EBUBÉ INTERVIEW: UK R&B artist Ebubé was one of the founding members of R&B group No Guidnce. The multi-instrumentalist spent his formative years surrounded by R&B and gospel music before being classically educated. Now a solo artist, he follows up his recent single, ‘Where I Wanna Be’, with this VIPER interview…

What five words define your sound? 

Soulful, Vulnerable, Warm, Storytelling, Emotional.

Tell me something unique about your creative process 

One thing I really enjoy doing is that during studio sessions, I prefer to focus on the song’s vibe rather than trying to rush and complete the song. Afterwards, I take it home and finish any vocals or production work there. It’s always refreshing to create in various environments for the same song.

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first? 

I would say ‘For You, Love’ as I think sonically it is a nice introduction to the musical world I am trying to paint. Lyrically, I am very vulnerable and self-reflective in the song and the topic is one I think a lot of people can relate to.

What inspired you to make that song? 

Life. In relationships we all having times when we doubt ourselves and if what we are doing is enough, but we must also remember that our partner probably is feeling the same way. I wrote this song to try to express that despite any self-doubt or need for reassurance she may have, I’ll be here waiting for her. Wounds, which we all have in varying sizes, take time to heal and patience from those who love you.

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve all owed yourself to be when writing/making music? 

I believe that when I write, I strive to infuse my entire being into it. When writing ‘Where I Wanna Be’, I intentionally channeled a significant amount of frustration and perhaps insecurity into the song.  Many of us feel like when meeting someone, that person pushes you to be a better you, and in this song I really tried to push that feeling of striving to give the best to that person

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage? 

The most memorable experience on stage for me was hearing an entire crowd singing your song back to you. It’s incredibly rewarding and a blessing to create art and touch people’s lives, and to hear that so passionately is truly a gift. On the other hand, the most challenging experience for me has been performing when I’m ill. It’s especially difficult because you always want to give your best performance possible, but in these times it’s so hard to constantly fight with the illness on stage.

What is your favourite song to perform? 

I would say ‘Where I Wanna Be’ as it allows me to evoke so much emotion that I felt when writing the song and seeing how it connects with others and they relate to it.

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music? 

Many artists from Ray Charles, CeCe Winans, Donny Hathaway and Daniel Caesar all really inspired me to make my own music. Music can’t be without soul and these icons have it in abundance.

What’s the meaning behind your name? 

My name in my mother tongue, Igbo means ‘God’s glory’. I always know that God is with me in everything I do and create and that is really reassuring.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead? 

I probably would still have been at medical school in France! I had the opportunity to be in music very early on, so didn’t get very far but I sometimes wonder how different things would have been had I gone down that path… If I had to stop making music now and do something else, I would definitely still be creating in other mediums such as acting or writing. I think creativity is such an important facet of life for me, I could never stop!

What’s success to you?

Success for me is freedom. Specifically having the freedom to make sure that your passion always remains your passion and not your pressure. The ability to do what you love, without external pressure and having the freedom to choose to do ONLY what you love, to me is real success. 

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction? 

Definitely last year, pivoting to being a solo artist. I feel like in the few months following, I grew as a person more than any period in my life as I had to learn so many lessons in a short time and alone. 

Where can people keep in touch with you? 

I am on Instagram and X as @thisisebube and on TikTok as @theebube. I also post on YouTube not only about music which is also @thisisebube

Photo by Leon Heaney