Issavybe’s Waves is a Short Serenade of Emotion and Longing

By Emmanuel Daraloye

One of the core themes most R’n’B songs tend to explore consistently is the theme of ‘love.’ The nature and taste of love, the rejections it brings, and the heartbreaks it renders are most times sung with a painful and heavy heart. This is a vivid reflection of Issavybe’s Waves, a masterpiece released on May 28, 2021. Waves is a brisk but soulful love song emphasizing Issavybe’s longing for a lover he misses. The sonority and the lyrics of Waves isn’t the only magic that sweetens the listener’s ear but the sincerity of his emotion poured out of his voice. A true serenade of longing and heartbreak.

Issavybe, who is also known by his real name Ndulagwa Emmanuel is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, who have graced the music industry with his subtle seraphic sounds and storytelling music since 2016. Since the start of his career, Issavybe has continued to build his sound around love, life, and human emotions. His smooth voice and thoughtful lyrics make his music both soothing and meaningful. He does not only sing for entertainment but also to connect with people and share his feelings in a simple and honest way and this is evident in his love song Waves.

His song Waves is a beautiful song that takes no delay in the message as Issavybe enters with his opening lyrics the moment the instrumental plays /I feel the way you’re rising and crashing/…the demons you tried to hide/ where he reveals his distinct emotion and pity towards his lover or admirer who seems to be struggling and hiding her travails. Issavybe becomes a concerned sweet loved showing how or what it means to dearly care for your lover and easily identify their grief and worries even during their silent moments.

Issavybe on Waves reveal to us that he isn’t just a mere loverboy but someone who would go any climb ice mountains to please his woman as he sings /I wish I was your punching bag/just to be close to you/. This reveals his desperate longings and him ignoring naysayers or whatsoever the circumstances is just to stay close or be with his woman. Issavybe shows he’s not just a lover but an ardent one who tends to sacrifice extremely to attain love.

He ended the song lyrics with the repetition /..to never be away/to never be away/ a rhetoric evidence that backs up how true his intentions are in spite of the challenges that may come his way in the process of being a good lover to his woman. A good way to leave his audiences a feeling of fulfilment. A feeling that ignites strong affirmation and assurance.

The subtle piano sound, the meek lyrics, the metaphorical words, and Issavybe’s sonorous vocal did justice to the song output and emotions in a short time frame. The background harmony in the song is simple, soft, and especially needed. It helps the balance of the song just like the see-saw that needs people sitting on it.

Issavybe’s Waves is undoubtedly a product of a deep emotion and desire. One of the affectionate artists who ignores or fails to be an Alpha Male in a relationship with his woman. Waves is a beautiful work of art, with a touch of poetic diction. In fact, any loving or unloving man or woman needs to give a frequent listen to have a change of heart.

The song carries deep feelings beyond its initial duration. Issavybe succeeds in creating a mood of affection, concern, and emotional depth. His voice is calm but filled with passion, and the soft instrumental behind his vocals helps in expressing the sincerity of his emotions. The lyrics reflect a kind of love that goes beyond physical attraction, a love that pays attention, listens, and understands. It shows the emotional connection between two people where one notices the other’s pain even when it is not spoken. Waves is a beguiling music that reflects his belief that sound can heal, comfort, and inspire. Each song he creates carries a message, whether it is about love, heartbreak, hope, or personal growth.