The Nigerian music scene is set for a major jolt as a music prodigy, Von Blake- born Dilinna Blake Ezeofor- releases a debut album. The album is scheduled for release on 17th October, 2024.
Simply entitled “Von Blake”, the new album is an 8-song set that celebrates love, fate, and personal struggle and talks about the uncertainty of life with pointed clarity.
The new album features such captivating songs as Memories, Mamamiya, Awelle, Body On My Body( B.O.M.B) which was a collaboration between him and INVICTUS; Wowo, Shiva, Lock up and Grind.
Blake further explains the nitty gritty of his debut Album: “It has different moods and different stories. It’s the work of a candid thought process operating on a different frequency of cutting-edge creativity.
“Just the recording process alone had different reasons that took me to the studio, but with the same goal. I didn’t have a solid written plan, so I approached this Album with no fear or pressure”
Blake’s music genre is a unique blend of Afro Calypso. Since dubbing himself “Sound Maniac” in 2021, Von Blake has carved a niche for himself, operating with the assured air of generational talent that makes his music a must-like, and his stage performances a must-watch. His melodies, energetic stage performances and eerie imagery made him a beacon for Afro Calypso’s global expansion.
Before his new album, Blake had already in his kitty, a plethora of wave- making singles such as Fine Fine Caro, Tom Tom Waist, On a Sunday Morning among others.
Blake did not just stumble into music; music for him is a natural inclination that got hold of him as a kid in kindergarten. Over the years, the passion and the inclination have blossomed into a futurist epoch that produces a vibrant mosaic of music—encompassing influences from calypso, reggaetón’s melodic undertone, folk music and the immersive sonics of highlife.
His unique musical genre explores cross-continental pollination that births the thrills of global stardom as an Afro-Calypso exponent.
Masterly in his field, Von Blake is steadily making inroads into the international music scene via his participation in international music events and inching towards international stardom. The young music artist and INVICTUS came 3rd in the Spanish/ Nigeria musical competition held on the 24th of March 2023. The international musical event, which featured 2000 Nigerian artists, was organized by the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria.
A graduate of Civil Engineering, Von Blake is a singer, songwriter and composer. His love for music blossomed throughout his academic pursuits. In secondary school, for example, he teamed up with like minds in his class to form the musical group, INVICTUS.
Promoted and managed by Zeof Records, a music company dedicated to discovering nurturing and growing talented young artists, Von Blake is optimistic about his future and music career. According to him, “The future of my music career is bright… I see myself in the next five years impacting a wide range of people and generation after generation to come identifying with my music irrespective of their colour, tribe or race”
Commenting on his company’s interest in upcoming music stars, High Chief (Barrister) Jideofor Ezeofor, the Chairman/ CEO of Zeof Records, said his commitment to nurturing young music talents is unwavering; hence, Zeof has, over the years, threaded where other music companies and promoters fear to thread.
Even at the risk of personal financial loss, Barrister Ezeofor has continued to sponsor music shows which is one of the avenues talented upcoming musicians are discovered.
“We will continue to hunt and discover young music talents and then, build them, grow them, support them, promote them until they become superstars. At Zeof, we are committed to helping young, upcoming music artists hone their talents”, said High Chief Ezeofor, a music enthusiast himself.