The release of a debut EP oftentimes signifies the emergence of an artiste into the music industry. But for rising artist Kevwe, this was tracing back her calling and going all out in it. After dabbling around the music industry for years, she made a pact with herself to do what she always wanted — releasing her debut EP, Signals.

In this conversation with BSide, Kevwe opens up about fear, self-expression, love, sexuality, and the emotional shifts that shaped Signals. On this 4-track project, she sends a personal transmission to the world: I’m here. I’ve always been here.

Congratulations on your latest project. Your music reflects raw emotions and vulnerability. Is this deliberate, or do you write based on narrative first? 

To be very honest, I don’t know how to answer that, because my music-making process is the most random thing. But I would say that every song I’ve ever made so far, down to the unreleased ones, always has a touch of how I feel in that moment. Annoyingly, it’s usually around the themes of love, self-love, or just love in general. And meeting people, which in real life, I find the hardest part of myself to express. So I think I use my music to express a side of me that I feel less expressive in.

Let’s talk about your debut EP, Signals. What does the title mean to you?

Signals is my way of saying, “I’m here.” Kind of how Batman sends a signal that he’s there protecting Gotham. I feel like I’ve been floating around the music space for a bit, and it seems Kevwe isn’t serious about it. So with Signals, I’m literally putting out my Batman signal. It’s very easy for people to just see me as a host and a bunch of other things that I’ve accomplished in the entertainment space over the years. But I really want them to see me as an artist. So I’m sending a signal that I am an artist.

You posted that Signals has been something you have been putting off for a while. So, why now? 

It’s easy to be afraid of the future. And to be afraid of the future in a very interesting way, that you know it could be great. But at the same time, you’re nervous that what if you put everything into it — especially with music — and it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined? I used to rest on this slippery slope for a while. But I realized more and more that death can come literally at any minute. Do I want to live a life where I didn’t fulfill a dream I’ve had since I was a kid? So on the second of January, I said, “Let’s drop this.” If we don’t drop it now, I’ll keep giving myself excuses not to go all in on my dream. So yeah, that was why.

Signals feel rooted in emotional awareness. What were you responding to when you began the EP, and what did you have to stop ignoring to finally complete it?

The first song I made for Signals was “Night.” Before then, I was just making heartbreak music. And over the years, I’ve learned that you accept the love you think you deserve. I used to be in a place where I thought I only deserved shit, and I couldn’t express the kind of things I wanted without sounding like a simp. So with “Nights,” I was in charge of that narrative, telling somebody to come into my space and relax. It was about me making them feel good, rather than waiting on somebody to make me feel good. It was the first time I was being expressive. I was speaking from a place of power. So when I started Signals, it was a shift in the narrative in my head. Before you could win, you actually had to see yourself winning.

You can hear that shift across the EP. “Loving” leans fully into self-love. “Night” feels like a confident introduction, calmly telling someone who I am. “Beremole” is me owning my sexuality and allowing myself to be playful and flirtatious in a way I never would have before. With “Confusions,” I acknowledge that I might meet someone and only want something casual, but by the second verse, I’m like, damn, maybe I’m falling for real, and that’s okay. That’s why I called it “Confusions.” Whether it’s a one-night stand or a long-term thing, you still want to be true to killing them with the goodness that is. At the core of it all is honesty, being open, bold, and intentional with how I show up for people, whether it’s casual or long-term.

Speaking of “Night (Ou Ou Ou),” walk us through the collaboration with Laime and why it had to be him on the track.

Laime is my brother. I’ve known him for 13 years. When I was in uni, I would go around challenging boys to see who was the hardest rapper, and Laime was one person I couldn’t beat. We’ve just kept in touch over the years. He’s also been a part of Kevwe and Cam a couple of times, and it was just a blessing.

So when I recorded “Night,” it was literally a take-off. I have this producer, Maazi. I love him so much. He came from Abuja and knew nobody in Lagos. One of his wishes was to work with Laime. It was a big deal for him because, you know, Abuja boys, Apex, PsychoYP, all of that. During the night we worked on “Night,” I told him, “Omo, na Laime go go on this track o.” Maazi told me to call him, but I wasn’t sure he would pick up. Because at the time, I felt like he was too big to pick up my call. I mean, a couple of my guys don’t pick up my calls anymore. I called him, like, bro, how far? That was the easiest conversation I ever had in my life, and it just felt like it was meant to be. Maazi and I packed up and went to record him. He did that verse in one take, and it just felt like a full circle moment. It felt like family coming through for me. So, yeah, that’s about it.

Are there moments from creating Signals that you hold especially close to your heart?

One of my most memorable moments was making “Confusions” in Abuja while we were on tour for Kevwe and Cam. I felt the urge to collaborate, reached out to a few people, and ended up making music, including a session with Zubi, someone I’ve admired since 2020. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of and hope to release it this year once everything is cleared.

While in Abuja, Maazi linked up with me and played a beat that immediately stood out. We had a bass player around, but he didn’t even have his instrument at first and had to go get one. By the time he returned and started playing, the rhythm fell into place, and the first line just came to me, “Killer with the goody like za.” It was one of those organic, almost accidental moments where everything simply aligned.

A funny story about Signals is that “Confusions” is the only track I recorded entirely by myself. Maazi had to leave early that night, so the session didn’t happen. When he came back to Lagos in January, I tried to book time with him, but he was exhausted after other sessions and called it a night. Instead of postponing it again, I set up and recorded the song myself. For me, that moment marked a clear point of growth. It’s something I typically wouldn’t have attempted, and that’s part of why “Confusion” is my favorite track on the EP.

Interesting, I was going to ask about your favourite track. Aside from “Confusion,” what’s your favourite track on the EP, and what makes it so meaningful to you?

I love every track on the list. They all have significant meaning to me. I recorded “Night” and “Loving” on the same weekend. “Night” was the night before, and it was with Maazi. “Loving” at the time, I thought it was a story about people telling me they loved me. But I was listening back to the tape recently, and I realised, damn, it’s actually a self-love song. If you listen to the verses, I’m putting myself up. A song I made when I was really trying to break out of the box when it comes to things about love and sexuality.

See, I love all of them. With “Beremole,” there was an OG version of it, and then Cam took it and did some crazy refixes. But shout-out to Nino for the first version, since I was just in the studio. Nino played, and the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Shorty in the backside,” and Cam was like, “Hey, record it down.” All of them hold stories. As I’m talking to you right now, I’m realizing how beautiful the story of Signals is.

Finally, when people listen to Signals, what feeling or message do you want to stay with them?

I want them to continue sending signals of love to the people they love and signals of hope to the things they want. Basically, I want people to adopt a positive mindset when they listen to Signals. If you’re trying to woo a babe, send her “Night.” “Confusions,” be expressive of falling in love with somebody that you didn’t think you would fall in love with. “Loving,” love yourself. That song is self-empowering because, at the end of the day, self-love is one of the strongest things. Once you love yourself, nobody can tell you shit. And then when it comes to “Beremole(Backside),” it feels like the kind of track that you spin right before you go out. Be confident. If you’re trying to talk to somebody, don’t do anything creepy; just be confident. Yeah, I want them to feel hope, love, and confidence.

Listen to Signals by Kevwe.