Based in Gent, Belgium, Nigerian singer April Maey emerged strongly during the lockdown months of 2020 with her EP “Ticket to Anywhere” which has gained over 1 million streams across music platforms. In August 2020, she released an EDM remix of standout track “Starry Night,” following up in November with a trippy animated video which introduced her delicately woven lyrics and poetic foundations to a broader audience. April Maey is proving to be an artist with great intentionality to every piece of content she puts out, gradually solidifying her in the alternative soul & R&B scenes in Nigeria and Belgium.
April’s latest single “Sweatshirt” (accompanied with a video) holds a relatable message to individuals who cherish being comfortable in their skin, their style, and the people around them. Speaking about the essence of the song, April says,
“It’s about self confidence. I feel a lot of pressure when it comes to fashion and the essence of my identity. I’m not the type of person who necessarily “fits in” The point of this song is “it’s okay” you don’t have to wear designer brands or anything. Stay comfortable, and stay YOU. And apart from that, you shouldn’t be pressured to be anybody other than yourself.“
The video begins bright and yellow with April carefreely sipping a milkshake, continuing to show a post-covid get together, which satisfies the longing for company experienced in the long months away from physical contact with friends. They walk through the streets in masks (a covid fashion staple), April and her friends are dressed in comfortable clothing, sweatshirts, loose fitting pants and sneakers and hit the lake. The Perrellex-Directed music video portrays an easygoing, energetic young woman who is not shy of expressing who she truly is.
Speaking about the video she says
“It’s basically me being myself with people I love and care about. We wanted to have fun and we did, even while creating the video. The first scene is a press conference where I had to defend myself and who I AM. I was mad about the questions they asked me, I was upset that I had to defend myself, I wasn’t having it. So fuck it, it immediately switched from be being uptight, a diva, to me just smiling and living my best life with people I trust.”
April Maey is gradually becoming a prominent young female Nigerian voice making her mark in an increasingly diversifying music industry. It’s safe to say she’s poised for a bright future.
