‘Premiere’ is one of the best bodies of work Nigerian music has seen in 2020. By significantly warping R&B perception to deliver amorous Gospel music in dedication to the supreme being, Sal Ly coasts on eclectic culturally-aware pop-based production delivered via TrapEDM, R&B and Afro&B formats. 

Its songs are written like pop songs with pop culture intricacies and their mode of delivery makes a listener lose sight of their true nature - Gospel. ‘Drip’ is a pop culture term for distinct finesse in style, good looks or wealth. Yet, it is flipped into a thanksgiving song to the creator. 

Ordinarily, Nigeria frowns upon the use of these ‘worldly’ terms to glorify God, but contemporary Christians are slowly moving away from the Church that rejected the performance of Gospel-Pop song, ‘Kokoroko’ in the 2000s because of Timaya’s status as a pop star into the ‘Church of what’s happening now.’ 

Unless you listen carefully, the Gospel themes on this album will elude you as a listener. ‘Without You’ is delivered like a TrapSoul/R&B record that declares love for a long lover. It’s an intentional shrouding of sonic aesthetics to retain pop appeal while listening to Gospel. It’s a magnificent tactic to get this song to resonate. 

Instead of singing ‘Without You’ solemnly to a worldly lover, you are singing it to God. If ‘Without You’ is a solemn declaration that elevates the greatness of God beyond anything on TrapSoul, ‘Like You’ does the comparison and aims to highlight the incomparable nature of God. 

Featuring spoken word from Ayag George, the beat is TrapEDM cut from the staple of acts like RL Grime or Lox Chatterbox and driven by layered windy strings and a dominant bass legato. The eclectic Trap-based forms the ‘Intro’ to this EP. 

But before the song starts sounding like drum patterns that Bryson Tiller or Trey Songz will die for, Sal Ly declares shamelessly for her faith on a melodious chamber music. From when the beat takes on a deceptive cadence on 2:01, Sal Ly embodies an Electronic act aboard a TrapEDM beat. 

Think Ruelle on an UNSECRET song or Candice Pillay on a Spektrum or Flume beat. That’s what ‘Look Alive’ featuring Oshey sounds like. In the face of the almighty, Sal Ly falls down in humble submission and urges her listeners to ‘Look Alive,’ then the TrapEDM effects come crashing in. Oh my God! 

The diversity of this project moves to Afro-pop, but retains the delivery of amorous odes to God in intentionally misleading R&B formats. 

When you hear, “I can’t wait to see your face o…” you would think it was yet another song until you listen carefully and realize that Sal Ly is actually waiting on God, not a Yoruba man. The EP closes out to more TrapSoul on ‘Swerve.’ Again, ‘Swerve’ is a pop-culture relevant term that’s used to define another Gospel song. 

All in all, Sal Ly just doesn’t want to be anything else but a Christian. She might have warped styles to deceive listeners into enjoying beautiful Gospel music built like R&B/Pop, but she’s a believer. By her words, by her delivery and by her demeanour, she just wants to elevate God and be happy. She’s a believer and she’s not shy to show it. 

Ratings: /10

• 0-1.9: Flop

• 2.0-3.9: Near fall

• 4.0-5.9: Average

• 6.0-7.9: Victory

• 8.0-10: Champion

Pulse Rating: /10

Track Sequence: 1.6/2

Content, Themes and Delivery: 1.8/2

Production: 1.7/2

Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.7/2

Execution: 1.7/2

Total:

8.5 - Champion