In a candid conversation on Joey Akan’s Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Nigerian singer-songwriter CKay opened up about the public’s perception of his smile and the pressures to constantly appear happy. He shared that many fans and critics often tell him to smile more, a sentiment that, according to him, stems from his public image, particularly in photos.
“I think people build a perception of me needing to smile more because of pictures,” CKay explained, noting that his less frequent smiles in images might have contributed to this expectation.
The singer also connected his smile to the mood of his music, revealing that his upcoming album was born from a particularly challenging time in his life. “I wasn’t smiling when I started working on this album…the mood was reality,” he said, highlighting the more raw and emotional period during its creation.
Read also: Skepta and Flo Milli Bring UK-US Rap Fusion to Life with “Why Lie?” Performance
CKay further stressed the importance of authenticity in his music, noting that he refuses to focus solely on positive emotions. “Making music only about the positive things won’t be realistic…positive and negative emotions happen to a person, so I say making art has to represent both,” he said, reinforcing his commitment to creating art that truly reflects the complexities of life.
