Awe Babalola, popularly known as Trill Xoe, is a producer, musician and DJ from Lagos, Nigeria. You’ve definitely heard of him before. Whether it’s when he dipped his heart in ice or scoured the globe searching for the love of his life. Although he mainly makes Hip-Hop, Alternative music, Amapiano and Afro-Fusion, his devotion to pushing boundaries shows in the range of his music. His songs span the charts of Nigerian music, encompassing a myriad of genres and sounds.
Trill is an immensely expressive person. His emotions, perception and passion present themselves in his music constantly, lyrics or not. That’s expected of someone who has been making music since they were 15. He started his initial romance with music as a drummer in church. Unsurprisingly, he’s now one of the best newcomers in his field, with how much time he’s had to master his craft. It’s also somewhat ironic how many people find their love for music through the church. Aside from music, Trill describes himself as a nerd. He cites his passion for tech and games in this understanding of himself. While including a seemingly unrelated dislike of seafood.
Trill’s outstanding sonic ear proves itself through every song he touches. As a producer or musician, the quality of whatever he puts his name to is always impeccable. Often, a story is told with the music as an accompanying tune or the lyrics as the medium of expression. Trills’ aim is to make ageless music, perpetual in its ability to appeal to any audience at any time. Even when he’s no longer with us. His desire to curate a positive legacy stems from his connection to music and how it helped him through his dark times. Even going as far as saying it saved his life, keeping him sane when he was at his lowest.
When it comes to his creative process, apparently baring it all is both metaphorical and literal for Trill. He enjoys making music shirtless. Anytime he feels the urge to create, the shirt comes off. Extremely hilarious but real. You never know what is blocking your chakra. Trill seems to have it all figured out. Due to where he started out, compared to where he’s currently at, he cites himself as his own inspiration. Looking back at all his achievements, he constantly drives himself to excel.
Trill recently dropped a project titled ‘LUCENT,’ in May. It perfectly showcases the dynamism of his music and how he expresses himself. With a grungy, dark vibe as the theme of the entire project, he still manages to keep his listeners interest with his captivating melodies and storytelling. Listen for yourself and let us know how you feel about it! I expect big things and many more wins for Trill.
All photos are taken by @shotbyabdullahi on Instagram.
