Azekel

A progressive force in R&B, Azekel steers clear of conventional romantic themes in favor of deeper explorations into maturity, personal identity, self-value, emotional lows, and the weight of raising a family. The Nigeria-born, England-rooted artist cultivated a boldly exposed vocal approach that stands apart from his strong falsetto. During the middle of the 2010s he built early traction through several brief independent releases that caught the ear of Prince and opened doors to joint work with Massive Attack on “Ritual Spirit” and Gorillaz on “Momentz.” Those steps reached a peak in 2018 when he issued his debut album Our Father on his own imprint. Following a period of reduced activity he returned with the reflective, stylistically broader mixtape Analyze Love, distributed by emPawa Africa in 2023.

Azekel Adesuyi spent his first three years in Nigeria before relocating with his family to East London. There he immersed himself in a wide range of musical styles, mastering guitar and keyboards on his own and progressing into songwriting and production. Audience interest began to form in 2013 after he dropped the paired tracks “That Feeling” and “A Song to an Unborn Child (Delilah)” alongside the Circa EP, the inaugural offerings on his independent THNDRLGHTNG Recordings label, later known as Thunderlightning. He previewed his next project, 2015’s Raw, Vol. 1, with the pulsating “New Romance,” a track that felt forward-looking yet removed from mainstream R&B expectations. Prince, a central influence, publicly voiced support via social media.

His visibility grew steadily over the following years. Azekel shared writing duties and appeared on the title track of Massive Attack’s 2016 EP Ritual Spirit, joined the group on tour, and released Raw, Vol. 2. Additional exposure arrived through dates with Banks and contributions to Gorillaz’s 2017 album Humanz, where he supplied background vocals on “Momentz” and featured on the deluxe track “Midnite Float.” He then concentrated on his catalog, issuing three thematically varied digital EPs across the opening months of 2018 that he largely recorded alone, with select co-production and instrumental support from Redinho and Joe Armon-Jones. Those releases were later compiled and reordered as the November 2018 album Our Father, which included the previously unreleased closing piece “Waiting to Die.”

A measured stream of solo singles and guest appearances marked the ensuing period. One standout was the understated duet “Learn to Love” with Anaiis. Material begun in 2020, including that track, shaped Analyze Love, his debut mixtape. Presented in 2023 as the opening installment of a planned trilogy, the project was executive-produced by Om’Mas Keith and arrived via Mr. Eazi’s emPawa Africa imprint. Recording sessions took place across Nigeria, Ghana, London, Los Angeles, and Paris, resulting in a production aesthetic that likewise transcended geographic boundaries.