When I first spotted ‘Ifunanyam’—a single Dwin released in 2021 after a solo hiatus—on the album’s tracklist, it seemed like a lazy addition, something included to fill up the album. But when I settled down to listen, I understood. This melancholic number is probably his most powerful ballad yet, and so this body of work would not have been complete without it. It is also a fitting continuation of this tortured love story. In ‘Next Time’, Dwin begs his lover to leave him for good, but in ‘Ifunanyam’, he confesses that he will love her forever because he simply can’t help it. ‘I Go Nowhere’, a truly delicious tune, finally lifts your spirits after the depressing bout you have just been plunged into. This lover must have finally listened to Dwin’s pleas, as he is now basking in love, resolute in his commitment to stay. He promises to be at her beck and call, reminding us of the devotion love requires—even if there is the risk of complete vulnerability, which he dubs ‘trouble’. This groovy Afrobeats jam is a strong contender for a newly wedded couple’s first dance. 

The song, ‘Steady’, is wholly enchanting. Like the title, it steadied me but also pulled at my heartstrings and mimicked my occasional longing for peace and ‘steady’. The translation of the Igbo lyrics reveals a plea to a lover, suggesting that when we search for love, perhaps we are also looking for someone our hearts can be most steady with. To be in a love that is safe is to be steady. But how do you determine that a love will be safe? I guess that is where ‘Hard Education’ comes in. Love is a difficult experiment; it is the conscious decision to embrace the unknown, where the outcome might shatter you completely or wholly heal you. This is another rock ballad, wading through the difficulty with energetic strides, but not quite as energetic as ‘Running’. Ruka of Ignis Brothers proves to be a perfect fit on this track—not at all surprising given their history. Her buttery vocals blend effortlessly with Dwin’s, reinforcing the undeniable synergy that has always defined their music. 

After going through the hard education, Dwin resolves to be decisive in ‘Time is Money’. He has learnt how high the stakes of love are, and he no longer wants to waste his time. He seeks clarity, so he can move on or drop all his cards on the table. The irony in this vibrant highlife track—a production masterpiece—is rife, as he is drawing his lover in to dance in high spirits but delivering an ultimatum. No sooner have we been swept onto the dance floor than we are transported back into the realm of solemnity with ‘To You’. The song’s mellow production serves as the perfect canvas for Dwin and Ogranya’s soft, tender delivery. Its calming rhythm, together with the cottony vocals, cradle the listeners, encouraging slower breaths, abating raging seas of emotions and lightening the weight within with each note. ‘To You’ feels like a serenity potion, to be sipped and savoured with ease. As for its message, Dwin is back to holding on firmly to his lover, even if the tightness of the grip causes him to bleed.  

Thankfully, in ‘Hold Me Now’, there is finally a sense of reciprocity, with British songstress Kate Bass stepping into the role of the lover who has at last answered his call. Bass’s voice is reminiscent of a nightingale, a songbird sweetly cooing for affection. There is a mutual yearning for the warmth of a lover’s embrace. The world may be descending into turmoil, but all that matters is that they are holding on to each other. ‘GKW’, short for ‘God Knows Where’, is an extension of the lovers’ escape. They have found solace in each other, and now, they will elope. They are far from home, but it doesn’t matter since they have found home in each other. This scintillating House tune takes us back to the dancefloor with its reverberating log drums, perfectly capturing the spirit of adventure borne by its lyrics.  

In ‘Shake’, we continue to explore what it means to find home in a person. The turmoil has seeped into his lover’s core so much that she is tremulous, but Dwin is the steadfast anchor she needs. The line, ‘When I’m here, you’ll get some sleep’, reminiscent of the earlier track ‘Steady’, rings so powerful. Here, we are reminded that love is staying when your person needs you the most. But what happens when the one you found peace with, whom you begged to offer peace to, goes cold and silent? Suddenly, your life becomes a nightmare you can’t wake up from—a reality Dwin painfully explores in ‘Please Say Something’. The pace of his plea is unexpectedly upbeat, as though he is trying to jolt his lover into responding. He makes the final call for the resuscitation of their dying love in ‘Swan Song’. The beep of a cardiac monitor aptly sets the tone for his desperate plea: ‘Say it now! Use your words!’. Dwin is telling us that a dying love often looks like violent silence.