Nigerian-American artist Chuckmate continues to expand his genre-defying sound with the release of his vibrant new single 'Medecina'. Blending Latin-inspired rhythms, hip-hop swagger, bilingual lyricism, and an infectious feel-good energy, the track offers another glimpse into his forthcoming EP 'Say It With Ya Chess'.
Inspired by a spontaneous cross-cultural encounter, 'Medecina' transforms attraction, chemistry, and confidence into a cinematic musical experience filled with charisma and momentum.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The piano! I remember being taught to play the simplest of melodies on it like the theme song from the old movie ‘Jaws’ or ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’. Those were always fun party tricks as a kid.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Being Nigerian, I grew up listening to a lot of traditional Naija tunes and anything that would make you move or dance! My musical palette was very well-rounded growing up. As I grew, we played everything from rock to rap. I fell in love with hip-hop/rap at a very young age and found out I had a gift to freestyle and memorize lyrics quickly then recite them, around the age of 8 years old.
What was the first album you remember owning?
My parents had a ton of vinyl albums and cassettes growing up, so as a family we had loads of music at our disposal. My era was more so heavy into burning and dubbing tapes off the net so I was able to get my hands on pretty much anyone poppin’ at the time.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I write all my songs myself and plan to continue doing so. I’m of course open to collaboration as well and have collaborated with other artists already, because so much magic happens when the right artists blend energy & ideas together to collaborate effectively!
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Yes, I tend to keep the instrumental on repeat and just catch a vibe. I pay close attention to how the track makes me feel, and what emotion it evokes & connects to. Then I close my eyes to help clear my mind and start free-styling to pick up the melody and pockets I want to sit in. Sometimes a hook comes first from that, or sometimes a verse or bridge but generally, I do not start writing anything down right away. As I’ve grown as an artist, I’ve realized that those first thoughts/ideas/cadences are generally the strongest and end up being the ones you rock with most in the end. They feel most organic too! The moment that I start writing lyrics down immediately, it seems like those initial strong ideas start to fade a bit. Almost like you start to overthink the process which can stagnate the creativity and fluidity.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Man, I’ve always listened to a plethora of artists. Truthfully, at the moment I’m mostly listening to myself right now just to truly hone in on my craft and sound. I feel like at times, listening too much to what others are doing can distract you from what you’re trying to deliver and put out. Influence is generally a subtle, subconscious thing that occurs over time! So, you’ve got to be careful and intentional with what you consume. But there are a lot of dope artists that got my ear right now which we hopefully can chat about on the next one.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
That’s tough… There’s a lot of talent out there! But if you are saying I MUST name someone, then for now I’d probably say Kanye.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Impact. Really the ability to truly impact. That term is so broad though because I know it can mean so many things in context. But I like to think about impact as something that transcends, that triggers a feeling or emotion, that yields a certain result. The result I hope for is something positive overall. Whether that is something that gets you up and moving, sparks that feeling of getting ya hustle up, grinding, working out, changing or educating someone’s perspective on something or creating that nostalgic feeling that allows one to resonate and remember a beautiful experience they’ve had. Yea all of that!
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part is seeing a lot of people disrespect the craft and the artistry that goes behind it all. I just feel like a lot of artists these days don’t care anymore and are just lazy! Look I get it, everything does not need to be an extravagant production but I’ll always appreciate & respect those that are intentional with their output and attention to detail.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Start before you're ready & don’t give up! Keep working on your craft and find perfection within the journey.
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Chuckmate's new single 'Medecina' is out now. Check it out in the player below.