Memorabilia is a memorable debut that validates the early buzz. It is personal, thoughtful, and open, a journey that demonstrates Efue’s potential and intentions while placing her firmly on the map as a name to watch.
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Praise Efue Balogun is a Lagos-born singer-songwriter and emerging producer whose debut EP, Memorabilia, marks a striking entry into the contemporary African soundscape. Raised in a city that pulses with musical diversity, she has carved out a voice at the intersection of Afro-soul, House, R&B, and Pop, weaving these influences into a seamless, personal language.
She first began attracting attention with a handful of early singles and collaborations that showcased her ability to pair featherlight vocals with atmospheric production. That promise was cemented in August 2025, when Apple Music spotlighted her as part of its Up Next program, recognising her as one of Africa’s most exciting rising artistes.
Released on 15 August via Propella Co., under exclusive licence to Signum Music World, Memorabilia is a compact project of just five tracks and 11 minutes. Yet, within its brevity, it explores yearning, healing, and reflection with rare intimacy.
“Cloudy” opens Memorabilia with cinematic strings and emotive piano lines, creating an atmosphere of yearning. Efue sings, “Counting all the days and nights / It’s taking you to get here to me/ Are you ever gonna come back to me?” in dreamy vocal harmonies, her strong melodic lines joined by bass and drums that subtly creep in as the track builds. It is a brief opener that instantly sets the soulful mood.
The cinematic strings return on “On the Floor” before giving way to heavy bass, dark reversed string samples, and Afro-Swing drums. Efue writes from an autobiographical perspective, capturing a toxic romantic situation with lines such as, “How many things can you really ask for/ You come and take, and you take some more/ You never stop till I’m on the floor/ Now what the hell are we doing this for?”
Straightforward melodies drive the lyrics home, allowing the listener to focus on them. She then varies her delivery with a distinctive two-layer harmony style, pairing airy, high-pitched lead vocals with subtle lower-register harmonies that give the latter a floating effect.
“History”, one of the previously released singles, rides on smooth guitar chords, string synths, and percussion-heavy Afrobeats drums, accented by a lively bassline and colourful rhythm guitars. Over this, Efue asserts her independence, taking control of her life and its trajectory: “One mission only/ Put the ball in my court, and it’s rolling already …Nobody dey wait for me/ If I no move with some urgency, I could be lost in a fantasy/ If I can gimme a new story, I can rewrite my history”. The chorus is melodically simple, with high points carried by the now familiar two-layer harmony that could well become her signature.
Another single, “Wanna Know”, builds around rattling hi-hats, a funky bass riff, smooth swirling pad chords, and a soft yet lively Afrobeats drum arrangement. She explores a rocky romantic situation: “They thought you let me go/ But you’re hanging around/ And you won’t take no for an answer/ Silence and violence, see the thing you’re inspiring inside me”.
The chorus is catchy, its quick staccato delivery lighter in feel than the subject it carries, while the verses reveal new agility in her melodic approach, crowned by subtle vocal flourishes that hint at the depth of her technique.
Memorabilia closes with “Beauty and the Beat”, Efue’s most autobiographical song, reflecting her relationship with music. “Make I sing my song and do my bit/ It’s what I was made for (I hear these melodies and they’re calling me)/ Beauty and my beat (Hear my melodies, you can’t take from me)/ Every song that I sing for you/ I put a little of myself into it / And then I did what they said I couldn’t.”
The instrumental is subtle yet beautiful, built on a two-chord progression with bright pads, arpeggiated electric pianos, spacious Afro-Swing drums, and a grounding bassline. Her simple melodies sit atop this foundation, with the signature two-layer harmonies returning at key moments to close Memorabilia on a beautifully personal note.
Memorabilia does what a debut should: it introduces us to the artiste and invites us into her world. Across the project, Efue reveals who she is, even literally on “Beauty and the Beat,” where she explains why she does what she does.
The strongest element of her artistry here is her songwriting. Throughout Memorabilia, she leans on direct and narrative lyricism to paint soulful, immersive stories of life and love. There is no trace of cliché, as the writing feels autobiographical, whether factually so or not. The words feel human and honest, like a friend opening up in confidence.
Her melodies remain relatively simple, ensuring the lyrics never get lost. The conversational nature of her writing translates into straightforward vocal lines that rarely leave her resting register. The tone is simple and clear, always serving the communication of the words. That is not to say she cannot sing.
She chooses her moments wisely, with one song including a few sprightly riffs that hint at a wider range of vocal technique and agility. She also introduces what may become her signature: the eerie two-line harmony pairing that reverses convention, letting the high line serve as the lead melody while the lower line lurks beneath to buoy it. The effect is ear-catching, and lines sung this way land with even greater impact.
As a producer herself, there is an expectation of strong production throughout, and Memorabilia does not disappoint. Her songwriting demands clarity, so the production remains free of clutter. Basslines are strong and grounding, drums are simple, and the sonic accents are spacious, leaving room for her message to cut through.
The simplicity never reads as bland. Instead, it strikes a delicate balance, providing cinematic mood, heaviness when required, brightness where needed, and enough groove and energy to keep the project engaging. The engineering is mostly solid, particularly given the relatively uncluttered arrangements. While there are moments where vocal processing could be slightly improved, such details largely go unnoticed and never distract from the essence of the music.
Altogether, Memorabilia is a memorable debut that validates the early buzz. It is personal, thoughtful, and open—a journey that demonstrates her potential and intentions while placing her firmly on the map as a name to watch. Efue’s voice, her pen, and her ear combine here into a statement of artistry that lingers long after the brief runtime, making Memorabilia not just a first step but a promise of what she has yet to offer.
Lyricism – 1.6
Tracklisting – 1.5
Sound Engineering – 1.5
Vocalisation – 1.5
Listening Experience – 1.5
Rating – 7.6/10
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.