Thutmose takes us track-by-track through his seductive and soul-stirring Afro-house EP ‘HEAVEN ON EARTH,’ a spellbinding set of songs born out of intimacy, a lifelong love of soccer, and his own raw lust for life.
Stream: “Champagne on Ice” – Thutmose
I really believe if you want to better the world, you have to start by becoming a better you.
I‘ts simply impossible to listen to Thutmose’s latest EP without a big smile.
HEAVEN ON EARTH is life-giving; it’s invigorating and inspirational, uplifting and impassioned. It’s the music of a heart and soul unleashed through love; of an artist basking in their good place, finding the light in their own lives and embracing it for all it’s worth. Dreamy and dramatic, catchy and cathartic, HEAVEN ON EARTH is a touch of bliss; Thutmose delivers fifteen minutes of Afro-house euphoria through a spellbinding set of slick, stunning, and soul-stirring songs born out of intimacy and his own raw lust for life.
I get the feeling we won’t drift too far
Back when we were young you left me scarred
But now it’s 3am and we’re apart
After dark, I’m tryna be right where you are
I don’t want a placeholder
I’m tryna put a hold on ya
Tell me where the time go
Feels like I already know ya
Known you for a lifetime
Let’s run it back one time
I wanna be here forever
– “Champagne on Ice,” Thutmose
Released October 8th, 2024 via DreamState Together, HEAVEN ON EARTH is a breathtaking return to the fore for Brooklyn’s Thutmose. The rapper, singer, and songwriter’s first project since 2020’s two-EP project Best of Both Worlds finds him embracing his Nigerian roots (he was born in Lagos) while holding his head high and basking in all that is good in life. Six Afropop-influenced tracks radiate heat, passion, and an infectiously charming energy as Thutmose invites us to connect on a deeper level not just with those around us, but also with ourselves.
“I wanted the sonic direction for this project to be Afro House,” Thutmose tells Atwood Magazine. “While I was creating the EP, I circled back to my love for soccer and started playing with friends as I once played on the Varsity team in high school. Soccer is also the most popular sport in Nigeria where I was born, so it’s a part of our culture. When I heard the beat, the energy and idea just flowed, so I titled it after the Ballon D’or Award, which is the biggest award you can get in soccer. I want to associate myself with the best of the best in regards to anything I do in life.”
“This was one of the few records where I was just having fun in the studio, letting my ego take control. Sometimes as artists we’re writing stories that are relatable and emotional, this was the opposite, just pure energy and letting intuition take control.”
HEAVEN ON EARTH arrives as the 29-year-old artist completes what will be his eighth year in the industry; he released his debut album Man on Fire to considerable acclaim in 2018, and has collaborated with a plethora of artists from all over the musical spectrum (including Pink Sweat$, Desiigner, NoMBe, and Loud Luxury) over the years, all while remaining fearless when it comes to his own artistic experimentations, explorations, and creative forays.
“Man on Fire was the introduction of the Dream, a newcomer in the game running in blazing to make a statement,” Thutmose says, reflecting on the road to his new record. “Best of Both Worlds was me coming to the realization of my unique perspective on what I have to offer in terms of being born in Nigeria and growing up in Brooklyn. Heaven on Earth is the evolution of taking those dreams and living them out, not letting my past dictate my future. I want to show others that coming from struggle doesn’t mean we cant enjoy the best of what life has to offer.”
Thutmose describes HEAVEN ON EARTH as confident, braggadocious, and aspirational. “This project is about staying optimistic in a world that is always unpredictable,” he says with a smile. “Life should be a celebration and some of us don’t always see the beauty in it. A lot of us might feel like we’re going through hell, and even if you’ve been through hell, I believe you can still experience Heaven on Earth. It’s a reminder to look at the bright side because perception is reality, so I want to help influence people to look at life that way. Most of us can relate to the struggle, but my goal is to inspire the future generations of people that look like me to dream bigger just like those that came before me did.”
Clocking in at fifteen minutes, HEAVEN ON EARTH both deserves and demands to be listened to in full as one cohesive, cathartic piece. The journey from “Lagos 2 Vegas” to “Ballon D’or” is filled with slick grooves, soulful deliveries, and lyrics that send chills down the spine, with standouts including the intimately intoxicating late night seduction “Champagne on Ice” (which, quite frankly, sounds more “Drake” than Drake does, these days), the spicy, irresistible pulse of “No More Goodbyes” featuring Kenyan singer/songwriter Sofiya Nzau, and the dramatic, invigorating finale “Ballon D’or,” an emphatic assertion of self whose clever, witty, and instantly memorable lyrics blend soccer culture with Thutmose’s own biography:
My cup runneth over, never empty, yeah
If you wanna kick it, sign the NDA
Reaching new heights like Wemby
Haters keep chirping, swear it don’t offend me
Nigerian boy, love my confidence
Got fans out in US and out in France
Spreading my wings like an angel
Streets of New York, never forget who made you
I bet we make a hater pipe down
So many zeros in my account
I’m talking nairas, dollars, and pounds
Oh, I’m
Stay far from these suckers and clowns
Bad boy, dem run this town
I stand on the top of the mound
Oh, I’m ballin’
For his part, Thutmose says he has a number of favorites throughout the project, citing some of his favorite lyrics from three different tracks. “In my song ‘Champagne on Ice,’ I love the lyrics, ‘When I say I want space, I want yours too.’ It’s so real, I know some of us experience that tug and pull when it comes to relationships, and trying to sort our emotions as we mature. It’s such an emotionally intelligent lyric in my eyes.”
