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When you think of artists coming from Nigeria, the last thing to come to mind is a reserved, off the limelight and discreet newcomer in every aspect imaginable. Yet Serøtonin, believed to be from the Southern region of Nigeria, has triumphed as the next big thing in town without any noise but impeccable music. However, who is this mysterious singer behind the viral song ‘Venus’ featuring faceless?
Introduction
I think it is important to empathize on how private this emerging artist really is. No, seriously, we don’t even know his real name or age. It is widely agreed upon that Serøtonin had his first foot in our algorithm through covers he would share via. TikTok. What made him ultimately stand out from the crowd was his mixture of native languages such as Yoruba, Igbo and even Zulu! And still prevalent in his few music that he has released today. This quickly escalated into a co-sign from one of Tems manager Donawon who invited him to perform at her private listening party. Moreover, legend Davido joined the rank with a follow after Serøtonin covered one of his songs. It is safe to say that if the new kid’s intention was to make us hooked, he inevitably succeeded. Although his collection of covers were breathtaking, it is his own music that made us stay.
Music
With only two official singles (Besides a few features), Serøtonin carries an impressive amount of over 2 millions monthly listeners on Spotify. To best describe Serøtonin’s sound, I believe he sits somewhere between a retrospective Omah Lay and a genre-blending act like Victony. He operates amongst Afro-fusion, African folks and deep soul elements, making him a spiritual force to reckon with. However, where he really got our attention is within his romantic lyrics. Often serenading his muse, Serøtonin will go beyond just to confess and express his love. In the song ‘Faceless’ for example, he sings; “I want to fly you to Puerto Rico” in the first few seconds. Whereas on ‘May 10th,’ he dares to sing; “Let us do what the Gods forbid motor.” Those sweet confessions of love would make any female listeners in awe and it sure did.
Others
There are other aspects that we tend to dismiss; however, seemingly helps Serøtonin’s overall image to stay relevant in a time where attention is the biggest currency. The shells in his dreads, often white ensemble and sombre edits in the few photos he shares via social media all contribute to his mystique. Not only does his aesthetic fit the sound of his music, but also sets a precedent to which his supporters religiously follow. A great example is a snippet he has teased over two months ago with still no release date nor indication of what direction he aims to take next. Many similar artists would be scrutinized for this move; however, Serøtonin’s supporters understand him and everyday builds up the anticipation.
Conclusion
Now that we have a better idea of the artist, what conclusion can be made about Serøtonin? He is a unique artist who prioritizes music over stardom and this decision has benefitted him tremendously. With praises from the industry and a hardcore fanbase, Serøtonin is not falling out of our playlists any time soon. What most would describe as a slow growth, but due to the fact that his talent is undeniable, him choosing to be private doesn’t disturb his outreach to the slightest. Au contraire, it only amplifies it, while he has total control of his image and the pace in which he unveils his singles. Perhaps it is a pathway more emerging artists should consider themselves.
