Afrobeats is changing, but its evolution is the kind to be welcomed in a loving embrace. Before, the genre’s output could be tagged as monotonous. These days the sound we’ve been accustomed to is being challenged and pushed to new boundaries by numerous artists, some already in the public eye while others are making their way in that direction. Purple64 is one of many in the latter category. But his trademark style and sound, well captured in his latest single, “Pull Up,” means he is one of very few in his relatively uncharted lane of fusing Afrobeats with the Western Emo sound.
Born Desmond Ifidon in the ever-busy, creative capital of Lagos, Purple64 was blessed with the gift of making music. However, he was also cursed with an incurable obsession with this art form. Not even his years bagging a Business Administration degree from Babcock University or his current office job have been able to keep him away from music long enough. In fact, the master plan for Purple64 remains that music takes centre stage in his life, and his primary goal is still ‘shaping the future of music in Africa and beyond
Purple64 stands apart for his honesty and innovation. Considering the subgenre within which his music exists, those are particularly good traits to have. Emo music is all about creating an emotional connection between artists and fans, and that’s best done with honest and stripped-down lyrics. The subgenre also demands that the artist be open to infusing as many sonic elements as needed to get the point across. Purple64 has shown a good understanding of his assignment across his eight singles so far, with “Sweet Rosie,” “Magician,” and “Incomplete Heart Vibes” being the pick of the bunch. His 6-track debut EP “Deception” is another great example of the artist’s expanding vision.
Certainly, any avid music listener with a thirst for something different from the mainstream Afrobeats can quench that thirst by giving Purple64 a chance. The artist fixed the three-year lag in his discography with a new track titled “Pull Up” last June. His return was characterized by a more refined approach to production, leading to his most crisp sound yet. The lyrics, through which he invites a love interest to swing by, are delivered with the aid of catchy flows and melodies. Overall, it’s a decent effort that holds the promise of much more to come. Check out his latest single and more on your preferred streaming platform for a breath of fresh air.
