Get Familiar with Chummix and His Debut EP Boy Meets Blue
The Nigerian singer/producer speaks about his project and career.
Everyone has a beginning.
For Nigerian up-and-coming singer, Chummix, his foray into music started as a record producer while in high school. “I used to send beats to Endia of the Grip Boyz and we worked on a couple of songs that never got released,” he says. “Got tired of people sitting on my beats so I decided I was just going to start singing.” In 2017, Chummix, born Chibo-Ofodile Sochukwuma and a native of Anambra State, put out his debut single “Bahamas,” which he confesses was “so trash.” “The beat was fire though, I produced that,” he adds. Since 2017, Chummix has followed up “Bahamas” with three singles—2018’s “Your Love,” 2020’s “Perfect Timing” and 2021’s “I Want This Forever.”
Last year, Chummix released the culmination of years of work with his five-track debut EP ‘Boy Meets Blue.’ Nigerian act Peruzzi is the only guest appearance on the project that features Chummix’s smooth vocals and R&B-inflected Afrobeats rhythms. “I recorded this EP roughly one to two years ago,” he says. “I was never going to put it out due to how old it was, but my friends said I should nonetheless, so I just decided to do it.” According to Chummix, the recording process was a breeze; instead of writing the lyrics, he sang them as they came to his mind. “…and if it does not make sense I just delete and try again,” he adds.
On the opener “Memories,” Chummix recollects a lover and the times shared with her that he cannot get out of his mind. “Whoever said cocaine was the worst drug/Ain’t ever been in love,” he sings. He surrenders to his lover’s charm on “Deny,” singing, “Can’t deny/Feels like I’m making love through the night/Feels like I’m making love in the sky.” On the EP, Chummix takes the backseat on production duties, passing the responsibility to Enobeatzz (“Deny”), Skimzea (“Zombie” & “My Head), Spromson (“Memories”) and Brizy Beatz (“sideman”).
While in high school, a friend criticized Chummix for always mixing his alcohol with Sprite/Coke and began calling him Chummix. The name stuck and he ran with it. After high school, he studied Business Management at Aston University in the UK. “Was not for me but I had to still do it,” he says; he also reveals that he has a twin sister “who’s been a supporter from Day 1.” He names the Nigerian rapper and record producer Jesse Jagz, who grew up listening to, as a major influence on his music. “Till this day I still bump ‘Jagz Nation, Vol.1. Thy Nation Come,’ which is my favourite Nigerian album ever,” he reveals.
On “Zombie,” Chummix swims in the confusion caused by the misdoings of his lover. He feels betrayed and taken for granted. “You’re too demanding (manding)/You dey command me (mand me)/Come be like say I be zombie zombie zombie,” he sings. He and Peruzzi pay homage to the specialness of their lovers on “My Head” as the latter sings, “Face card on decline/Perfectly designed/Hopefully you mine.” Chummix states that what the liked about working with Peruzzi, who he began a closeness with after the DMW act liked his listened to and liked his song “I Want This Forever,” was the seamlessness of their sounds. “Both our sounds go together. He doesn’t feel or sound out of place stepping into my world,” he says.
For Chummix, the title of his EP holds significance. “Boy Meets Blue refers to me being in the face of sadness and heartbreak which was how I felt when I made this project but I’m in a much better place now,” he says. He then adds that the songs on the project were inspired by his experiences in life. “I feel like there is no point in singing on topics I have no connection with. Anything I put out is real life, my life.”
On the project closer “Sideman,” Chummix grapples with the realization that he is the second option in the heart of his lover. “Lie lie/Boyfriend number 2/I’ve been living with the fact you’ve got another man,” he sings. Still, he tries to convince her to choose him over his competitor. There lies the heart of ‘Boy Meets Blue’: a heartbroken man pinning for companionship even when that companionship is of the toxic kind and offer more harm than benefit.
An independent act, Chummix is determined to ignore distractions and keep his focus on the music and work “till the wheels fall off.” He also has his plans for 2023 set in motion, with Enobeatzz producing his upcoming singles. “…my next releases are basically ready; I record music every day, so I have way too many songs,” he says. “I could drop 2-3 EPs right now but obviously I must pace myself. I plan on dropping a new single [in] early 2023 though.”
Go HERE to stream Boy Meets Blue.
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