BoySpyce’s reputation precedes him. Possessing unfettered sonic range, svelte vocal prowess, and the sonic grace of a master storyteller, Mavin Records’ latest signee has enjoyed multiple moments of social media virality even as he honed his craft in the academy of one of Africa’s top music labels. Born Ugbekile David Osameke, Boy Spyce’s roots can be traced to the ancient city of Benin in southern Nigeria. However, he was born and raised in Lagos, where family and the endlessly beating pulse of the city’s mainland shaped and inspired his music.
Primed and ready, Mavin Records introduces the world to Boy Spyce- singer, songwriter, storyteller, genre-bender. His first offering, Boyspyce EP, is an oeuvre of 5 songs, replete with ability, talent, charm, and self-assertion.
‘Dreams’, the project’s opener, is a songwriter’s dream. On the song, Boyspyce weaves a melodious tale of growing pains. Dreams is riveting, and a winning track for a self-styled storyteller. Following this is ‘Bad Things’. Sultry, and silk smooth- Bad Things severed the hopeless romantic on the opening track, replacing him with a whole new risqué modulation in persona.
The third song on the EP, ‘Wayo’, opens with jangly guitar strings, chants and a bass line that introduces us to yet another version of Boyspyce. Under the spell of a materialistic lover, on Wayo, Boyspyce infuses ability with pure inspiration, taking the listener on an unforgettable Afropop journey. On the song he sings his readiness to spend all he has on his object of affection. Here too, he leaves nothing unspent in the delivery of this number.
‘Nobody’ is the EP’s fourth track. An effortlessly infectious pop, Nobody had the potential to be a fan favorite. Everyone loves a bouncy, feel-good love ballad with a hook for the ages.
‘Destiny’ is the last song on the project. A perfect landing for the project’s breathtaking crescendo, this one is a pleasant dissonance and an outlier. A motivational tune about the importance of work, Destiny is rich in culture, and inspired by the threads of tradition that the singer grew in.
On the back of a debut brimming with musical excellence, Boyspyce wants to tell his story while acting as a mouthpiece that voices, comforts and inspires his generation and the next.