Ekene Mourns Past Relationships on “Little Us”

The first time I heard of Ekene was through an Instagram ad promoting his track “Red Benz.” What immediately stood out to me was how his beautifully soulful voice could recount such an experience, yet evoke a subtle underlying sense of disgust.

Intrigued, I decided to look him up and found out he was gearing up to release his debut EP. Ahead of the drop, he hosted an intimate live performance at Suudu Lagos with the help of A Place Called Mars, his record label, surrounded by close friends and supporters. On July 3rd, Ekene officially released his debut EP, “Little Us.” With guidance from figures like Wale Davies of Show Dem Camp and Lanre Masha, the high quality of his production, artistry, and overall brand comes as no surprise.

When an emerging artist is associated with an established name, listeners often automatically attribute their success to the latter. However, art is ultimately a form of self-expression, and anyone who genuinely appreciates music must evaluate it on its own merits, free from preconceived bias.

On an initial listen of “Little Us,” tracks like “Lullaby” and “Red Benz” stand out immediately but the real pull is “Relations.” Running at under three minutes, the song manages to capture emotions that feel far longer and heavier. Both the first and second verses are built on eight-bar structures, culminating in a beautiful chorus that anchors the central theme. The smooth bassline, piano, and soft landing of the kick drum are soothing and relaxed. However, what truly carries you across the song’s emotional wave is the vocal pairing of Ekene and Braye. Their vocal performance evokes a quiet, reflective nostalgia reminiscent of hearing Tracy Chapman, Ben E. King, and Bill Withers together on a single track.

Beyond its sonic appeal, “Relations” captures the reality of modern relationships. People often criticize the “fast life,” but the speed at which life moves today cannot be understated: fast cars, fast food, fast fashion and fast relationships. Everyone now embraces technology since it makes things faster, Gen Zs rarely have the patience of Gen X or Millennials to nurse connections that no longer serve them; we move on quickly, and these lyrics sit comfortably against the production.

Ekene steps into the first verse using a first-person perspective, immediately creating a sense of being stuck in a relationship where he was once willing to give his all:

We laugh and we fall on occasion

Trapped in a feeling we can’t undo

We put too much into this relation

To start looking for something to call brand new

While there is an initial desire to make things work, by the second line, Ekene suggests that both partners must admit they have outgrown what they built. This realization is reinforced in the chorus, where he reiterates that no matter what passive activities they engage in to escape the boredom, they cannot deny that the initial magic is gone. The use of the “we” pronoun highlights how common this feeling can be for this current generation and the initiative to connect with his audience, and carry  them along.

An older generation might signal that love is a choice rather than a feeling and that in situations like these, you don’t run but rather hold on to what remains. However, in an era dominated by fast living and “YOLO” mentality, listeners who resonate with the track are left sitting with unresolved choices. The danger, as the song implies, is that life becomes as stagnant as your indecision.

Braye’s entry in the second verse deepens this conflict. He admits that his smiles masked deeper issues he wasn’t ready to address, and that even when an explanation was needed, lying was easier because he lacked the energy to confront the truth. He points out the times when we choose the easier route because we do not have the energy to address internal or external conflicts.

He no longer cherishes the relationship, and the situation turns almost sickening as he finds himself unable to reconcile the partner’s name with the unnamed character’s person. While Ekene mourns something that no longer exists, Braye wonders who the person ever was in the first place. To love is to know, yet Braye feels he never truly knew them, as if the person became faceless and distasteful over time. This sentiment is captured in the final lines of his verse:

Your name

Was music till I saw that face

These days

Just wonder what you really were

At a time when many hesitate to enter relationships out of fear of physical or emotional abuse; which provides clear grounds to leave, this song explores a quieter, rarely discussed fear: the fear of outgrowing people. It highlights how difficult it is to step away from someone who stays attached to a relationship based on past memories rather than present realities. Ultimately, it reflects a generation living for current moments rather than lingering potential or remnants of the past.

If you are in search of art that makes you feel, that makes you pause to reflect and sit with your thoughts for a moment, then you should take a moment to listen to Ekene.

Written by: Melody Tuffour