How a “worst time” led to a viral hit for me – Kunmie

Singer and songwriter Oluwabukunmi Ariyibi, better known as Kunmie, has shared an account of how music became his unexpected refuge during one of the most challenging periods of his life.

In a video posted on his X page, Kunmie revealed he turned to music as a means to escape profound loneliness and emotional struggles.

His journey from solitude to widespread recognition took an unforeseen turn when his song “Arike” spontaneously went viral on TikTok.

The track shot to number one, catapulting him into the spotlight despite having 200 followers at the time.

“I found music in solitude. I found music at the worst time of my life, such a lonely time, and it was just, for me it was more of a means to escape,” Kunmie explained.

Recounting the “crazy” moment “Arike” gained traction, he described dropping the video on TikTok, going back to recording, and returning to find it had already amassed thousands of views.

“It was so crazy. I called my mom first, and it was very, very, very special for me.”

Kunmie expressed gratitude for the platform music has provided.

He also encouraged new listeners to delve into the metaphors and storytelling woven into his songs.

He particularly noted his debut project, “Before We Became Strangers,” as a cohesive body of work that reveals a complete emotional story from its opening to its final track.

“For someone new to my music, what I would say you should expect or you should look out for is, I’d say pay attention to the metaphors, pay attention to the story writing,” he advised. “If you listen to Before We Became Strangers, my debut project, you see that from the first song to the last song, it tells one story.”