No slowing down for Yemi with new EP and new track "Top Speed"

Since then he's not slowed down (his SoundCloud is a constant stream of tracks and collaborations), but he's not released something more substantial than individual tracks. That's now changed, as he's dropped a brand new EP, Neoyemi Vol. 1. Two tracks from that EP, "Jag Är Vrickad" and "Inferno", have already landed, but today our focus is on another, "Top Speed".



Out of all the tracks on the EP, "Top Speed" is perhaps the one that marks the biggest step away from the sound of Neostockholm. Whereas the tracks on Neostockholm were often cold and heavy, "Top Speed" is light and peppy. Over a beat that steps slightly into almost tropical territory. Yemi spins clever little lines that twist and turn around another. It's a new style for him, but he wears it easily. We caught a few questions with Yemi about the track and EP, read on below.

So we got the first taste of this EP with “Jag Är Vrickad” back in April, how long have you been working on it?

"I started working on these songs about a year ago. 'Jag Är Vrickad' is actually the first track that got made. Most songs got finished just this past month though, so they’re all still highly topical for myself."

What would you say are the big stylistic changes between this EP and Neostockholm? If I had to say, I’d say this EP is more upbeat, higher tempos and bouncier rhythms than the colder, heavier sound on Neostockholm.

"Yeah. I’d say the sound is probably the most obvious shift in direction for Vol. 1. I feel like although the sound is more playful on this, the themes of the songs have gotten more personal and slightly heavier. I’ve had a lot to deal with personally, which I think just comes out in the project overall."

Tell us a little about the song "Top Speed"

"'Top Speed' was one of the last songs I finished for Vol. 1. I was in the studio with Gud one day, working on something else. I had everything ready for the instrumental except the drums were missing. I showed him the beat and he knocked the drums out for it in about an hour, I think it came out really good. This track is one of my all time favourites that I’ve done. I think in a lot of ways it’s an ultimate Yemi track, sonically and thematically. It’s just life music. The first verse starts with me saying 'You say you’re surrounded by snakes like Gucci F/W 2017', that’s based on experience, I know a lot of people who feel like that. Also Gucci are working with a lot of snake designs right now you know, I just really think that line is real but pretty funny as well."

Finally, this is Neoyemi Vol. 1. What’s next?

"I’m trying to just always work and keep a pace with things. Next album is definitely on the list. There are some people I want to work with. I got a few collaborations that are of interest on the way that I can’t talk about to much yet, but you’ll see."