LA-based, Nigerian artist, producer, and creative Uche has released HOW TO DIE the first part of his two-part album HOW TO LIVE/HOW TO DIE. With sharp lyricism, powerful soundscapes, and a bold approach, Uche is surpassing grades in the underground scene and establishing himself in this world filled with music.
HOW TO DIE kicks off the journey, with HOW TO LIVE to follow.
By releasing HOW TO DIE first, Uche begins at the end of his journey, reflecting on his artistic progression.
The album captures his growth through darkness, acting as a path maker for a brighter direction.
Uche’s music is like a mirror, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences. He asks challenging questions, encouraging self-examination and growth. "I’m just painting my perspective," he shares, "and I hope you can see how your own perspective needs to shift in order for your life to move forward."
While in the UK for his press tour Uche has been receiving support from influential radio stations, including Rinse FM, and NTS, helping expand his reach and reinforce his presence.
During our time at Uche’s studio in London, he explained the concept behind HOW TO DIE.
The album is about making a pact with the darker side: "It’s like when you’re about to go drill or commit a crime, and you accept that you might harm someone or something. You’re making a pact with the other side, even if it’s just for a moment. You know it’s not okay, but you’re willing to cross that line. Later, you pray for forgiveness, but in that moment, you’ve come to terms with the consequences of your actions. HOW TO DIE represents that space of acceptance."
“When people listen to me, I want them to see themselves and either ask the questions they need to ask, or gain the perspectives that they need to gain for themselves.”
Track 01 / 02 RICKY BOBBY and AWAKE:
Both tracks open the album with an intense energy. What did you want to set up in the first few moments of HOW TO DIE, and how do these tracks reflect your mindset as you started working on the album?
"I wanted to create a feeling of angst. Scattered thoughts but a focused feeling. If you’ve ever been close to the edge before you know what crashing out feels like. I very much felt like that. My recent journey in music is really what brought me back. God definitely has a plan for me in this."
In AWAKE, you mention ‘I sleep with a drac, it’s keepin’ me safe’ and ‘I’m ridin’ with Ghost, he might die in that Wraith.’ What role do trust and protection play in your life, and how do these themes connect to your experiences in the streets?
"I have trust issues you could say. Don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing."
Track 3 Here I Go:
On Here I Go, you touch on the pressures of ambition and inner-city life. How does this track explore the tension between your dreams and the reality of where you came from?
We also have to touch on the visuals! They are insane - where were they filmed?
"I battle with that a lot. Chasing where I wanna be then opening my eyes, seeing the reality of where I am in the present. It’s night & day. It can make even the strongest of soldiers crash out. All I aim to do is affect my situation. Whether that’s in the present or for the future. Dealing with the present, but fighting for the future, sometimes the tension of the present wins. The video was also shot in LA."
You talk about being 'energised off get-backs' and treating it like C4. What does 'get-backs' mean to you in this context, and how does it fuel your drive and actions?
"At this point in my life, I take a lot of things personal. People that could have said “yes” but said “no”, friends, family and business partners who worked hard to orchestrate my demise and left me for dead. I know God doesn’t forget."
Track 4 FN:
In FN, the lyrics touch on themes of loyalty and betrayal, with lines like 'Love is a costly pleasure, and I’m scared to spend.' How does the production reflect this internal conflict, and does it intensify the feeling of tension in the song?
"The production sets the tone for this eerie almost mob like sonic that goes back and forth with itself. Which is ironic because I’m doing the complete opposite. I’m set in my ways & revenge is the only mission."
Track 5 regret it:
In regret it, the lyrics focus on relationships and the impact of past choices. Lines like 'Made it out of hell with foe, rest of my life forever indebted' and 'She watched me come up on my own now five thousand a show n’ I bet she regret it' highlight growth and success. How does this track explore the emotional weight of success and its effects on relationships?
"I think you see that dynamic in all walks of life. The people who are brave enough to stick by you during all your uncertainties definitely are rewarded. It’s also worth reminding those who didn’t, what they missed out on."
Track 6 sins above me:
On this track, the themes are deeper. How do you see the song exploring the weight of past decisions and the influence they have on your present self and further to this -
The lyrics focus on inner conflict, broken relationships, and the consequences of past actions. The repeated line "Sins above me, ain’t no mo’" signifies the idea of leaving past mistakes behind. The line "Watch the Lambo bite the curb like it’s teethin’" adds a sense of tension and recklessness, while the reference to expensive items like "What’s on my wrist cost a bird, that’s OVO" ties into the materialistic themes. How do the production choices enhance the emotional tone and narrative of the song?
"I think we’ve all made mistakes, been imperfect and faulted others. We are no less or more because of our shortcomings or success. Transparency transcends condemnation as we are all human. sins above me speaks to wrongdoings of my own and those of past lovers in an honest way. A double sided narrative and the sample in the production completes the story."
Track 7 DEFENSE interlude:
In DEFENSE interlude, the lyrics take us through a relentless, high-stakes journey of emotional and physical defense. How does the juxtaposition of prayer and sin create a push-pull dynamic, and what role does this internal conflict play in shaping the track's overall tone?
"When I was younger I saw some people do some really bad things and say a prayer before & after their deeds. It gave me the understanding that even the devil recognises God and vice versa in the ongoing war between good and evil."
Track 8 REPLIES:
This is my personal favourite from the project, I like how you bring the noise down, you really step in and speak to us - touching on the toxicity of validation. Was this what you meant by this track?
"Definitely. I love that you use the phrase “bring the noise down”. That’s the exact purpose of the record. As any person does, you go through whatever your day may look like (from extremes of street violence to the 9-5 hustle & bustle) and at some point of your day step back into the human side of your life. Whether that be with your significant other, your family, kids, friends or whatever. And this can act as a time vacuum. Where whatever was going on outside of this space doesn’t matter as this world presents dynamics of its’ own. As for me, I’m speaking to a world involving my significant others and dealing with the pressures of the outside world and then having to uphold the world that myself & my significant other have created."
Track 9 machete:
Sonically, this beat is so gritty and eerie, and it provokes this darker side. You’re really talking your sh*t on this record, telling on yourself as you mentioned previously—there are two sides. What headspace were you in while creating this track, and what message do you want listeners to take from it?
"F*ck niggas. N*ggas is hoes. I don’t clique up with you n*ggas because y’all all hoes."
Track 10 discover:
In one of our previous conversations, you said “I’m not after accolades, money, I’m after the feeling.”
What feeling does "discover" give you?
"This record is an honest depiction of how I feel and live my life. I’m grateful to be able to document my life with such accuracy & intent. I hope I can continue to be able do so in the future."
Track 11 pessimist:
You said in one of our conversations, “I want to take people to places, emotions, focus on certain emotions and have them feel that.” This track really does that—what’s the story behind this one?
"Something for the ladies. I’m a very private person, especially when it comes to my love life. This record feels like a light lift of the veil which my personal/relationship interactions with women lie beneath."
Track 12 CRASH DUMMY:
The closing track, 'CRASH DUMMY,' brings things full circle with its intense lyrics, disruption, and inner-city sound. What does this track symbolise in terms of your evolution as an artist, and how does it represent letting go of certain parts of yourself?
“Been sleep in the trap all week, the dishes piled up to the sink” that’s a true story. That’s where I was when I made this record. I just started looking around me and saying what my reality was in that moment. There was no other goal for this record other than to say where I was and what was happening."
Special credit to Sully for press images.
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