From the Church Choir to Big Stages: A Conversation with CU3E
Emmanuel Emeka Ese’s love for music began many years ago, when he was surrounded by music in church. He adapted his sound to the sounds around him and has since had a budding career as a musician.
Can you share the story of how you first fell in love with music, and how your heritage or culture shaped the sound you make today?
I fell in love with music in church. I grew up in the choir, and that's really where it started… but it wasn't just about being surrounded by music; thinking back now, it feels almost like a mission. I remember wanting to refine church music, to take it and shape it into something that felt genuinely pleasant to listen to and yet spiritually correct. And that instinct pushed me deeper into music as a craft.
At what moment did you switch from gospel to secular music? And was it a conscious choice? What influenced it?
Honestly, firstly what even is a 'gospel singer' or a 'secular singer'? I think we've created lines that shouldn't exist in the first place. As a creative person, I should be able to express myself creatively. That's why when my EP came out, it showed my journey with God and after that, I released love songs. That doesn't take away from the fact that I'm a Christian boy who makes music.So there was no switch. There's nothing to switch from or to. I'm a Christian boy who makes music, and I sing whatever I choose to sing in a clean and moral standard.
Did you worry about loosing your audience when the switch happened?
No, I didn't. Like I said before, having an inner conviction about your style of music gives you a contentment that's genuinely satisfying, it settles something in you. So if one piece of music doesn't suit someone at a particular time, another one will. My music will always find its people. No pressure.I'm not making music to hold onto an audience. I'm making music to be honest and honest music finds honest ears eventually.
Do you view yourself strictly as an "African musician," or an artist who happens to be African?
I'm an artist who happens to be African and not strictly an 'African musician.' That distinction matters to me please. And honestly framing it that way feels freeing. It means I am not being boxed into making a certain 'sound' just because of where I'm from. I can explore, experiment, and pull from wherever the song needs me to go. Being African is central to who I am, but it's not a genre or a limitation.
What is the difference for you between being an African artist and being an artist from Africa
For me, 'African artist' can start to feel like a genre, like it comes with an expectation of a certain sound, a certain box you're supposed to stay in. 'An artist from Africa' feels more accurate to who I actually am. Africa is where I'm from and it shows up in my music but it should'nt define the type of music I'm allowed to make.I said it earlier, I'm an artist who happens to be African, not an African musician. Same idea here. I don't want people meeting my music with a preset expectation before they've even heard it.
I want them to hear the sound first, and then discover the roots underneath it. And from there, the Nigerian culture and heritage just naturally became the backbone of everything I make. It's not even something I consciously layered on. You can hear it in the rhythms, the language, the way the melody moves in my music.
What is the difference for you between being an African artist and being an artist from Africa
For me, 'African artist' can start to feel like a genre, like it comes with an expectation of a certain sound, a certain box you're supposed to stay in. 'An artist from Africa' feels more accurate to who I actually am. Africa is where I'm from and it shows up in my music but it should'nt define the type of music I'm allowed to make.I said it earlier, I'm an artist who happens to be African, not an African musician. Same idea here. I don't want people meeting my music with a preset expectation before they've even heard it.
I want them to hear the sound first, and then discover the roots underneath it. And from there, the Nigerian culture and heritage just naturally became the backbone of everything I make. It's not even something I consciously layered on. You can hear it in the rhythms, the language, the way the melody moves in my music.
What does your creative process look like from the initial spark or songwriting phase to the final master?
Honestly, there's no fixed pattern. Sometimes it starts with a melody, just a hum or a feeling I can't shake. Other times the words come first, and the song builds itself around them from there.What stays consistent is how deep I go once I have something. I'll sit with a melody for days sometimes, just singing it, living inside it because I want to fully immerse myself in whatever emotion it was originally created from. That's how I make sure what I put out is an accurate reflection of the moment that made me create it in the first place. Whatever sound i create should reflect truth. Of experiences i have lived amidst other things.
Are there specific sounds, instruments, or recurring motifs you find yourself continually returning to?
Not really, no specific sound I chase on purpose but if I'm honest, pads, soft keys, and guitar are my go-to elements. Those are the textures I keep coming back to. I usually start on keyboard chords, which is almost always my entry point, but it rarely stays that way by the end. Every song has its own reality, its own emotion it's trying to evoke, so I let the sound follow that rather than forcing a signature style onto it. The song tells me what it needs, not the other way around.
Is there a specific track or project in your discography that feels deeply personal, and how do you balance that personal expression with listener interpretation?
Most recently, 'Alright.' That song is a compilation of different hurts; from people, friends, church, even a partner, all in one song. It was deeply personal to make.But what's been wild is seeing how differently listeners have taken it. And quite frankly, it's oddly satisfying because the song has taken on its own form and meaning for different people, while still staying within the space of what I originally intended. I think that's the beauty of it. I don't need everyone to hear it exactly the way I made it. I just need it to hold the truth I put into it, and let people find their own truth inside that.
In what ways does your music reflect or respond to contemporary African realities, and do you feel a responsibility to challenge existing stereotypes?
Yes, definitely. My first body of work was a gospel project, and because of that, I got tagged a 'gospel artist' which isn't fully who I am. My music is really a reflection of every reality I've lived through - God, love, life e.t.c and you'll hear that across my lyrics. I know it's a mirror, because somewhere there's another African boy whose life looks a lot like mine, who can fully relate to those realities.Right now, I'm challenging the stereotype that says because you're a Christian, a 'church boy,' you're only allowed to make a certain type of music and anything outside that box isn't welcome. I've released music that isn't church-inclined, and honestly, I've gotten feedback that wasn't encouraging, simply because people don't think a Christian should be singing about certain things. But that's exactly the box I'm pushing against.
What has been your experience navigating the music industry and reaching audiences both locally and globally?
The industry has actually been quite welcoming to me. Before I became a recording artist, I was already here as a producer, working across different genres so in a sense, I came in with an insider's view rather than a total newcomer's.That said, navigating it as an indie artist has been daunting, especially without access to the kind of funding that helps you put your music out the way it deserves to be heard. Talent and consistency can only take you so far when resources aren't available but I'm learning to build with what I have, and let the work speak.
Which influences—musical or non-musical, like literature or daily life—have had the biggest impact on your evolution as an artist?
Significantly, the church - that's foundational for me. Then my own life, honestly, just living and going through things. And books too, books and poetry make me dream farther than I've ever dreamt on my own. They stretch my imagination in a way that shows up in the music, even when it's not obvious.
What current project or new musical direction are you working on that you are most excited about?
Yes, I'm currently working on an EP with a friend, and the theme generally explores the love of God — but it's angled in a way that it can also read as romantic love, depending on how you sit with it. I love that duality, honestly. It should be out by October, November at the latest.