Onolyrics Shows There’s More Than Country Twang in Nashville

May 11, 2012 - PRLog -- NASHVILLE – Nashville may be the capital of country music, but that might not only be the only music coming from the local recording studios. Onolyrics is working to quickly make Nashville as well known for its African beats as it is for its folksy twang.

“I am making Nashville a music hub for music like Afro-beat, Zouk as well as Gospel Highlife,” said Ogechukwu Nnamdi Okoh, who goes by the name Onolyrics. “It may simply just be known as the international music city.”

The Nigerian native released his first full album – Lifted Higher – in 2011 under the Ajie Record and Onodigitals Studio Nashville TN USA. His first singles released from the album were “Dear Mama” which was dedicated to his loving late mother.

“The first album originated from my heart,” he said. “It really got the music genre established in Nashville.”

Originating in the Caribbean, Zouk music comes from the rhythmic cadence-lypso music of Dominica. It really came to fame in the mid-1980s when it came from the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique on to the world scene.

Meanwhile, Afro-beat calls on the traditional chant music of Africa and blends in call-and-response vocals and plenty of percussion. It originated in Onolyrics home country of Nigeria.

He also focuses on the development of Gospel Highlife, also known as Igbo music, in the United States which originated in Southeastern Nigeria. The music leverages the percussion beats of three major drums – the Pot Drum, known as the Kim-Kim or Udo; the Talking Drum which is known as the Nkwa, Egwe or Egede; along with the Slit Drum or Ekwe. It also heavily relies on a gong, also known as a Olu or Ogene.

“I want to create the American renaissance in Afro-beat much like Fela Kuti did with Koola Lobitos and Africa ’70,” he said. “I play keyboard and drums as well as bring a songwriter and singer.”

The mission continues for Onolyrics.

For more information about Onolyrics, or his music, please visit his website at http://www.onolyricsliveband.com or http://www.onolyrics.com.


-30-

Media Contact:

Onolyrics
Phone: 615-200-3291