Rising Afro-fusion singer-rapper Suté Iwar releases his third single, ‘STAR PLAYER’ featuring UK rapper kadiata taken from his forthcoming debut album, ‘ULTRALIGHT’, dropping 21st April via London and Johannesburg-based label Outer South. ‘STAR PLAYER’ perfectly combines Suté Iwar’s afro-infused Funk-filled R&B paired with the laidback tone of Pimlico-hailing rapper kadiata. The bAd entity production is cohesive, sleek, and lustrous, providing the perfect background for both artists to tell their stories. Speaking on the single Suté said:
“STAR PLAYER” is a song about embracing the unknown and finding your path. It’s about shining bright in adversity, even during difficult times. The lyrics encourage listeners to stretch out and explore while staying true to themselves.”
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, often mingling the exquisite with the sensual. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, rapper and producer, Sutés 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.
Suté refuses to conform with his latest single proving his versatility by blending elements of R&B, Rap, Alté, Afro, Funk and beyond. Sutés voice sounds as unaffected and assured singing as it does rapping with his first release ‘JUDAH LION’ featuring WurlD, receiving support from Dotty on Apple Music, it was featured on Spotify’s global R&B Weekly playlist and secured heavy airplay across Nigeria.
‘ULTRALIGHT’ is set under the guise of a fictional Netflix documentary about his life, and Suté explores space, sound, love and lust through this 15-track album, which features a star-studded lineup from West Africa and the UK, including WurlD, Lex Amor, kadiata, Twelve VII and Sutés brother Tay Iwar. ‘ULTRALIGHT’ is a half self-care, half immeasurable flex and it places him in the lineage of Afro-fusion artists that have successfully broken into the UK landscape. ‘STAR PLAYER’ sets the tone for what’s to come from Suté Iwar.
Click here to stream “Starlight”
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