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Elomaina Mafeni (born 1994), known professionally as Aylø, is a Nigerian neo-soul, and alternative R&B singer, songwriter, and music producer. He came into the music scene with an acclaimed mixtape album Insert Project Name, with lead track "wys?", featuring Cruel Santino. The accompanying music video for "wys?", was released on 26 May 2018, in collaboration with Samsung Nigeria, and HelaBase.

Life and career

Aylø was born in 1994 in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. He credited his parents for his early music education. He tells Nataal Magazine, "I grew up listening to my mother's gospel and my father's jazz collections, as well as rap and soul music from my uncles." However, he cited Fela Kuti, DMX, Andre 3000, Whitney Houston, Sade, and Herbie Hancock, as his early musical influence, and was led to start making music, after he heard J. Cole’s music. He tells Nataal Magazine culture, and music writer Eric Otieno.

Aylø who launched his career on SoundCloud, was first introduced into the music scene, through Odunsi's record "Situationship", which pushed him into the alté mainstream in 2016. The single "Situationship", peaked at number 5 on U.S Spotify Viral 50 on Billboard, and debut at number 1 on the SoundCloud "New & Hot" R&B & Soul chart. On 23 December 2016, he released Honest Conversations EP exclusively on SoundCloud, which spawned hit track "Island Girl". An alté song which features guess vocals from Odunsi (The Enegine), and Zamir. On 4 January 2017, Culture Custodian listed Honest Conversations EP on its list of 10 debut projects from 2016 you should bump! in 2017.

On 15 May 2017, Honest Conversations EP was commercially released independently on streaming platforms. On 22 September 2017, he released Insert Project Name. The project spawned various hit tracks, including "wys?", featuring Cruel Santino, and "Gardens" featuring Chris Generalz, and Tau Benah. The project also features guest appearance from Amaarae, Hamzaa, and Odunsi (The Engine). On 22 December 2017, he opened for Yxng Bane, Kojo Funds, Davido, Skepta, and Burna Boy at the Nativeland. In June 2018, he released "Still ll", and "Litt!", and feature a guest vocal from Tay Iwar; with music production from Le Mav. On 8 July 2018, he released the music video for "Still II".

On 13 April 2019, "Wys?", and "Gardens" from Insert Project Name, mixtape album was aired on Soulection radio. On 13 June 2019, he released "Paris!", as the first lead single off dnt'dlt, mixtape album. On 20 June 2019, "Paris!" music video was premiered first on The Fader's magazine. and was made available commercially the next day being 21 June, for YouTube streaming. On 11 July 2019, he released "Sassy", featuring Fasina, and PsychoYP, as the second lead single off dnt'dlt, mixtape album. On 2 August 2019, he released dnt'dlt mixtape, independently through Apple Music's Platoon, with guest appearances from Cheso, Myquale, Fasina, PsychoYP, MoJo AF and SugarBana.

dnt'dlt is an abbreviation for "don’t delete". Reviewing for Pulse Nigeria, Motolani Alake said the project mostly seemed authentic and relatable experiences of youth. He rated the project 7/8, meaning Victory in the scale of Pulse Nigeria. On 28 April 2020, he premiered "THIS SH!T", featuring Lmbskn on The Fader Magazine. On 1 May 2020, he commercially released "THIS SH!T" on streaming platforms. On 8 October 2020, Aylø unveiled his publishing and distribution deal with Soulection, with the release of "Romantic", as the second lead single off his debut EP - Clairentience. On 16 October 2020, "Romantic" was cited on OkayAfrica Heat Of The Week, among 8 other songs.

On 17 October 2021, "Romantic" from Clairentience, extended play was aired on Soulection radio. On 10 December 2020, he released his debut extended play Clairsentience, independently through Soulection, with guest appearances from Lordkez (stylized as lordkez), LMBSKN, and Suté Iwar. On 26 March 2021, he release "Clairsentience LIVE", a collective of three live singles from Clairsentience extended play, under Soulection. On 6 November 2021, he was on the line-up of ART X Live!, with Lojay, Dami Oniru, BigFoot and Pheelz. On 4 February 2022, Ronehi, and Aylø released "Saudade", through Outer South. On 12 February 2022, "Saudade" was aired on Soulection Radio.

On 24 June 2022, following the release of the Nigerian movie Glamour Girls, a sequel to the 1994 classic. The movie features alté songs on its tracklist curated by Tatenda Terence Kamera. "Still II", "Paris!", and "925" by Aylø were included on the movie soundtrack. On 8 July 2022, he released his most anticipated indie-studio album For Good Reasons, through The Soul Headquarters, with guest appearances from Tena Tenpo, PsychoYP, Zilla Oaks, Tim Lyre, Zirra, Sutra (stylized as SUTRA), and Merry-Lynn.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Mixtapes

Singles

References

1. Macebong, Cindy (11 November 2019). "AYLØ On Riding His Own Wave and Creating a Musical Identity". Radr Africa. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
2. ^ Otieno, Eric. "AYLØ". nataal.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
3. ^ "AYLØ debuts with the video for "wys?"". The NATIVE. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
4. "New Music: Odunsi feat. Aylø – Situationship". BellaNaija. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
5. "Spotify Viral 50". Billboard. 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-08. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
6. ""Situationship" is number 1 on the SoundCloud "New n Hot" RnB chart". Twitter. Odunsi (The Engine). Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
7. ^ "EP : Honest Conversations – AYLØ". The Culture Custodian. 1 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
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11. "Burna Boy, Davido Skepta, thrill Lagos in annual concert". Pulse Nigeria. 23 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
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16. "In "Paris," AYLØ brings a dreamlike romance to Lagos". The FADER. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
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21. "AYLØ simply wants you to enjoy the night on "This Sh!t"". The FADER. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
22. "AYLØ And LMBSKN Are Gatekeepers Of A Safe Space On 'This Sh!t'". The Culture Custodian. 3 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
23. Laketu, Adedayo (8 October 2020). "Aylø Releases Soulful Single 'Romantic'". MoreBranches. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
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26. ^ "Interview: AYLØ Bridges His Music & Universe In the 'Clairsentience' EP". OkayAfrica. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
27. "Nigerian Alté Artist Aylø Releases 'Clairsentience Live' On Soulection Records". Shore Fire Media. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
28. "Art X Lagos Gets its Groove Back – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
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31. "Soulection Radio Show #538 ft. Budgie (A Lover's Special)". Soulection. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
32. Wright, Moore (5 July 2022). "AV Club: "Glamour Girls", music choices & the complicated strides of modern Nollywood". The NATIVE. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
33. "Glamour Girls (2022) Soundtrack". soundtracki.com. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
34. ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (9 July 2022). "Nigerian fast-rising star AYLØ releases 'For Good Reasons' album". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.

• 1994 births
• Living people
• 21st-century Nigerian male singers
• English-language singers from Nigeria
• Neo soul singers
• Nigerian alté singers
• Nigerian contemporary R&B singers