Just When You Thought It Was Over is a testament to the power of collaboration. Toye Aru and Derrick UGC demonstrate a creative synergy and understanding akin to Sarz and Lojay on LV N ATTN EP.
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Collaboration is widely heralded as a powerful tool for invention and innovation. In creative spaces, collaboration can sometimes be the key that unlocks new visions and greater heights. As such, when inspired individuals combine their powers on collaborative projects, the result can often be greater than the sum of its parts.
This was undoubtedly the goal when the multi-talented audiovisual artist and producer, Toye Aru (Toye Toye-Arulogun), joined forces with the burgeoning Afro-Pop sensation, Derrick UGC (Derrick Ugochukwu Chukwu), to bring us Just When You Thought It Was Over.
Just When You Thought It Was Over begins with “Middle of the Night”, and instantly embeds the listener in its emotive soundscape, built with moody chords and ethereal vocal chops. Derrick UGC’s soaring sombre falsetto tugs at the heartstrings as he reflects on lost love. The song grows slowly as Toye Aru sneaks in swelling strings and soft guitars to support Derrick UGC’s heartfelt harmonies, coalescing into a tune that would feel comforting to cry to.
“+44” comes next and maintains the reflective atmosphere with its filtered guitars, warm pads, and heavy bassline. Subtle Afro-Swing drums are introduced into the mix to cement the bounce that Derrick UGC slides over effortlessly with understated but effective melodies. “Don’t leave me in the dark, where I’ll be all alone/ Call my +44”, he pleads accompanied by gentle backing vocals and harmonies.
“Comforter” ups the energy slightly with its pulsating synth arpeggio and triplet Afrobeats drums. Silky guitars and sparkling synths bolster the song’s melodic composition for Derrick UGC to make his case to a love interest as to why he should be allowed to comfort and love her.
The ante is upped again on “Send Dem” as Toye Aru presents a thumping drum arrangement set over pounding bass and rifling guitar patterns that get fully shown off as the song ends. Derrick UGC displays a different facet of his delivery, ditching the sweet tonal melodies for a more direct rhythmically punctuated style as he waxes lyrical about being unfazed by external distractions.
This song brings a nice energy to Just When You Thought It Was Over, breaking up the sonic themes with some well-timed variation.
“Go Away” bears subtle Amapiano influences with rattling shakers, percussion-heavy drums and log-drum-assisted passages. A strumming Afrobeats guitar line provides the main melodic thrust. “I’ll never let you go away”, Derrick UGC sings beautifully on the moving chorus elevated by triumphant group vocals and harmonies.
“Let Me Know” switches lanes into Pop territory with a straightforward breakbeat and thrumming Soft Rock guitars. Derrick UGC effortlessly follows suit with his vocal deliveries as he recounts the early interactions of a relationship. The genre accuracy of Derrick UGC’s adopted persona on this song (and throughout Just When You Thought It Was Over) is noteworthy and impressive.
“Ready” was released as a single and was one of the pre-release heralds of Just When You Thought It Was Over. It set expectations with Dance-inspired, four-to-the-floor kicks, introspective synth melodies, and steady drums. Again, Derrick UGC understands the exact assignment the instrumentals have set for him. His delivery is reminiscent of the electronic Pop anthems of summers past.
“We Belong Together” brings things home with Afrobeats drums and sweetly strummed guitars. Derrick UGC flaunts his vocal range, touching the heights of his falsetto and the depths of his baritone at various junctures.
Oddly enough, a few moments here feel a bit thin, almost like the song required just one more instrument or a different melody to fill a certain gap. It is the first real compositional slip-up across Just When You Thought It Was Over and it reminds us that these artists are human after all.
The album concludes with an acoustic version of “Ready”. This bookends Just When You Thought It Was Over with a sonic impression that mirrors how it began. The subdued pianos are joined by rumbling bass, string pads and a synthetic brass instrument to escort Derrick UGC’s exact vocals from the other version, which is admittedly disappointing as I expected a bespoke acoustic version, re-recorded with the specific intention of acoustic accompaniment.
The disappointment does not detract much from the song and how fitting it is as the album’s closer.
Just Just When You Thought It Was Over is a testament to the power of collaboration. Both parties demonstrate a creative synergy and understanding akin to Sarz and Lojay on their LV N ATTN EP.
At this point, Toye Aru’s production skills are well established through his numerous significant contributions to the music sphere. His work with the likes of Illbliss and DJ Yin outlines his versatility, understanding of bounce, and commitment to experimentation. Even counting the slight lapse in “We Belong Together”, each instrumental is immaculately yet simply crafted.
The sonic themes are established and cohesive, without becoming repetitive. The flexibility to provide unique fusions and diverse grooves cannot be ignored. Admittedly, there were some spots where I felt the production could give just that extra bit of dimension to a chorus or climax to really bring it home but the songs did not suffer for the lack thereof.
The revelation of the project for me was Derrick UGC. He exhibited chameleonic versatility. There was no bounce, genre, or style, that he did not match perfectly in delivery, tone, inflection, melodic choices, and harmonic depth.
With the aid of his producer, of course, he injected each track with precisely what it asked of him. The singing was powerful, controlled and crisp. The vocals were emotive and expressive. The melodies were sweet without being overcooked. The harmonies were delicate where necessary and bold when required.
The marriage between his vocal prowess and the instrumental tapestry is the lifeblood of Just When You Thought It Was Over.
The songwriting was solid throughout. While there weren’t really any spotlight standout lyrical moments, there were no awkward miscues or vagaries. Each song said what it needed to with commendable levels of catchiness, relatability, and creativity. And the assembly of the album must be recognised as well.
The flow and diversity of the tracklist ensure that listeners are engaged from top to bottom. This is also aided by the standout production value of audio engineering throughout the project. It is evident that Just When You Thought It Was Over was constructed with a high degree of care and professionalism.
I have always admired Toye Aru’s work across multiple artistic disciplines and now, thankfully, he has given me another name to watch out for keenly in Derrick UGC.
Lyricism – 1.5
Tracklisting – 1.6
Sound Engineering – 1.7
Vocalisation – 1.7
Listening Experience – 1.6
Rating – 8.1/10
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.