“I also love ‘It’s hard to say goodbye so I rather not’ in ‘No More Goodbyes,’ featuring the amazing Kenyan star Sofia Nzau. Saying goodbye and cutting off people can be harder than everyone makes it seem, especially when you share a lot of amazing moments and memories with certain people.”
“And on ‘Ballon D’or,’ I’d have to go with ‘Feeling like a king baby pass my crown, F**k being next, girl I’m up right now.’ It just exudes self-love and confidence, not wanting to be validated by others opinions.”
Ultimately, HEAVEN ON EARTH fulfills on the promise of its name by giving its listeners a kiss from the stars above.
“I want listeners and fans to know that the way we view the world impacts how we live our lives,” Thutmose shares. “I think it is really important to reflect on our mindset and if it aligns with the future we want for ourselves. This might sound cliche, but I really believe if you want to better the world, you have to start by becoming a better you.”
Experience the full record via our below stream, and peek inside Thutmose’s HEAVEN ON EARTH EP with Atwood Magazine as he takes us track-by-track through the music and lyrics of his latest release!
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:: stream/purchase Heaven on Earth here ::
:: connect with Thutmose here ::
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Stream: ‘HEAVEN ON EARTH’ – Thutmose
:: Inside HEAVEN ON EARTH ::
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Lagos 2 Vegas
This Afro House record was a good fusion between both my Nigerian culture and western culture. I was in Vegas having a beautiful time. Listening to Terms and Brent Faiyaz. I loved the sample sounds that Brent has in some of his music and I also loved the drums Tems had on her song Me & U. When I linked up with Tim Suby in LA, I had the idea of combining those worlds sonically to create a unique afro house fusion that is unlike anything out there. Lyrically I was inspired by past mistakes, so I wrote this song from a perspective of what I would do if I was back in those positions. It’s like a letter from older me to younger me dealing with relationships. Younger me had the ideas but I needed to go through some things to fully be able to articulate my emotions.
Champagne on Ice
I was working with the amazing LDG and Nosa Apollo in Los Angeles when this idea was brought to me. I loved the way the production sounded and it captivated me instantly. It was exactly what I was looking for at that time, it embodied Afro House in a cool and moody way. The setting is luxurious, but the content of the song is still hinging on the struggles of wanting space and still loving someone. The second verse also gives a unique twist with a rare rap verse on this EP. Another part of the track I loved is the “Rock Your Body” vocals, vocal production is an art in itself and I love the way the producers were able to incorporate that.
No More Goodbyes (ft. Sofiya Nzau)
I discovered Sofiya Nzau after her viral breakout song “Mwaki” and I loved that her voice sounded so good over house music. I already wrote the song in LA and the beat was made by Tim Suby who also produced Lagos 2 Vegas. The song still felt like it was missing something. I had another hook but it didn’t feel authentic so after I heard about Sofiya, I looked into some vocals from her and found one that fit perfectly. After that, i had to reach out to her to make sure her lyrics matched with the concept of the song and surely enough it did, lucky me haha. It felt great being able to incorporate another African artist unrelated to Nigeria on this EP, so I was really excited about that. Her vocals translated in English means “I don’t have anything, i dont have anyone, where should I call home”.
Front and Center
I wrote this song in a session with producer Bongo on the way, who introduced great A&R’s Jermi Thomas and Dimitrios Seymour, i wrote this song in like 2 hours and it was a fun time. It’s more on the traditional afro side but it’s another song meant to make you come alive. I don’t do too many harmonies in general but I was able to do that on this song, from the pre chorus to the hook.
Mo Hennessy (ft. Roku145)
I discovered Roku while I was eating Dinner at this restaurant called Kokomo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I heard one of his songs, shazamed it and reached out. Found out he lived in London but he was Nigerian just like me. I think we connected on a cultural and creative tip. I hope to put more eyes on him because I think he’s really dope. He produced the record and sent it to me and I added a verse once I heard it. This song is unique because it shows just how much the world has changed. To be able to work with someone who’s 6 hours away and still feel connected to the end result is something I would have never imagined years ago. I love the conversational vocals in the intro where it sounds like the song is being recorded in the midst of a party, it embodies the escapism that the song is communicating.
Ballon D’or
I was in Toronto with an amazing A&R Dimitrios who connected me to this talented producer group. We made some records and when I flew back to New York, they sent me one more beat that ended up being Ballon’ Dor. Once I heard it, I just knew that it was special, the ideas just came naturally. I just honestly had fun and didn’t think too hard. I love records like that because it’s like a sense of freedom. The layered gang vocals with the Amapiano Log drums, it’s a beautiful song and I can see them playing this in arenas worldwide. If I was an Athlete, I would play this coming out the tunnel.
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:: stream/purchase Heaven on Earth here ::
:: connect with Thutmose here ::
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