Emma Nyra Drop New EP

Extended Play – Love Vs Money
Artiste – Emma Nyra
Guests – Cynthia Morgan, Victoria Kimani, Fiokee, Banky W, Patoranking, Dammy Krane,
Producers – Princeton, Fliptyce, DJ Coublon, Giggz, Dospeaks
Record Label – Nyra Nation, Nyra Empire, Krystal O. Diamond (2016)
Duration – 32 Minutes

It’s the mark of greatness for people to rise up after they fall. Emma Nyra had the most ignominious of exits when she was kicked off her comfort zone at Made Men Music Group. Her entrance and survival in the house had always been linked to the whims and emotions of the label boss – Ubi Franklin – who reported abused her physically and verbally.

But the exit was mandatory. Swift. Debilitating. And ugly.

Emma had to relocate to her family home in the US to retreat, recuperate and return. She stayed strong, played at shows, fighting the negativity, and recording new music. Her stay in the US was fruitful, as she bonded with her family, spent time away from the drama on Nigerian blogs, avoided all the reminders of her pain, and the triggers of her sorrow. Hers was necessary leave, far different from the holidays that she had previously took. But that ended in December. Emma returned, ready to dive right into the scene.

August 4, 2016 finds Emma with a new EP, bearing a conceptual title of ‘Love VS Money’, and exploring the correlation between both pursuits. Utilizing synths, syncopation and production from a number of engineers. She leans heavily towards the financials on ‘Make money’. “Make money money…please don’t fall in love’, she sings with the weight and wisdom that only experience can provide. This draws inspiration from the first half of her Nigerian career, where she did mix her pursuit of success, with romance with Ubi Franklin. That almost never ends well, and she was a casualty of the consequences.

Thematic consistency is the strongest point of this work. For isolation of the two facets, there’s reggaeton romance in ‘Drop it’, and obstinate resistance of love in the thumping Highlife cut – ‘One chance’. Rich guitar strings from Fiokee add color to probing ballad of ‘Love of the money’. However, the powering element is her storytelling and her ability to own the local delivery and pidgin flow. There’s the existence of that struggle between money and love. ‘Vex’ is a tiring girl-power plod under poorly done R&B.

Following the welcome break and familiarity of ‘For my matter’ (featuring Patoranking) the first of two remixes worthy of being called Emma’s finest moments, the record’s last track and second half shines by the power of Banky W’s brilliant verse.

Emma scores major points by executing a theme via admirable songwriting. But it is lack of punch and a resonating connection in the melodies that draw back this EP. Regardless, she continues to find herself and grow again organically via releasing music, and embracing her efforts. There’s plenty of potential here that begs to be guided, channeled right, and unleashed to fulfilment. But for now, it’s conflicted.

Rating: 3/5