{"id":66202,"date":"2020-11-24T17:57:58","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T16:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=66202"},"modified":"2020-11-24T18:06:55","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T17:06:55","slug":"reekado-banks-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/reekado-banks-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Reekado Banks gives fans what they\u2019re waiting for"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Off the Record<\/em>, Reekado Banks first project since his 2016 critically acclaimed SPOTLIGHT<\/em> is packed full of features and good vibes despite personal controversy and a world in turmoil.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, better known as Reekado Banks<\/a>, describes his new EP Off the Record <\/em>as, “something to meet the appetite of the fans because I haven\u2019t really dropped music in the last two years”. <\/em>Known as a consistent hitmaker, producing jams such as “Like” featuring Tiwa Savage<\/a> & Fiokee and “Problem” off his 2016 critically acclaimed album SPOTLIGHT<\/em>, Reekado Bank\u2019s fans, aka Reekaddicts, have become restless online, pleading for new music and reacting in jubilation when Reekado drops info on upcoming releases. While Banks describes the project with some modest distance, the features on the album, which include superstars Tiwa Savage and Mr Eazi<\/a>, speak to the stature of anything he touches. While Banks may have an album on the back-burner, Off the Record <\/em>is 6 tracks of positive vibes and a welcomed return into the soundscape by one of Nigeria\u2019s foremost up-and-com- ing pop stars. \u201cRora\u201d which was the first single off the project released in early September is already one of Banks\u2019 biggest hits. We spoke with Reekado Banks about the EP, his choice of features, some recent controversy, Nigeria\u2019s political climate and more to introduce the release of Off the Record<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“All of the collabos are made out of love. We didn\u2019t want to push stuff. I decided to work with my closest people on this”, <\/em>says Banks. Originally 7 tracks, one of the songs was cut from the release due to recent controversy with none other than WizKid<\/a>. When Banks tweeted at WizKid about the release of their collaboration \u201cOmo Olomo\u201d in October, WizKid responded in a fury of negative comments, claiming Banks was distracting Nigerians from the prescient EndSARS movement. WizKid has since released his album Made in Lagos <\/em>and Banks, who responded with silence, postponed his EP to Nov. 27th. The bizarre interchange was a disappointment for fans who were looking forward to hearing the duo\u2019s work. “I\u2019m really just wondering what sparked in WizKid\u2019s head”, <\/em>Banks says, “He overreacted and that was just really silly of him, but it is what it is<\/em>“. Since we spoke Reekado added the track \u201cHappy Yourself\u201d to complete the EP in the absence of the collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When asked about the End Sars<\/a> movement, Reekado says “it\u2019s a good time for us, as Nigerian youths I\u2019m really proud of this step we collectively took”. <\/em>Banks can\u2019t help but see opportunity even amid the chaos and tragedy, “In our voices, in our behaviour and reaction to the government\u2019s resistance against the peaceful protesters who were carrying on I think it\u2019s the beginning of \u2018amazingness\u2019. 2023 is the next presidential elections and everybody already has it in mind that our voices are going to be united. It just seems like a brighter day for Nigeria soon.” <\/em>While Banks and WizKid may have different philosophies on how to voice their support, Reekado has used his platform for good, sharing important information and giving vocal support of protestors, “It is now just a responsibility because the government isn\u2019t taking responsibility. People still have to look up to others and it only makes sense for public figures like me actors and comedians to play their parts since the government has decided not to. So, we\u2019re standing for the people”.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all of Off the Record <\/em>is marred in controversy. Banks has invited a list of frequent collaborators to get the job done including Tiwa Savage with whom Reekado released his first single \u201cTurn it Up\u201d. On collaborating for the track \u201cSpeak to Me\u201d Banks recalls, “I called Tiwa up, she came to my house, we linked up in the studio and it was just a good time”. <\/em>The track, perhaps the strongest on the EP, has an expansive sound that let\u2019s both artists harmonize on a vibey duet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next up on the featuring list is lesser known artist Attifaya, who makes a big appearance on \u201cYou Dey Mad\u201d. “Faya is my boy, he’s one of the new artists I\u2019m gonna be working with, we\u2019ve been making music for about 4-5 years now <\/em>Banks says This sound you\u2019re feeling is one of them old ones to be honest because he has fresh fire. We\u2019re currently working on an album w\/ two artists right now. Faya is one of them. Faya is really talented and I\u2019m just happy he\u2019s finally going to be heard”. <\/em>\u201cYou Dey Mad\u201d is the heaviest take on the EP, that explores a darker, minimalist side of the Banks universe that\u2019s more than welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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