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Genre-defying duo Steve & Dolapo, blending American and Nigerian musical roots, have released their euphoric new single “Give Me The Music”, available now across all platforms.
This American-Nigerian pairing, born from a 2021 online meeting in a music review forum, continues to refine their singular blend of indie pop, Afrobeat, and soulful theatricality. Steve was impressed by Dolapo’s solo track “Heaven Please”, while Dolapo praised the harmonic brilliance of Steve’s “Singularity”, they embarked on a collaboration that has since blossomed into Steve and Dolapo Productions, yielding their 2024 vinyl album Companion and now their radiant new single “Give Me The Music” (released July 30, 2024).
The duo’s sound is a living tapestry woven from their distinct backgrounds. Steve brings his mastery of seven instruments (from drums to saxophone) and choral training in Greek liturgy, while Dolapo contributes soaring vocals honed in Latin sacred music and a Nigerian musical sensibility. Their combined 60+ years of choral experience culminate in arrangements as intricate as their self-recorded 8-part rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, yet their original work pulses with contemporary vitality.
“Give Me The Music” epitomizes this synergy. The track began with Steve’s uptempo demo—a kinetic blend of live drum grooves, punchy basslines, and rhythmic guitar—sent to Dolapo, who responded within hours with lyrics channeling the euphoria of their creative union. “The moment I heard Steve’s instrumental, the words poured out like a letter to my best friend,” Dolapo reflects. Steve then layered shimmering saxophone lines and his own harmonies beneath Dolapo’s lead vocal, crafting a finale that nods to their shared idols: the disco-era Bee Gees, Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat revolutions, and Queen’s theatrical grandeur.
The recording process mirrors their dedication. Mixed and mastered by Steve himself, the single underwent meticulous refinement to balance Dolapo’s improvisational ad-libs with the track’s Afro-pop swing. The result feels both spontaneous and deliberate, a hallmark of productions by their heroes, Quincy Jones and Albhy Galuten. Lyrically, the song transcends typical “collab” tropes by framing their partnership as spiritual kinship: “We don’t just make songs / We become the light.”
Beyond its infectious melody, “Give Me The Music” reinforces the duo’s artistic manifesto: music as a force for empathy and unity. Their website chronicles glowing reviews of Companion, which blends Yoruba folk motifs with American rock and Broadway-scale drama. This new release doubles down on that ethos, offering a summer-ready anthem that’s as intellectually rich as it is danceable.
With daily writing sessions and plans to create “throughout all of this life and beyond,” Steve and Dolapo stand as antidotes to today’s fragmented music industry. “Give Me The Music” proves that borders dissolve when artists truly listen to one another.
Stream “Give Me The Music” now on all platforms:open.spotify.com/track/3UB0Y
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