R&B upstart Lekan makes his formal introduction with his debut EP, So You Know, via Human Re Sources.
The six-track set was preceded by the singles “Familiar,” “614,” and “Brand New.” The Nigerian-American sets the tone with “614,” an autobiographical track that balances retro-soul stylings with a touch of trapsoul.
“This song is a slight introduction into my world and where I’m from,” the Columbus native told Rated R&B. “I’m expressing the mentality I had to have within the place I grew up – hopeful and bright to dark and reflective.”
From there, Lekan cycles through the ebb and flow of relationships. “On Me” is among the project’s highlights. Here, Lekan flexes his smooth-talking skills as he sings, “Show me your bad side / give you the best time / Let me hit it for the one time / Double back before the sunrise.”
Speaking on So You Know, Lekan tells Rated R&B, “My city definitely influenced me in helping me develop my resiliency. Growing up I didn’t see a lot of examples of people putting in the work to chase their dreams, let alone a career in music. I consider this EP to be a very beautiful introduction to me – both sonically and creatively, and how I process things like love, heartbreak, and joy.”
He continues, “It’s the perfect homage to paint the picture of where I’m from, how far I’ve come as a man, and acknowledge the direction in which I’m growing. I want to show other folks from Columbus that it’s possible.”
Lekan will support So You Know while on Tems’ Born in the Wild World Tour in select cities. His trek begins Sept. 11 in Boston with stops in Chicago, Toronto, Las Vegas, and more. His upcoming tour dates are listed below.
Stream Lekan’s debut EP, So You Know, below.
Lekan’s Show Dates (Supporting Tems’ Born In The Wild World Tour)
Sep 11 – Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
Sep 13 – Montréal, QC @ L’Olympia
Sep 15 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Sep 17 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
Sep 22 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sep 25 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
Sep 27 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Sep 29 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels
Oct 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
Get tickets at leadingvibe.com.
