The music genes are flowing in Burna Boy’s family as his sister, Nissi releases her debut single, Pay Attention. Is she about to get to Burna’s level? We’ll have to wait and see, but we’ll get this first dose and digest. ‘Pay Attention’ is the thought-provoking debut single from exciting new 22-year old London based Nigerian singer, songwriter and painter Nissi, who is also the youngest sister of award-winning superstar Burna Boy, and the grand daughter of veteran octogenarian music critic/broadcaster Benson Idonije. The stirring and poignant track is also the lead single from her forthcoming debut EP titled Downtown, which is due for release this October. Produced by Cornel Sorian and written by Nissi, ‘Pay Attention’ is a reflection of “the chaos that is our world today”, according to the London native. The record sees Nissi speaking out against the killings, brutality, and discrimination based on race, gender, religion and ethnicity, which have been rife, all around the world this year, and calling out for more solidarity among people. Opening with samples from the opening monologue of the 1986 Fela Kuti classic ‘Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense’, ‘Pay Attention’ takes a politically charged stance from start to finish. In the middle of it all, Nissi also highlights her strong song-writing dexterities and commanding vocal display, with superb Pop, Jazz and Reggae sensibilities. Speaking about what motivated her to write ‘Pay Attention’, Nissi opens up about a possible antithesis to the discrimination and hatred, “we’re supposed to pay attention to each other. If more of us had the patience to get out of our own way to see where other people are coming from, then maybe just maybe, we’ll be able to understand and empathise with them”.
