In this edition of MC Industry’s Next, we speak to Yellw, a Nigerian R&B artiste based in Port-Harcourt. His recent single, “I’ll Hold On,” was featured on a Showmax original series, Under the Influence. With his emotionally charged and sonically distinct style, Yellw is fast emerging as one of the most compelling voices in Nigeria’s R&B scene.
I’ll Hold On is a testament of unfiltered vulnerability amidst the societal norm of glorified numbness. It encourages the listener to appreciate love, loss, delay, and patience in their purest forms. It highlights the simple things that keep the wheels of real love turning.
Yellw
Ahead of his forthcoming EP, Yellw talks about his musical journey and the feelings he hopes to evoke in his fans with the coming project.
Yellw, describe your journey so far as a music artiste.
I’d describe my journey by starting with this — it was meant [to be]. From experiencing my dad’s (God rest his soul) love for music at a very young age, to singing in high school, writing poems, joining the choir, and then recording my first ever song, “Why Are You Lying?” on my phone and releasing it on SoundCloud and Audiomack in 2019. That same year, I dropped my first official studio-recorded single, “Tell Me,” and a year later, my debut EP Wishful Thinking. It’s been memorable — grounding, even. So much so, I honestly can’t imagine who I’d be right now if I weren’t making music.
Tell us about your music and genre.
My music is a borderless representation of human emotions — and by that I mean the ones we often find hard to confront: insecurity, fear, loss, lust, love, pessimism, hope. R&B sits at the core of my sound, but I follow the sonic that calls to me, letting those emotions lead the way.
How would you describe your relationship with your music?
Necessary. That’s the word. My music is like a diary, except in this case, the whole world gets to read it. I tend to forget that part, the eyes on me. I just escape into it. It’s a safe space. It listens. And it helps me understand how I truly feel, especially in hindsight.
Do you have another creative side? If yes, how do you blend it with your music?
Definitely. I’m just as passionate about creative direction as I am about sound. For me, music isn’t just something you hear: it’s something you see, feel, and experience. I pay close attention to the visuals: the colours, the mood, the details. From the moment a song is born, I’m already thinking about how it lives visually: whether it’s the cover art, a live set, or even just the way it’s rolled out. That creative direction is part of the storytelling. It’s how I make sure that everything you experience around my music is intentional and connected — not just the sound, but the whole world around it.
What is the inspiration behind your latest project?
Life. Real life. My family. My father — and the tendency we have to only start understanding our parents once we’re older and start walking in their shoes. My sacrifices, my losses, my love, my lessons. A lot of the ideals I had when I made Wishful Thinking have either evolved or been discarded. This new project is a memoir — told in Warm Yellws — through my eyes, in my words, from my world.
What was the process behind making it?
It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever made, for so many reasons. The first idea for a song on this project came in 2021, so it’s been a long time coming. But I’m a student of the process, especially being independent. You have to love the process for it to love you back. It’s been slow, deep, and enlightening. And I know when it finally comes out, it’ll be a necessary release, for me and hopefully for others.
Who is the muse?
My late father. This edition of Warm Yellws will be named after him. And beyond him, my life itself is a muse. I’m a little more personal on this project — even more than usual. So if you’ve listened to my past work and thought it was intimate, this one says: “Hey guys, this is exactly where I’m at right now.”
What feelings do you want to evoke in your fans when they listen to this project?
Realization. Hope. Pain. Warmth. Self-evaluation. Preservation. A friendly, emotional space where you can get lost — and found.
What are your hopes for this new project?
That it reaches the hearts that need it.
What is your biggest dream as an artiste?
Legacy.
Get the exclusive preview of “Drunk Drivin!” — an unreleased track from Yellw’s upcoming project HERE.
