Music is an ever-evolving concept, over time, the idea of what music has been, can be, and is; has constantly had to change. In today’s world, we are discovering new sounds. Most of these sounds are deeply rooted in the sounds that came before them, with subjects like sampling coming into the mainstream conversation in genres like afrobeats.
The afrobeats space has music that takes sounds from different times and fuses them with new styles to make a whole new hit. But sometimes, it’s not even a sampling situation, sometimes; it’s a style. From music videos that pay homage to old Nollywood, to songs that sound like they were made years before their time; it is almost glaring that there are a lot of amazing sounds and styles to borrow from in the Nigerian music space.
The advantage a lot of artists have is a vast exposure to the music from different times and different eras. But what happens when an artiste has witnessed several eras and has created music stretched over time? I know you’re not Doctor Strange, so I’ll tell you. When you have an artiste who has made music for over 20 years in Nigeria, what you find in their discography is an evolution of their soundscape. From songs they have made over time, you can easily understand how much music has changed, particularly for the artists who have in their long careers become exposed to newer sounds and have had to incorporate the new knowledge in the music.
There are few of these artists with such longevity in the Afrobeats space. Few artists can actually boast of being active and consistent over a 20-year run. One of the select few, who has remained steadfast to his art, despite his exposure to new sounds and the passing of time is Duncan Daniels.
Duncan Daniels is a US-born Nigerian afropop and afrobeat musician, producer, and songwriter known for his 2009 single "Like This" featuring M.I. But long before that, Daniels had been a hometown hero in the Garden City of Port Harcourt. The influence of the city is on display for all to see in his music and this is exactly where his latest EP The Time Traveler kicks off. The five-track EP is a sonic journey that goes forward and backward in time while finding some sort of middle ground to throw in elements that set Duncan Daniels apart. Everything on the project is either the consequence of proper reflection on a two-decade music career or a deeply ambitious attempt to set itself apart.
On The Time Traveler, Duncan pays tribute to his origins, to the person he has become, and to Port Harcourt Nigeria, the city that is credited as the origin of his musical talents. The track is easy to resonate with as we all have a city where we started our careers and we like to represent at any given opportunity. The idea of having a narrator deliver on the song gives off a poetic feel that is reminiscent of Morell’s ‘Borno’.
Funny enough, both artists have had a very similar career span. A similarity that expresses how only experienced acts can make you feel what they feel for the cities they come from. The choral manifestation on the track unfolds as a sonic masterpiece, where each vocal strand, is meticulously crafted and is passionately delivered. The best decision on this project was deciding that the choir would not be limited to just one track. As soon as the first track ends, you begin to miss the choral vocals but to our pleasure; they’re back on "PurpleVille".
After attending Duncan Daniel’s Listening Party hosted by Bandcamp yesterday, it’s safe to say The Time Traveler is very well on his way to leading with the Big Boys of afrobeats and afrofusion. Duncan Daniels has truly arrived at a time in the world where it is necessary to show that diversification of sound can bring evolution forward. While Duncan Daniels may have missed a nomination last week at the GRAMMYs, we see this album taking flight in the near future. Duncan Daniels is an innovative pioneer of the Afrobeat sound, his touch is undeniable. Stay tuned for our album review!