followed up with a series of singles and guest appearances that would all lead to the release of his sophomore album ‘The More The Better’.

Like the quintessential Tekno music, the album doesn’t require any mental calisthenics to contextualize it or capture his state of mind.

Pulse/O.O