As both Nigerian immigrants and Bronx residents, duo ItsENJ has a very unique perspective that they bring to their music. Comprised of Chimdi and OTITO (aka The Dapper Duo), the brothers exude energy and vibrancy in their craft, drawing on a multitude of cultures including Hispanic, African, Caribbean, and others. Combine this melting pot with the twosome’s impressive skills in songwriting, production, performance, and creative direction, and the result is an infectiously good, danceable, striking musical project that has an incredibly wide appeal despite the varied cultural roots – Born on the Moon.
This EP starts with purpose from its opening measures. Leading track Move Your Body feels particularly African-inspired, and the lyrics are surprisingly uplifting while still being fun. Pray For It follows, bringing a more subdued feel and an exquisite, modern hip-hop delivery.
A bouncy collection of rhythms and synths lead standout track Voulez Vous, with a particularly memorable and catchy chorus. Number 1 brings a fiery, sharper angle to the project, complete with sultry lyrics and a smoky vocal delivery.
MOONSIDE is another stand out on the EP, with its driving rhythm and intricate saxophone runs in the background of this decidedly pop track. Say Your Mind is more delicate, with dreamy vocals and a gentle, flowing instrumentation underneath them that builds nicely throughout. The EP closes with Thopo, bringing back the complex yet danceable rhythmic sections and high level modern production for a smooth finish.
While the cultural influences in this work are apparent and well-represented, you don’t have to be worldly for this EP to resonate personally with you. Full of fun energy, exotic rhythms, modern production, and catchy melodies, there is so much to enjoy on Born on the Moon. For fans of pop music with deeper layers of meaning, add the music of ItsENJ to your playlists and you won’t be disappointed.
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BELOW: Listen to Born on the Moon and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support ItsENJ by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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