BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT, as featured in CelebMix, is the deeply personal and introspective new EP from global music sensation and afropop superstar JOEBOY that is set for release on November 17 via global independent label emPawa Africa. Arriving barely six months after his critically acclaimed sophomore album Body & Soul, which was championed by The Times, Afropunk, BET, The Native, Pulse Nigeria, and UPROXX, among other global tastemakers, and helped the Nigerian native break past three billion career streams. As the title suggests, Body, Soul & Spirit is picking up where Joeboy left off on his recently released album, with the captivatingly dark and moody five-track project serving as the perfect antithesis to Body & Soul, and feeding off the themes of adversity and emotional turmoil on the album’s final track ‘Halle’.
The EP opens with the heartfelt ‘Only God Can Save Me’, which sees a troubled Joeboy coming to the realization that the people closest to us are still fallible, and can often let us down. On the infectious ‘24/7’, Joeboy finds a moment of solace as he recognises that many of his worries are inconsequential in the grand tapestry of life. His emotional vulnerabilities come to the fore on ‘Telephone’, an intimate love song dedicated to that one person in our lives that we can always turn to for tranquillity, despite the trials of the relationship. ‘Enemy’ sees Joeboy taking responsibility for a broken relationship, as he comes face to face with his own imperfections amidst a tough breakup. The project ends on a resilient note with Joeboy taking first steps towards healing and new beginnings on the hopeful ‘Surviving’.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the Body, Soul & Spirit EP, Joeboy says, “I have been through a rollercoaster of emotions since the release of my album. From my relationship with God, and seeing the dark side of love, to experiencing betrayal, and trying to survive against all odds, I have had to really dig deep to keep my sanity intact, while putting on a brave face and keeping up with appearances. The songs on this EP embody my journey through this emotionally draining period. Usually, I have people around me during my recording and writing process, but for this project, I was all alone with a mic and a pen, because creating this project coincided with me learning how to record myself in the studio, which meant I was able to completely offload all those pent-up emotions into this project.”
ABOUT JOEBOY
JOEBOY stands out prominently in the world of global music and afrobeats as a shining beacon of Nigerian music. Propelled into the limelight with his 2019 EP Love & Light, he quickly rose to become a teen idol and was fondly christened the “African Pop Star”. This meteoric rise was punctuated with hits that dominated charts across Africa, reaching number one in over ten countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, and notably, his homeland, Nigeria. ‘Baby’, the lead single from the EP amassed a staggering 80 million views on YouTube. Further successes on the EP included the chart-topping ‘Blessings’ and the massive ‘Don’t Call Me Back’ featuring Mayorkun. Joeboy also contributed to DJ Neptune’s viral hit ‘Nobody’ alongside Mr Eazi, which not only made waves on the video-sharing app Thriller, but also clinched the number 5 spot on the Billboard Digital Song Chart.
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Joeboy’s accolades paint a picture of an artist at the zenith of his craft. He’s bagged awards like ‘Best Artiste in Africa Pop’ at the All African Music Awards, ‘Song of the Year’ at The Headies Awards, and ‘Best International Collaboration’ at the Vodafone Music Awards, among others. 2021 marked a significant chapter in his journey with the release of his debut album Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, which resonated globally, charting in over 25 countries. The album, featuring hits like ‘Focus’, ‘Show Me’, and ‘Door’, rapidly became one of the most streamed African albums of the year, accumulating over 300 million streams. The album was Boomplay’s most played album of 2021, and saw Joeboy finishing the year as the most streamed artist on Audiomack.
Joeboy has established himself as one of afrobeat’s biggest hitmakers, with critical acclaim coming from tastemakers such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Complex, The FADER, and COLORS, among others, and essential afropop classics like ‘Baby’ and ‘Lonely’, massive global music collaborations with the likes of Diplo, Mr Eazi, CKay, and Major League DJz, under his belt, as well as sold-out tours across Africa, Europe, and North America. Driven by the multi-platinum single ‘Sip (Alcohol)’, Joeboy released his sophomore album Body & Soul in May to rave reviews from fans and critics alike, and he returns to round out 2023 with the exceptional Body, Soul & Spirit EP. To date, Joeboy’s musical footprint boasts over three billion streams, solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with in global music.
‘BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT’ EP TRACKLIST
1. Only God Can Save Me
2. 24/7
3. Telephone
4. Enemy
5. Surviving
CONNECT WITH JOEBOY: Instagram – Twitter – Tiktok
MEDIA & PRESS: Please direct all inquiries to Ayo Adepoju: [email protected]
