After spending the last few years cementing himself with a wealth of vibrant outings, UK-based Nigerian artist Ruphc recently returned to deliver his impactful comeback single 'BAD'.
Capturing more of that fresh and enigmatic afrobeats-inspired aesthetic he is known for, 'BAD" makes for a rousing return to form for the artist at the helm. Filled with smooth and immersive textures, a shimmering atmosphere, and his own driven flow layered throughout, he is returning to the fold with one of his most captivating cuts to date.
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?
This one is hard….. thinking I will say, Smooth Criminal by Micheal Jackson. Something about that instrumental got it stuck in my head till date.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Growing up was surrounded by people who loved music from Pop to Hip Hop, Caribbean music, Reggae, highlife, RNB, blues and gospel. However, in my teens, Afrobeats started becoming popular so I started to fall in love with the genre and started consuming more local music than foreign ones.
What was the first album you remember owning?
It has to be 2face’s grass to grace, I was a huge 2face fan, and my dad was too, literally everyone was a 2face fan back in the day. He revolutionised Afrobeats, him and the ex plantashun boiz, Psquare, I got a lot of Psquare albums too and MI, these guys were making music ahead of their time. MI made me fall in love with rap music all over again.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Hmmm…. There are a lot of songs that I wish I had written or was involved in its creation. If I were to pick just one song it would be “Ghost Mode” by Phyno ft Olamide, this song started a whole new wave of indigenous rap in Nigeria. I can’t begin to explain the impact this song had on the Hiphop culture in the 2010s. Another song that I would have picked would be ‘Safe’ by MI, this was the song that got me started on writing raps.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Well, every musician has their unique approach, and mine may sound a bit unconventional. For the past three years, rather than adhering to the traditional method of writing lyrics first, I've developed a distinctive process. I immerse myself in a beat or even embrace silence, allowing inspiration to flow organically. Starting with aimless humming and spontaneous vocalisations, I let the melody evolve naturally.
Once a musical idea begins to take shape, I promptly record the moment using my phone, capturing the essence of the creative spark. I then explore various instrumentals on my laptop, experimenting to find the perfect accompaniment. Sometimes, I go to YouTube to discover a fitting beat for the initial concept, or I just reach out to my producers with raw voice notes of randomness to create a beat. Once I have the right instrumentals, I start recording, and refining the track until it aligns with my artistic vision.
Surprisingly, I postpone writing until the later stages, after listening to the entire composition, I meticulously transcribe the lyrics, making grammatical corrections as needed. Despite its unconventional nature, this method allows me to prioritise the musical essence before delving into the lyrical and written components.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
The problem is I listen to everyone, my music appetite is huge so it’s really difficult to say which artist I listen most to. For example, my top 5 most streamed artists on Apple Music change every year, no one artist makes it into my top 3 every year. This year it was Davido, Omah Lay and Asake, Davido wasn’t even on my top 5 the year before.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Has to be Burna Boy, in my books he is one the greatest showman, I would love to be part of that type of production.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I would say actually have the talent for it and don’t just do it for the fame.
And what is the most frustrating part?
For an independent artist such as myself, the most frustrating part of this hustle is getting your music out there. You could make the best music in the world but if people don’t get to hear it, it is not worth anything and it would slowly kill your morale to keep going.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
One of the best pieces of advice I have gotten as far as music is concerned is to remember that music is just a hobby if you don’t make enough money from it to keep doing it.
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Ruphc's new single 'BAD' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.