It’s not just Twitter, people.
Reaching out and extensively connecting via social media, based on a mutual love and respect for each other’s music, the brewing bromance between young, buzzing artists Eri Ife and Remy Baggins fits the archetypal “we met on Twitter” gist. Eri Ife, who’s based in Ibadan, made a short trip to Lagos late last year, and physically linking up with Baggins was one of the more important items ticked off his list. Remy also made a key reciprocal trip to Ibadan, performing at the New Culture Festival, headlined and curated by Eri Ife.
The duo climbed unto another relational peak this past Friday (May 18th) with the release of a joint EP, YLLW. Speculating on the ease of the working relationship of both artists is an abstract task, but taking a swipe at it, “peachy” might be the best word to describe it, based on the resulting music housed on this collaborative EP.
Effected by the fact that both artists burst with palpable enthusiasm for the entirety of its duration, YLLW romps with an undeniable youthful vigor. Thematically, YLLW is a celebration of the duo’s shared traits; young, talented and fledgling artists hyped about future successes, without ignoring challenges. Both artists stomp this middle ground together, showcasing better and improved molds of themselves as artists and individuals in the process.
In melding the best parts of his scatterbrained 2016 debut mixtape VIV and last year’s ominously sleek eigenrau EP, YLLW features the finest distillation of Remy’s songwriting, yet.
As shown on his fantastic verse on standout selection “B’ori Pe,” Remy channels both gloom and gleam within the same verse, using his mum’s less than desirable reaction at his decision to quit school – in order to become an artist – as motivation and capstone for positivity.
For Eri Ife, who significantly dials down the socially conscious, sometimes messianic writing etched to last year’s debut eponymous EP, he’s both lighter and more robust than he’s ever sounded. There’s less intent to wade through in justifying and relating with his words, even his hook on “B’ori Pe” – which has a communal sentiment attached to it – can be translated as being directed to the man in the mirror.
Sidestepping the somewhat Luddite disposition of his solo work, Eri steps into the present with an endearing, reinvigorated candor. Working with a more rounded artist in Remy, Eri’s laminar, melodic disposition is given an electrifying jolt, and it shows in the extra snap he flaunts on YLLW.
Not only is Eri “keeping it simple” with his songwriting, he’s also “switching it up” vocally, as he posits on opener “Yeah.” Eri and Remy both shimmy around on “Yeah,” (re-)introducing themselves with a transfixing swagger over a tight and sauntering combination of Sir Bastien’s funk guitar riffs, Jaytrix’ smokey bass guitar inflections and Remy’s knocking 808s.
Save for “Bastien’s Interlude,” which still throbs nicely in its iciness, YLLW is filled with gummy bears, an addictive collection of sugary ear worms. Sir Bastien’s extensive work in laying foundational guitar riffs is of marquee importance, and they come in different shapes: from loosening funk (“Yeah”), to whirring rock-centric scratches (“YLLW”) and neo-highlife knots (“My City”).
Tying things together with his stupefying work behind the drum machine, Remy amplifies YLLW’s buzzing energy, slamming out thumping bass patterns and intermittently weaving it with groovy percussions. It would be criminal to sleep on Remy’s precocious piano skills (he’s been playing since about age 5), an ability which he whips out with quite the finesse: from gorgeous, welling keys (“B’ori Pe”) to simple, drooping piano chords (“YLLW”).
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As much as Eri Ife might be the one pegged as being more experimental by stepping out of his comfort zone and more into his partner’s sonic arena, the energy and heavy contact rubs off on Remy, who’s updated ear for sounds leads to his best work yet. It’s apparent that the dynamic between both artists gives them room to jointly explore and grow into their own distinct qualities. They are on the same wavelength, but on different frequencies.
There are visible confluences and parallels, but it’s the uniqueness in artistic nuance, paths and future possibilities that makes the uniting shout of “So much more! So much more!” ring louder and more tangible with each listen.
For Eri Ife and Remy Baggins, The future is YLLW.
Buy YLLW on Selar here.