Echezona’s Ényì is a loving tribute, a discussion, a celebration. Titled after the Igbo word for “friend,” this nine-track experience, a cultivation with Boston-based producer JPRiZM, is a warm record hopping between genres with themes of love, self-discovery, community, and power of womanhood.
From the first few moments of “Amazing” Echezona lays out the flavor: rhythmic, colorful and full of joy of the Afrobeat. It’s a fun danceable tribute to women that mixes English and Igbo, which results in a cultural cloth that is firm, yet transcendental. Tracks such as “Stick Around” and “Wetin Dey Happen?” bring this addictive drive without a hitch in encouraging the dance and smiles of the listeners.
However, Ényì does not remain in the feel-good lane for a long time. The album smoothly ventures into introspective waters with tracks like “Truthfully”, “High Time”, and “Flaws”, where sparkling synths and bare-bones acoustics give room for Echezona to unveil her voice in its most vulnerable. These tracks are a representation of the emotional and spiritual honesty and search on which the heart of the project lies. The dreamy, atmospheric production of JPRiZM goes with this emotional landscape.
“Rare” is a soulful declaration of individual love – a part R&B confession and a part poetic laudation. At the same time, “Evolve” has a more narrative subplot, calling people to grow and become more self-aware, telling a story that addresses African men specifically, though with obviously universal themes. Echezona turns into the Griot at this point, blending grace with melodic storytelling in a style that somehow feels eternal.
Then there is the closer, “Locked In” — a hip-hop-tinged shock to the system that wipes the slate clean for what’s to come. It’s reflective and daring – the last chapter that confirms the album’s sentiment; transformation is an option and it starts with forming the truth.
Vocally, Echezona is a force – fluid, expressive, and built in sincerity. When he is serenading, questioning or celebrating, his delivery seems like a good friend, leaning in to reveal a truth. That’s the essence of Ényì: connection.
These are the songs that are companions, carefully made and culturally grounded.
In a world that can frequently seem shattered, Ényì is an emotionally insistent reminder of what holds us together – love, community, friendship, and the courage to grow. It is an album to dance to, one to ponder, an album to revisit.
