The continent of Africa is renowned for blessing the world music scene with talents and genres which feature constantly on airwaves, events and night clubs the world over. Rarely does a month elapse without artists from the continent producing trending songs. The debut single “Miss You” is the latest in that tradition series by artist 1UCID which is fast gaining global anthem status.
A singer, songwriter, and producer, 1UCID has been thrust to the apex of global charts with his single. A refreshingly original sound that resonates with his global audience, “Miss You” does an enthralling heralding of the enigma and genius of 1UCID to the world.
1UCID draws inspiration from various genres, such as his affinity for afrobeats and hip hop. The talented artist strives to move people in a positive way through authentic storytelling.
Born Kwadwo J Bedihene, the entrepreneur has co-founded companies like Ray Styles Studios, Inc. Heuristic Lifestyles LLC, and Uvolox LLC. After years in music management and spending time behind the scenes, 1UCID is finally stepping out as an artist in his own right.
His debut single “Miss You” an Afro-Fusion single that introduces 1UCID’s distinct style, takes listeners through the emotional journey of missing a loved one. This newly released project not only entertains but enriches the listener’s experience. 1UCID’s music is rooted in shared human experiences that maintain a feel encapsulated by edgy, modern sounds. “Miss You” will be succeeded by two additional singles in the buildup to his debut album.
In a chat with Face2Face Africa, 1UCID, who strongly believes, “The roots of all ???????? lie in the soil of ???????????? for goodness -Dalai Lama”, talks about his personal journey with his craft as well as future aspirations for his music.
What’s the experience like venturing into music as Miss you is your debut single?
The experience and the response are simply unbelievable. The support and acknowledgment I am getting for “Miss You” , my first debut single, is extraordinary. Music has been a part of my life for a long time but for me to hear myself whether through the speakers or people enjoying my song excites me and keeps me motivated. So far, it has been very overwhelming.
Describe the creative process that led to the Miss you single?
That is actually very interesting! The melody of Miss You came about as I was on my way to the gym. I recorded the entire flow and breakdown of Miss You on my apple watch. Can you believe that? It just kept coming into my mind, and by the time I was done with the gym, I had an entire song done! Now all I had to do was to put words into the melody. It was such an exciting process that within a week, I had compiled the whole lyrics of the song and on the weekend, I was off to the studio.
I shared the idea of how I wanted the beat and music with my engineer, O-banga (Multitalented mixing engineer, producer & songwriter). O-banga created the miss you instrument within an hour or two. Next, I laid down the lyrics on the mic, O-banga then mixed the entire song and Josh Giunta (Grammy Winning Music Producer) mastered it, and that is how we released the track within no time!
Can you throw more light on the music genre for Miss you?
I am inspired by various genres, such as Afrobeat, R&B, HipHop and I like to mix them to make good music. The talented artist strives to move people positively through authentic storytelling.
Miss you is a song for heartbreaks and when you miss someone, can you share the back story behind it?
Yes, I made this song in memory of my friend, who was more like a brother to me. He was my artist named Emmanuel Apraku, who was also known as Ray Styles Penciled Celebrities. He
passed away in 2020. His sudden death made me feel very emotional. I also had some tough times in life, including some recent heartbreaks. I tied all my emotions together and all of them came out as Miss You.
How do you think an average African can resonate with your music?
Not just African, but I believe any person can resonate well with my sound or music. My music and the lyrics are always calm, simple, melodic, and easy to comprehend. My music or lyrics don’t have tricky wording or extreme punchlines that will have you thinking for days to understand what I am trying to say. The lyrics in my music are always very clear and straight to the point. I think that is why every person can easily relate to it, and that is why so many people are being able to relate to Miss You, and we are getting some amazing reviews.
Can you throw more light on the additional singles that would be out soon from your debut album?
I really can’t speak or share much on the next singles (that’s a surprise for you all). Just know that I will be dropping 2 to 3 additional singles before I release my debut album. I am dropping a song very soon, so stay tuned in. That one is also a masterpiece and I’m sure my followers would love it!
Which musician would you say inspires your style of music?
A Lot!! from Kojo Antwi, Daddy Lumba, Obrafour, Tinny, Samini, Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor to Jay Z, Kanye West, Nas, 50 Cent, Drake, JCole, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, Lil baby, Lil durk, Sampha, H.E.R, Idris Elba, Maroon 5, Summer Walker and so many more. I love music so I get inspired by so many artists. The list is very long!
Would we be seeing any collaboration soon with regard to your debut album?
Absolutely! You would hear or see 3 collaborations on my debut album and these artists are some bad boys! They did such an amazing job and I cannot wait to share it with you guys! I am just looking forward to releasing this album so you can hear what they did on these records. Some great, great things are coming so stay tuned and don’t miss it!
The creative sees music as a genuine art form and a place to express their original thoughts. The music of 1UCID introduces listeners to various viewpoints on life while combining relatability that stimulates thought. His musical influence will influence a generation. 1UCID is prepared to transform the status quo of the industry one song at a time. He holds a Bachelor of Science from The University of Akron. “Miss You” is available now on all Streaming Services.
