Meet fast rising Afrobeats sensation “Koray”
Koray, a Chicago-born, Lagos-nurtured afrobeats sensation, is poised to become the face of afrobeats in the diaspora. In an exclusive interview, he shed light on his musical identity:
Koray is the musical being residing in Korede. He is very playful, chill, and talented. He comes out when it’s time for anything music-related… ‘Koray’ comes from the name Korede. And is basically the shorter version of Korede (Kore) but spelled with “ay” to replace the ‘e.’”
Primarily focused on afrobeats, Koray aspires to explore other genres as his career progresses:
“…I make mainly afrobeats at the moment. But I also indulge in creating other genres every now and then.”
When asked about his inspiration sources, he shared:
“…my life and feelings mainly inspire my music. Sometimes I wake up inspired and record a banger. Sometimes I hear a song and get inspired to go crazy in the studio. It really depends on what’s going on in my life at the moment.”
He initiated recording during the pandemic in 2020 but unveiled his debut single, “Balance for Me,” in 2022. Since then, he released two more singles, including his breakout hit, “Ise Olorun.”
Reflecting on his motivation to pursue music, Koray expressed:
“…I started making music back then because there was really nothing else to do. Everything and everywhere were locked down. And boredom basically birthed creativity. That’s when I unlocked a feature I didn’t know I have haha.”
As an independent artist, he faces challenges, particularly in marketing and promotion:
“…right now as an independent artist it is an incredible journey of learning and creating. The struggles I face currently would be about marketing and promoting my songs all by myself. Sometimes it can be a lot but I tend to enjoy every moment of it especially when there are results to show for the work put in.”
Regarding influences, he credits earlier afrobeats artists and peers like Kronika and Asapmills for inspiring him to refine his craft.
“Ise Olorun,” his latest single, appears to be his most significant song yet. Detailing the production process, he said:
“…Ise Olorun is a song that comes from a place of gratitude towards God. Funny enough. Fawaz and I came up with the melodies while on vacation in Ibiza. Life was just too good and we were in a very happy and thankful space. When I got back to Chicago, I went straight to the studio where I played the voiced-out demo for DJ Rymzy who immediately gravitated towards the song and knew what to do. After recording my verse, I sent it out to Kronika who immediately connected to the song. I then gathered a group of friends to be my choir to incorporate the emotional aspect of the song. And well, the rest was history!”
What’s next for Koray?
WATCH OUT FOR HIS EP!!!
