ON PNEUMA ILAYE IS TEACHING US TO FEEL.

Urban Central
Nov 5 · 4 min read

On Pneuma Ilaye arrives graceful to put up an exhibition of love through the eyes of a paramour, an onlooker amongst other perspectives. To press play on the EP is to be transported into this surreal exhibition by her voice which sounds like the rain, not the boisterous downpour associated with the middle of the year in Nigeria but like mild precipitation that foreshadows the sun during weekends.

From tip-off, one encounters the motif of distance, distance between former lovers on “Barbecue” and the distance from which the voyeur operates on “Binoculars”. The guitar strings which are at the center of “Barbecue” assist Ilaye to breakdown the emotions often experienced when one considers an old flame or the wistful examination of a love that once was. We have heard it said that “you never really stop loving anyone” and on “Barbecue”, the chasm that has appeared fails to deter Ilaye from sending her best across. After all she still considers herself special in his eyes.

When “Binoculars” begins, the focus isn’t on Ilaye, it is on two lovers as seen through her lenses. When the focus is on these lovers we see them experience joy, times passes by and we see them experience sadness. Watching them, becomes the basis for Ilaye to acknowledge her weakness when she sings “I love to sightsee, but I’m not cut out for this”. An admission that is instantly countered in the next line when she sings “the vision is blinding, but i don’t want to wake up from this dream”.

Across Pneuma we find embedded within each song different analogies to describe love and romance. We are however treated to three of the best on “Metaphors” where our taciturn protagonist uses scenarios to communicate. “Metaphors” serves as the high point of the EP for so many reasons in general but particularly because Ilaye’s songwriting ability shines brightest here. The words fall into formation, leading you by the hand and only presenting the full picture upon utterance of the last consonant.

In her songwriting, Ilaye doesn’t skimp on using personal experiences as building blocks. Speaking to Urban Central she said “there’s a piece of my personal experiences on each song on the EP”

To Ilaye friendship is important, over email exchanges she let’s me know that “every significant human connection…must have the element of friendship. If you don’t see, for instance, your mom as a friend, you wouldn’t necessarily like her regardless of the fact that she birthed you.” In the course of the conversation she admitted that this consciousness seeped into the project and we find evidence of this on the warm “Dearest Friend” where she tackles stereotypical confidence crushers by offering reassurances and a “keep your head up” charge to us, her friends.

For all the bright colors and sparkles we get in the opening tracks of the EP, we are treated to a complete antithesis on the closing two tracks. Our previously sentimental protagonist is refitted with a stoic personality, a longing for love is replaced with nonchalance towards it. Despite this apathy, “On This Side of Forlorn” she gives into the mushy feeling to be held and to be desired. This paradox is the meeting point for so many others and provides a hazy point in the EP.

The title of the EP is inspired by an intrigue for things that one can’t see but can feel. Like the wind, gravity, emotions and God. It is fitting that Pneuma means soul, you cannot see the soul but you can feel its outpouring throughout Pneuma. In her words, “ ‘Pneuma’ means ‘wind’, ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’. Essentially, the core of a person or the part of a person you can’t see but is the source of everything that they are. I wanted to create a body of work that expresses that part of myself and at the same time could make whoever listens feel more connected to that part of themselves; the invisible, emotional and potent part”

Knowledge of our senses help us to know that music is consumed through hearing, on Pneuma Ilaye is teaching us how to also feel it.


Urban Central Eval

Production: 3/4

Concept, Narrative and Topical Conversations: 3/4

Lyrical Content: 4/4

Replay Value: 3/4

Enjoyability: 3/4

Total: 16/20

VERDICT: Tier 2: #LoudBang


By K.O for Urban Central [Tweets @WordsbyAG]

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Urban Central

SPIRIT AND VOICE OF TIMES

Urban Central

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Urban Central is the Internet Magazine for the millennial mind, focused on the issues that matter for an evolving generation, do follow us, Urban Central.

Urban Central

SPIRIT AND VOICE OF TIMES

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