ATB Selectas Links Up With Sochee and Ejoya Music for Comatalevu

By Adeyemi david

There’s nothing quite like an Afrobeats love song. It usually has everything: infectious production, quirky but witty songwriting, soothing vocals and an all-round good vibe.

ATB Selectas, one of the foremost figures in the emerging generation of Afrobeats producers, knows a thing or two about how to create that vibe through his skilled know-how. Over the years he has solidified his discography with a consistent run of releases, many of which have garnered buzz on his way to the top.

He lends his dexterity to Ejoya Music for the fourth instalment of their best-in-class project, Class of ‘23.

He takes his place on Track 9 of the project with Comatalevu, a little play on “comment allez vous?” — the French way of asking “how are you?”.

As the name implies, the content of the record is an attempt by the singer to get the attention of their love interest through quirky expressions of affection. In typical ATB fashion, his production sets the tone for a fun record which has high replay value.

Afrobeats records usually possess an innate playfulness about them, which is one of the appeals of the genre both at home and abroad. ATB Selectas uses that quality to his advantage, creating a playful environment for his collaborators to work their magic on the song.

Comatalevu is an uptempo record. At 120BPM, it is a sure-fire party starter which will get its listeners off their feet. Although a fast paced record, ATB Selectas approaches the production with the same level of meticulousness that is characteristic of his rise so far.

He doesn’t go with a scatterbrained approach, however the drum patterns are emphatic and unrelenting. In this case, the drums are the carrier of the song’s rhythm; making Comatalevu rank high for enjoyability.

This level of enjoyability also comes from the songwriting. Just like Afrobeats classics of old, Sochee, Africaine and Soulaar are playful in their seductiveness on the song.

Their decision to go with this route is greatly influenced by ATB’s production which certainly feels like an instrumental that legends like Tekno and Kizz Daniel can build themselves a home in.

The music and the word composition are top notch and remind the listener what the essence of the Afrobeats genre is all about.

ATB Selectas’ influence on the song can not be understated. His expert use of drums, guitars and other percussive elements proves to have an alchemical effect on the instrumentals, moulding them into a sonically pleasing final form.

He creates a fun landscape for his collaborators, giving them a blank canvas to paint the pictures that the instrumental puts in their minds. That is the mark of a good producer; the ability to tap into feelings within the artists that inspire them to create magic. As Comatalevu shows, ATB empowers his artists in multiple ways, leading them down creative rabbit holes.

Through their recording camps, Ejoya Music continues to round up the best talents within Nigeria and beyond to make magic.

ATB Selectas, through Comatalevu and his other placements on Class of ‘23 continues to prove his worth as a producer with an interesting perspective on Afrobeats in its entirety. It is only a matter of time before we see him as a major player in the new era of Afrobeats.