I expressed a lot of surface-level reasons why I released this project, HEIS, over a course of interviews when it came out, but here are a few “SYMBOLIC” details that wrap around the ENERGY of the project I kept for myself, but now, I’d like to share.
Consider this an Author’s note:
I was born in a Dragon year; if you know what it is, you’d get a hint of why HEIS needed to happen in 2024. I hinted at the dragon in the Bounce cover art (which was the first song I teased the concept of my RAGE).
I showed signs from the Artworks leading to ‘Ravage’, how my innocence ( teddy bear & roses) was dying. In these covers, the Teddy was either found in grave sites, burning, stabbed with arrows, trunks, surrounded with swords, etc. The roses were always found burning, but I guessed y’all missed the message.
On Ravage cover Art, I showed you a brain with a glowing Pineal gland to hint at an Awakening, and if you look close, there’s a thin layer of hair connected to the brain from a ‘dead man riding a horse’ hinting at the journey to resurrection, Divination & Ego death.
Other hints are in “Rave & Roses Ultra” Cover Art with symbols like a skeleton riding a horse, the circle of life & mushrooms which grow after a living organism dies (extra hints are the dead versions of Rema in Soundgasm cover art surrounding the mushroom ).
My first O2 show, I came out signifying the strength of a “WOMAN WARRIOR” Queen Idia with a horse & a broken piece of her mask covered with chakra stones. No stone on that mask was fake; everything on that mask was energy-bound. Being the first person from Edo to do a 20k cap in London where the stolen Artefact of her head lies, I wonder why y’all expected me to come in light.
Yes, it was a good show, but I realised I passed on too much rawness of a generational rage, burden & fear that y’all were not ready for. Then I knew I couldn’t hold on to the rage anymore, I had to refine the energy and translate it better, hence one of my gravitations into making HEIS.
I always said from the beginning, “ I am the future”, “ I am the chosen one”. Indeed, I made my triumphant entry back to my home after 5 years, sold out the stadium & received the blessings of the Oba & left with my medal (key). A crucial piece I learned from the stories of Jesus (key of life) & the Matrix (in Neo’s search for the key). No Award or international gratification could fill up this gap for me, I walked with this Album to the depths, Musically, physically, psychologically & spiritually. Jesus (I AM) , Neo (The one), Rema ( HEIS ).
Culturally, HEIS needed to happen, I expressed that in the interviews & release parties. Who else could’ve done it? HOW DID MY LEAST STREAMING ALBUM PACK OUT EVERY SHOW? Did I crack a matrix code there? Is HEIS a phase, or is it who I truly am?
I told the label it never needed a fancy roll out, it needed to feel like an underground project from an underground Artist, only the core Ravers can carry this weight. It was not for surface-level supporters here for the ‘good time’, I know how well they switch up when you don’t feed them their dopamine. This is for the people who are here for the ‘story’. I limited it as much as I could, no CDs, merch or Vinyls yet. It didn’t need to feel sold, it needed to be discovered, hated, loved & respected in its own front.
The cover was inspired by Itachi in Naruto. The Truth masked as illusion, Love buried under what y’all thought was betrayal (change of sound, smoking, looks, aesthetics & choice of colour).
I co-produced almost every song on HEIS. There were emotions that the lyrics could not help me convey. Hence why I was nominated for producer categories in some awards last year.
Lastly, I’d ike to say HEIS did everything I wanted it to do. True Ravers did play their roles while I walked this path, it cut through deep beyond music, y’all even pulled up to the shows on ALL BLACK outfits, leather boots & raged with me. Thanks to the Peters, the John’s, the Thomas’s & the Judas who betrayed the course.
You were all part of this story, now I know.
