- Words Liam Cattermole
Rapidly rising vocalist Sekou stakes his claim on Britain's music landscape with the deeply soulful project, 'Out Of Mind'.
Sekou is an artist beyond his years; it’s undeniable. At 18, the musical prodigy sold out shows in seconds and shut down Glastonbury Festival, performing to an awe-struck crowd on the BBC Introducing stage. Cultivating hype while giving himself time to breathe artistically, the Arlo Parks-approved wordsmith is on a one-way route to super-stardom, and yet, his debut project, ‘Out Of Mind’, came out just this week.
The previously released single “Better Man” is a gut-wrenching introduction to Sekou’s deeply soulful sound. An emotional exploration of self-doubt, the track feels biblical, as gospel singers provide a bed of empathy for the artist’s desolate lyricism. Standout cut “Forgiving Myself” picks up the pace with rumbling drums and a percussive edge. The Ashby native’s mood fails to wither, though, as he calls for compassion from someone who fails to share his love
Sekou finds a bossa nova groove on “You and I” before “Too Young” sees him recoiling to the piano for a slice of irrefutable balladry. He seems most comfortable here, as his voice fluctuates between deep croons and passionate growls. “Take me to somewhere where I can be a star” he begs on “You and I”. With an army of TikTok teens discovering their feels in his celestial productions, Sekou won’t need to look very far.