Abiola creates a fun Afrobeats banger with BZR and 1nda on ‘How Deep Is Your Love?’

Adeayo Adebiyi

There is no great song that comes to life by chance. A songwriting mastermind always operates within the mix, piecing together the words that make a record come alive. The lead artist often gets all the plaudits as their voice is what the public hears, but it’s the songwriter’s pen that sets the foundation.

On “How Deep Is Your Love” by BZR and 1nda, Abiola Adedeji proves once again why she’s a shining force in the realm of songwriting, creating mental pictures that feels personal yet universal. Love songs can be tricky, with the possibility of coming off as cliché always lurking around the corner, or maybe holding too much back, failing to connect. But Abiola walks that tightrope with precision, delivering lyrics that feel both fresh and engaging.

Her writing on “How Deep Is Your Love” is inventive and full of subtle charm. There’s an ease to the way she constructs verses, with no line ever feeling ever forced or out of place. Each lyric represents an idea and feels intentional, guiding the listener through the highs and complexities of love without ever over-explaining, relaying the words with youthful exuberance. The lyrics unfold naturally, engaging enough to linger and spur a replay of the song. Her ability to weave simple ideas into dynamic phrasing is what sets her apart. Her lyrics are pieces of a jigsaw.

One of Abiola’s greatest strengths as a songwriter is her ability to embody the perspective of the artist delivering the song. It’s one thing to write a great love song, but it’s another to write one that feels like a direct reflection of the artist’s personality. She steps into their world, absorbs their point of view, and relays them into words that feel authentic. On “How Deep Is Your Love,” this skill is on full display. The lyrics embody a feeling of youthful yearning for emotional depth, doing so by mirroring BZR and 1nda’s cadence, tone, and presence.

What makes this track even more compelling is how BZR and 1nda take Abiola’s words and breathe life into them. A great song requires synergy between writer and performer, and here, that connection is obvious. The phrasing, the pauses and the emphasis on certain words all work because the lyrics were crafted to fit the artist’s natural expression. Abiola enhances the artist and doesn’t impose on them. There’s a fluidity between the writing and the delivery, resulting in a well constructed pair of verses.

Beyond its lyrical texture, “How Deep Is Your Love” carries a playful, bouncy charm. The record moves with the kind of rhythm that makes it impossible to stay still, sure to enhance the mood in many rooms. There’s fun in the way the words dance around the melody, a rhythm to the writing that complements the song’s Afrobeats pulse. But just beneath that groove lies a quiet yearning, a deep, youthful desire to taste that depth of love and devotion. Abiola knows how to resonate with listeners at different levels.

She is proof that songwriting is more about capturing a feeling than putting words together, distilling emotion into vivid mental pictures. “How Deep Is Your Love” is a measure of her ability to create streams of thought that feel personal but appeals to all. Her pen is sharp, her instincts are refined, and her ability to adapt to an artist’s essence cannot be understated. Where songwriters write for the moment; Abiola writes for the feeling, and that’s what will make her work stand the test of time.