The below editorial was written by Nigerian artist Teezee, breaking down his debut EP Arrested by Love. With features ranging from Davido to Pa Salieu, this project is a strong entry into the global music scene.

For me, I want the world to see Arrested by Love as an action-packed rom-com, comedy, thriller, Nollywood blockbuster. I show a range of emotions in this music that I have only shown a glimpse of before, but this is the first time I let every part of myself really flourish and come to the forefront.

It’s a story about love and finding yourself. A story about exploration, and the highs and lows of a human being—from being a superhero to a supervillain and back. I think that’s what life is all about.

I want people to see this as Teezee showing his vulnerable side. I studied all of the greats like D’Angelo, Don Jazzy, 2 Face, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell, and André 3000. Men who are always pushing the boundaries, always trying to be the most extreme versions of themselves in order for people to understand their art.

Those are the men I respect a lot. Also, some good father figures and that’s super important. The love I have for my son… it’s a huge part to play in this project. The love I have for my woman, love for my siblings, family, friends... Just understanding that process over the last two years and exploring and exploding it.

“Free Me” is the big entrance song that you hear in the beginning of the film that sets the tone. I think this is a hybrid Lagos vibe—it’s an Afro-fusion record. It’s also the first song coincidentally that I recorded for this new project. It’s definitely the oldest demo and I was like, “Yo, I have to bring this back.” It’s close to my heart.

This is what I call that Alté piano sound. Over the last few months, I have just been listening to all the music emerging from Africa. I’ve been so proud, just being pan-African connecting all those dots. Let’s make everyone a part of this bigger picture that we are. So that’s what we did with “DO ME JEJE.” It is produced by Nigerian Alté producer Genio Bambino, South African Amapiano producer KOOL DRINK, British Nigerian rapper Knucks, and a Nigerian artist (myself), connecting all those worlds together.

“NOTIN 2 SOMTIN” is a song inspired by the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs of life. You can start at the bottom one day and still reach the top if you strive, work hard, beat the odds, do numbers, and remain humble. You either come from nothing into something or some people turn absolutely nothing into a big deal. You just have to always stay true to yourself.

Body-positive, all love, just like a typical Afro-fusion pop love record. So “BADI” is a huge ode to the beautiful women of colour around the world. Being a baddie is more than looks. It’s for the hustlers, aunties, mommies, all [women]. “BADI” is inspired by all the amazing women in our lives.

Deto and I are pioneers of this Alté scene and “knocked” is something people always said to us. In Lagos, “knocked” is the equivalent to what “tapped” is in the UK. They will be like, “They dress crazy, they’re insane” because of the style, the fashion, and the sound of the music. Just being different. Deto and I epitomise what conservative Nigerians view as “NOK’D.”

Just coincidentally, NOK happens to be one of the poshest restaurants in the city, in the same place where the most high-fashion brands are sold in the concept store ALARA. We’re the first to shoot a video there, so it was good to see the two worlds connecting. We put together a Nollywood high-fashion short film showing a day in the life of the knocked crew and it encapsulates what we are about.

No matter the background we are all from, you can go to any place and still shine and become a star. That can be said for Deto and me. We took our talents outside and came back home to a more acclaimed and acknowledged level so we just want to celebrate that.

“ZAC CHAOS” is the full name of one of the characters I live through on the EP. He is the party starter, he’s the rager, he’s the rocker explosive being that we all have [inside]. The devil on the shoulder that will be egging you on to explore. But also that [darkness] is important to utilise. I want people to know the good and the bad both make you who you are.

“DRK SKN” is connecting with my British African brothers. It’s just us professing the importance of dark skin, how we represent our women. Being real to ourselves and celebrating our people and giving dark-skinned men and women an opportunity to feel good about their colour.

“ANCESTORS” is a special one to me. It’s one of the tracks I worked on the longest because it was of such high importance. I was a big Pa Salieu fan before we met and we just became really good friends. He’s a long-time collaborator.

We did so many songs and versions of this to finally get this song to where it is. So I was super happy about this. It’s a record that really connects to roots. I want people from all around the world to understand that your ancestors are speaking for you. It’s a dreamer’s song, and I am a dreamer and I’m here to say that anything you believe is possible. That took me a long time to figure out but now I know I have to spread the message to everyone.

“NEW GOVERNMENT” is the final track, the outro. I love this song. I recorded it in Ghana with my boys Prettyboy D-O and Kofi Mole. I’m always about connecting the dots. Kofi Mole is one of the artists I’ll say is an Alté pioneer in Ghana doing the same thing we’re doing, so we mirrored ourselves and it worked.

Black excellence, it’s in our genes. We reign supreme.

Photos by Jack Bridgland.

Teezee's 'Arrested by Love' In His Own Words