interview:CKAY
Interview BY amrit kambo
Whether you know him as Africa’s Boyfriend, the man behind the global hit Love Nwantiti, or simply as the artist who makes heartbreak sound beautiful, CKay has become one of the most vital voices in Afrobeats today.
With Love Nwantiti, he helped launch Afrobeats onto the global stage—breaking records, crossing borders, and proving that great music and storytelling can resonate anywhere. Driven by a mission to push African music forward in a way that’s fresh, bold, and different, CKay shows no signs of slowing down.
Now, with the release of his latest EP CKay The Second, he invites us into a new chapter of his journey. Drawing on global influences—from Middle Eastern scales to Spanish guitar—the project is full of sonic surprises and raw emotion.
We caught up with CKay to talk growth, letting go, reconnecting with home crowds—and why, even in the chaos of the music industry, faith and self-belief still matter most.
Hi CKay! How are you?
I’m good! In a great place—mentally and all around. I’ve been recording music—well, I’m always recording music! Aside from it being my job, it literally keeps my soul alive.
We’re so glad to hear you’re in a good place and that the music is flowing. Huge congratulations on your new EP, CKay The Second! What does this body of work represent to you at this point in your creative journey?
Thank you! I made this EP at a pivotal stage of my life. It marked me letting go of a lot of situations from my past that weren’t adding to my growth anymore. It represents letting go, but also a continuation of CKay. CKay The First was me introducing myself to the world—now, I’m continuing that story.
So emotionally, the project centres around evolution. How did the creative process start for you—musically speaking?
I always try to express myself in a way that accurately captures the emotions I’m feeling. Sonically, I’d say this project still reflects the classic CKay sound, but it’s more mature and technically advanced than people might expect. A lot has happened between CKay The First and CKay The Second, both in my personal life and my career, so I wanted to take things up a notch.
For those who may not be familiar, how would you describe your classic “CKay sound”?
I’d describe it as a blend—African rhythms with emotive chord progressions and instruments. That’s been the essence of my sound since day one. And honestly, me being a Cancer, I tend to express my emotions in very creative ways—music being the biggest one. I feel like my emotions always shine through these interesting chords and rhythms.
I remember when I first heard your music, I used to think of you as “CKay the Chords Guy” because your use of harmony was so unique—especially the way you mix genres and regional influences. We saw it on It’s True with Nora Fatehi, and again on Tey Tey from this new project. Can you talk a bit about that fusion of sounds?
“CKay The Chords Guy” - I like that! I was born and raised in Kaduna, in northern Nigeria—a predominantly Muslim state. The music there has strong Middle Eastern and Islamic influences, and I grew up immersed in that sound. So I naturally found myself incorporating those scales, minor keys, and melodic inflections into my music. It’s just part of who I am.
We’ll be waiting for it! Speaking of your new EP—were there any tracks that changed dramatically from the first demo to the final version?
Again, for sure. I changed the key about a hundred times. It also started out as a solo and ended up with a Sabrina Claudio feature. I just felt she’d be the perfect fit for the vibe I was creating. Tey Tey also went through a lot—it was actually the first song I started, and I always knew it would be the intro to the project. But as the overall tone of the EP shifted, so did the track. Interestingly, Forever didn’t change at all. It flowed out of me so naturally. And then there were songs that didn’t make the cut—not because they weren’t good, but because I believe they’ll be more powerful on a future project. Timing and placement are everything.
And what kind of emotion or mood did you want to leave listeners with after hearing CKay The Second?
I want people to feel good vibrations. To feel the love and positivity I poured into this project. I’ve never wanted to make music that’s too heavy or overly cerebral. I’m a soulful person, but I’ve always wanted to make music that makes people dance and relax.
It definitely comes across as natural rather than experimental, which is rare. Were there any musical influences that came from outside your immediate surroundings as well?
Absolutely. My dad was Anglican and the choir master at our church, so there was always classical music playing. My mum loved pop—Celine Dion, Marc Anthony. My brothers were big into Westlife and Backstreet Boys. And my sisters? Always watching Bollywood films—those movies are full of music and dance! In a Nigerian household, if your sister’s watching something, everyone’s watching it. I really came to love Indian music for its scales, rhythms, and emotion. My musical upbringing was so diverse, and I think that global blend has become part of my sound.
You mentioned earlier that you’re currently recording—can you tell us what you’re working on, or are you keeping things under wraps for now?
Too many bad minded people out there for me to share too much—people love to steal these days! But yeah, I’ve been recording in Houston, Texas, and it’s been a vibe. The music is still good energy, still experimental in a beautiful way. When it comes out, you’ll remember I said that in this interview!
And you’ve been doing that since your breakout. After such a rapid rise to fame, what did you learn—about the industry, and about yourself?
That whole experience really reinforced my self-belief. I proved to myself that I can do this. I also learned a lot about human nature—I saw sides to people that really surprised me.
What advice would you give to creatives who have that same self-belief, but are still waiting for their big break?
You can create your own big break. If you're proactive, smart, and make music that’s worth listening to, the universe will reward you. The first step is being honest—if you can listen to your music and objectively say, “Yeah, this is good,” then you’re on the right track. Then you need people to co-sign your music and also agree that it’s good. Once you’ve got that, you need to show people that you believe in yourself and are willing to work hard. But the most important part of the journey is faith. I’m a very spiritual person—I believe that God listens when we pray. I believed He would do it for me, and He did. In an industry that takes so much from you, you need a strong belief system—whatever that may be.
That mindset has clearly taken you far. As someone now connecting with fans around the world, are there any plans to tour soon?
Definitely. I’ve been performing more in Nigeria and reconnecting with my home base. One of my best crowds was in Abuja—concerts are about energy and connection, and that night, we were all vibing on the same frequency. Paris was another unforgettable crowd. I’m really looking forward to getting back to Europe and performing more of the new material—especially Tey Tey and Forever.
Besides touring, are there any other goals you’re working towards at the moment?
More music and more greatness! Excellence is a big part of my process—I’m a perfectionist, and I’m proud of it. The best things in the world are made by perfectionists.
What does success look like to you?
Success, to me, is setting out to do something—and doing it. Once you achieve one thing, you set a new goal and go again. It’s about consistently pushing myself to reach new heights.
And finally—how would you describe your music in three words?
Sensational, euphoric, and a big vibe!
