Maureen Adenike Okoye, professionally known as Nikz, leans into warmth, melody and optimism on her three-track MARS EP.
Mars is probably not the first place you would associate with warmth. Nikz's MARS, however, has plenty of it.
Across “Spot,” “Rora” and “Focus on Me,” she creates three records that feel celebratory, uplifting and reassuring without ever turning those emotions into something overly sentimental.
“Spot” is the easiest song to fall into. Guitar, bass and percussion create a bright groove while the melodies carry much of the personality. There is something cinematic about it. It sounds like the sort of song filmmakers place behind an emotional travel montage; open roads, holidays, good memories, somebody finally arriving where they wanted to be. The guitar speaks.
“Rora” has more weight. Its Amapiano bassline drives the song, while piano and percussion create movement around it. Then the trumpets arrive and lift the whole arrangement. Those horns are arguably the standout element of the project. They give the song a rich, almost spiritual quality before guitar melodies enter and make the record even more expressive. At certain points, the phrasing sounds romantic, like someone trying to communicate feelings they cannot quite put into words.
“Focus on Me” reduces the intensity. Soft trumpets and percussion slowly establish the mood, while the melody has a calming quality. It sounds like concentration translated into music, worry less, stay focused, keep going.
MARS works because Nikz does not overcomplicate these ideas. She finds a feeling and lets the instruments stay with it.
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