Ikstarr
Ikstarr | |
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 Ikstarr Performing In London 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bennie Ike Opene |
| Also known as | Ikstarr |
| Born | Delta State, Nigeria |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2012- present |
| Labels |
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Bennie Ike Opene known professionally as Ikstarr, is a Nigerian-British singer, songwriter and music producer.[1] He released his debut extended play EP album CLUB in 2010 and it subsequently gained popular and national airplay in his home country Nigeria.[1]
Early life and career[edit]
Bennie Ike Opene spent his early youth in Lagos and is the great great grandson of Omu Okwei the Okwei of Osomari,[2] an influential Nigerian merchant queen who was appointed and served as the Chairwoman of the congress of women leaders under the British colonial government in Nigeria in the 1930s.[3]
Subsequently, Ikstarr grew up influenced by his parent's large music record collection. Ikstarr has said that due to this he experienced a wide range of musical influences from musical artistes like Bob Marley to Fela Anikulapo Kuti the late Afrobeat creator.[4]
Late In 2018, Ikstarr released the High-life influenced lead single "Willemina". He re-released it two years later as part of his second album “Afro ASMR”. In an interview with The ThisDay Newspaper he said “Afro ASMR” stood for Afro Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.[2]
Ikstarr has cited artistes like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Led Zeppelin and Michael Jackson as his key contemporary influences.[2]
Artistry[edit]
Daniel Anazia of The Guardian Newspaper described Ikstarr's music as "happy and groovy" stating that Ikstarr "is one artiste whose music has club and dance influences with a very melodic and sometimes rapid-fire rap delivery. His lyrics are poetic and often romantic with sharp production and beats". In 2020 Ike released his sophomore album “Afro ASMR” which has been described by the press as a new musical genre.[1] Nevertheless, Ikstarr has described his sound as "melodic" Afrobeat, High-life and Hip Hop and that he aims to make music which respects women while empowering men.[2]
Controversy[edit]
In an interview with The Nation Newspaper, Ikstarr controversially commented that many African musical artistes, particularly those from Nigeria were potentially more talented than European or American stars and urged more investment from the government and the private sector towards the entertainment industry in Nigeria. He went ahead to use Nigerian artistes Davido, Burna Boy and Wizkid among many as examples of such talented musical artistes. [5]
In culture[edit]
Subsequently, in an interview with Femi Oguntayo from the national daily The Nigerian Tribune Newspaper Ikstarr was quoted as saying that his music wholly supports the positive body image movement among women, stating that he was particularly opposed to the post-modern societal pressures resulting from unrealistic “ideals of beauty”. [4] He referred to his sophomore album Afro ASMR as truth music. Later, in an interview with The Guardian Newspaper, Ikstarr also commented that there was pressure from certain unnamed stakeholders within society for artistes ‘to conform their art or sacrifice their conscience and integrity to a specific narrative. He stated that this was the real meaning of ‘selling your soul’ .[1]
Discography[edit]
EPs[edit]
- CLUB [1] (2010)
- SYNCHRONICITY (2012)
Studio Albums[edit]
- Harmony (2017)
- Afro A.S.M.R [2] (2020)
Singles[edit]
| Title | Track details |
|---|---|
| Get You In my Life |
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| Hangout |
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| Shege |
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| Willemina[4] |
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| Sexy Business |
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References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "IkStarr Without artistic integrity, you have no legacy". The Guardian Newspaper. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ferdinand Ekechukwu (7 November 2019). "Not All Artistes Are School Dropouts". ThisDay Live. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ Commire, Anne, ed. (1999). "Okwei of Osomari (1872–1943)". Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Waterford, Connecticut: Yorkin Publications. ISBN 0-7876-4080-8. Search this book on
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Femi Oguntayo (7 November 2020). "My Music is meant to lift women". Tribune. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ Alake, Motolani. "Wizkid, Davido more talented than European stars". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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