ERIC NIYONKURU, also known by his artist name, Ric Noir, recently released an Extended Play(EP) "Blacknificent” that contains six songs where he taps into a multi-disciplinary artistic approach of embracing internal struggles of not being good enough and a deep dive into intimacies of the modern world.

The EP stretches from funk to soul and pop and was solely produced by Josh who simultaneously co-wrote "A Song for All and None” and "Ballerina” – the songs that can be found on the EP.

Ric Noir said that "Blacknificent” was inspired by its very name whose tune inflicts black excellency on extreme levels.

"I usually come up with a song's name after I’m done with the lyrics. This time I challenged myself and figured out the name before anything else. The process became teasing and fun as I expected. I wanted something fused, Afro and House,” he said.

Ric Noir revealed that he did not wake up one day and decide to be an artiste, declaring that the art eventually planted itself into his soul and has always been something to keep him sane and in check.

"When I joined high school, I could always sing something out of a vacuum and people would be like "No way. You are good kid”. I used to be a wannabe and belonged to choirs but I just found myself losing that ‘spirit’ eventually’” he said.

The student at Kepler pursuing Bachelors in Arts in Communication noted that he usually fetches inspiration from stories that carry messages that "would move mountains” and from lrgends that passed through the world such as Michael Jackson, Nina Simon, Groove Washington, among others, adding that his personal experiences also carry much weight of the pen he uses to write.

As a musician, music has contributed to the person he is today as he has contributed to how his music sounds today.

"Music’s influence on its composer is inarguably inevitable,” narrates Ric Noir. "That’s why some artistes of the same genre behave similarly than the others of another genre.”

The artiste also revealed that his music is so fused that almost any genre he jumps on is often merged with electronic music that spits new sounds into existence, adding that it helps him maintain consistency across his art.

Some of his top songs include Ballerina, BellaLisa, Girl I’ll Go Feat. K-shot, among others.

Since it is his third year in the music industry, he is still looking forward to heavy breakthroughs and is thankful for people who informed him that he has made them smile, believing that big things are yet to come.

Challenges remain a menace to Ric Noir across the industry. He declared that some people don’t pay for music yet and others, who hold some power over the media, are too busy to listen to him as an artiste, however, he hopes for better days – step by step.

He can be found on IG: ricnoir, Email: ericniyonkuru94@gmail.com or phone 0783331003