Nigerian afro-fusion virtuoso Suté Iwar presents his breathtaking debut album ULTRALIGHT, released via London and Johannesburg based label Outer South. 

Set under the guise of a fictional Netflix documentary about his life, Suté explores space, sound, love and lust through this 15-track opus, which features a star-studded lineup from West Africa and the UK, including WurlD, Tim Lyre, Lex Amor, Kadiata, Raytheboffin, Tay Iwar, Shalom Dubas, Ogranya, Efe Oraka and Twelve XII.

In Suté’s words, ULTRALIGHT is “a journey that takes you through a range of emotions, from the high energy and excitement of life to the introspection and self-reflection that comes with it… my goal was to create music that speaks to the heart and soul, to evoke feelings of love, hope, and inspiration. Each track on the album tells a story and takes the listener on a journey through soundscapes that are both familiar and new.”

His first single ‘JUDAH LION’, a stunning dynamic R&B infusion alongside WurlD, premiered on The Dotty Show on Apple Music, featured on Spotify’s global R&B Weekly playlist, and secured heavy airplay across Nigeria, reaching #15 on The Beat FM’s charts.

On second single ‘ SPACE COWBOY’, Suté showed his versatility by switching between lilting harmonies and quick-fire bars, paying homage to Japanese animé series COWBOY BEBOP, alongside a verse from the man with no misses, Tim Lyre, tipped by TIDAL as One to Watch in 2023. 

With the pre-add launching on March 24th, Suté unveils the third single off the project, ‘THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE’, a sensual and seductive slice of alté underlain by a lazy dancehall groove, featuring and produced by fellow Abuja resident Raytheboffin. 

For Suté, “it’s a song that takes a deep dive into the themes of desire and addiction. I'm exploring the ups and downs of chasing pleasure and the toll it can take. Through personal experiences and reflections, I wanted to offer a unique perspective on the endless pursuit of happiness and the importance of finding balance… it’s a journey of self-discovery and a call to action to never settle for less than true fulfilment.”

ULTRALIGHT will be unveiled in its full kaleidescopic glory on April 21st. Lead single, ‘MEDITATE, is a heart-aching and instantly timeless future groove, propped up by fragile piano keys and seeing Suté profess a need for exercising continuing mindfulness, a message to himself to stay grounded amongst the chaos and distractions of our increasingly complicated lives. With staggering contributions from alté pioneer Tay Iwar and British whisper-rap mainstay Lex Amor, ‘MEDITATE’ is a jewel in the ULTRALIGHT crown and a pièce de résistance in the afro-fusion canon. 

Reflecting on ‘Meditate’, Suté comments, “As an artist, I often find myself navigating the fast-paced energy of the city, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. But through it all, I've found solace in the practice of meditation. It allows me to escape the chaos and find peace in the present moment. "Meditate" is a reflection of my journey, a reminder to slow down and breathe amidst the whirlwind of life. Through my music, I hope to inspire others to find their own moments of peace and tranquility.”

ULTRALIGHT was mixed by Sam Harper (Wizkid, NSG, Tion Wayne) and mastered by Frank Merritt at The Carvery Studio.

Suté Iwar - ULTRALIGHT

rearrange

Falling

Love is War

1996

OVMBR: Hits No Mrs

Soul Searching

Abuja based afro-fusion virtuoso Suté Iwar presents ‘Judah Lion’, a stunning dynamic R&B infusion alongside Wurld, and the first single from his forthcoming debut album ULTRALIGHT, on London and Johannesburg based label Outer South.

‘Judah Lion’ is an ethereal homage to a love interest and an exclamation of wonder at her beauty. Drowned in bitter-sweet emotion, laden with reverb and cavernous space, its skittering, almost lazy beat, produced by Suté, gives way to impossible swing and heart-wrenching polymelodies. 

It follows Suté’s acclaimed single ‘alright, ok’, released in May and his only solo release of 2022, which saw support from the likes of Native Mag, More Branches and Breakroom Africa. Suté recently released the ambitious, ethereal visuals for fan favourite ‘Pulp Fiction’, taken off his last mixtape 199X, alongside recent collaborations with Tim Lyre, Basi Azul and Bankyondbeatz.

Suté has spent the past year building his debut album ULTRALIGHT, which will see the light of day in early 2023 and features a star-studded lineup from West African and British talent, including the likes of Tim Lyre, Lex Amor, Kadiata, Raytheboffin, Tay Iwar, and Twelve XII.

In Suté’s words: “I started making this song during the winter in London thinking about what advice I would give to myself if I got close to everything I wished for, including my dream girl.”

Judah Lion

Suté Iwar & Wurld 'Judah Lion'

Rising Afro-fusion singer-rapper Suté Iwar releases his third single, ‘STAR PLAYER’ featuring UK rapper kadiata taken from his forthcoming debut album, ‘ULTRALIGHT’, dropping 21st April via London and Johannesburg-based label Outer South. ‘STAR PLAYER’ perfectly combines Suté Iwar’s afro-infused Funk-filled R&B paired with the laidback tone of Pimlico-hailing rapper kadiata. The bAd entity production is cohesive, sleek, and lustrous, providing the perfect background for both artists to tell their stories. Speaking on the single Suté said: 

"STAR PLAYER" is a song about embracing the unknown and finding your path. It's about shining bright in adversity, even during difficult times. The lyrics encourage listeners to stretch out and explore while staying true to themselves.”

Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria Suté Iwar is one of three sons whose musical education started very early. Comparable to the Marley brothers, they remain close collaborators, often writing, producing and featuring on each other's music. From 7 years old Suté attended classical music school and played multiple instruments, including the saxophone, which led to him performing in numerous bands and events as a teenager. His parents are music lovers with eclectic tastes introducing him to Jazz, Soul, and Pop music alongside traditional West African music, which has undoubtedly influenced the genre-fluid sound we witness today. His father remains his biggest critic and Suté emphasises that despite his diverse influences, Soul music is always at the heart of what he creates, often mingling the exquisite with the sensual. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, rapper and producer, Sutés musical influences include the likes of Childish Gambino, Kendrick and Anderson Pak and, closer to home, the likes of Fela Kuti and Majek Fashek, whose music and stories have transfixed him and given him the confidence to experiment with sounds and expression.

Suté refuses to conform with his latest single proving his versatility by blending elements of R&B, Rap, Alté, Afro, Funk and beyond. Sutés voice sounds as unaffected and assured singing as it does rapping with his first release ‘JUDAH LION’ featuring WurlD, receiving support from Dotty on Apple Music, it was featured on Spotify’s global R&B Weekly playlist and secured heavy airplay across Nigeria.

Suté Iwar & kadiata - STAR PLAYER

Suté Iwar - SHUGA PEACH

Suté Iwar - ALIENS

Suté Iwar - SIGNS

Suté Iwar - GLOBAL WARMING

Soak Garri

Soak Garri (feat. Tay Iwar)

Mango Juice & Bad Decisions.

An Extended Play by Ayüü.

'00 Nostalgia [feat. André Wolff] [Prod. By Benny Que & DOZ]

Wetin Dey - Odunsi

Dey Go Hear Wehh

Girl from Bahia

Fell in Love in Brasil

Forest Fire

Sounds from a shapeless world.

London and Johannesburg based record label Outer South unearths innovative outernational music, free from the constraints of borders and genre, birthed from the nexus between cultures, where beautiful fusions are formed.

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Suté Iwar & kadiata - STAR PLAYER

Outer South

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