Suté Iwar - ULTRALIGHT (Album)
Rising Afro-fusion singer-rapper Suté Iwar releases his highly anticipated debut 15-track album, ‘ULTRALIGHT’, alongside lead single ‘Meditate’ featuring Tay Iwar and Lex Amor.
Produced by Suté, ‘Meditate’ is an instantly timeless groove, propped up by fragile piano keys and sees Suté profess a need to continue to practise mindfulness daily. ‘Meditate’ is a reminder to slow down and breathe amidst the crazy whirlwind that is life. ‘ULTRALIGHT’ is set under the guise of a fictional Netflix documentary about his life, Suté explores space, sound, love, and lust, successfully mingling the exquisite with the sensual. Suté Iwar’s afro-infused intergalactic album has a star-studded lineup from West Africa and the UK, including WurlD, Tim Lyre, Lex Amor, kadiata, Raytheboffin, Tay Iwar, Shalom Dubas, Ogranya, Efe Oraka and Twelve XII.
In Suté’s words, ULTRALIGHT is “a journey that takes you through a range of emotions, from the high energy and excitement of life to the introspection and self-reflection that comes with it... my goal was to create music that speaks to the heart and soul, to evoke feelings of love, hope, and inspiration.
Each track on the album tells a story and takes the listener on a journey through soundscapes that are both familiar and new.”
Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria Suté Iwar is one of three sons whose musical education started very early. Comparable to the Marley brothers, they remain close collaborators, often writing, producing, and featuring on each other's music. From 7 years old Suté attended classical music school and played multiple instruments, including the saxophone, which led to him performing in numerous bands and events as a teenager. His parents are music lovers with eclectic tastes introducing him to Jazz, Soul, and Pop music alongside traditional West African music, which has undoubtedly influenced the genre-fluid sound we witness today. His father remains his biggest critic and Suté emphasises that despite his diverse influences, Soul music is always at the heart of what he creates.
A multi-instrumentalist, singer, rapper and producer, Suté’s musical influences include the likes of Childish Gambino, Kendrick and Anderson Pak and, closer to home, the likes of Fela Kuti and Majek Fashek, whose music and stories have transfixed him and given him the confidence to experiment with sounds and expression.