On his third Album, MELOVIA, the Nigerian artist, Savage, delivers his most assured statement yet, weaving Afrobeats, Amapiano, and R&B into a tapestry of uncompromising confidence.
On WHO, the opening salvo of his third studio LP MELÖVIA, Savage delivers a manifesto wrapped in shimmering synths: “Yes I know I’m a sinner man, but cast your stone if you better than, I got demons in my inner man, but still I met nobody realer than me.” It’s a declaration of flawed humanity that doubles as bulletproof armour, setting the stage for 34 minutes of music that feels like Lagos at midnight; electric, dangerous, and alive.
The opening track, featuring Morrelo, establishes the album’s central thesis from its first breath: authenticity doesn’t require perfection, it demands honesty. Savage’s smooth vocals glide over rolling hi-hats and those trademark shimmering synths, creating an immediate sense of elevation, you genuinely feel like the highest in the room. Morrelo’s contributions are more than mere feature fodder; his lyrics stick in your consciousness, forcing contemplation long after the track ends. It’s a perfect encapsulation of what makes MELÖVIA special: music that moves your body while engaging your mind.
Released on May 30, 2025, MELÖVIA finds Savage operating at a new altitude entirely. Where 2021’s Utopia announced his arrival with youthful exuberance and standout tracks like Confident featuring Buju and Rosemary featuring Victony, songs that were rightfully hailed as some of Afrobeats’ finest in their release year, this 13-track follow-up dives deeper into the shadows and light of contemporary Nigerian life. Following the 2023 album That Uzere Boy, Savage has mastered the art of the earworm, but MELÖVIA represents something more ambitious: an artist willing to venture into uncharted emotional territory while maintaining the melodic sensibilities that made him renowned.
The following track, ON DISPLAY, brings UK drill star Backroad Gee into the fold, and their partnership proves that geography is no barrier to genuine artistic chemistry. Backroad Gee’s exuberant energy and distinctive UK sound create an intriguing contrast with Savage’s calm authority, resulting in a track that feels simultaneously international and unmistakably African. It’s evidence of Savage’s growing confidence as a curator of sounds and voices, his ability to envision how disparate elements might work together to create something entirely new.
