After earning praise for her 2025 EP Surulere, fast-rising singer Nkan is returning with a new single titled California Love, scheduled for release this February.
The track arrives in the Valentine season and marks a stylistic shift from the vibrant percussion that defined earlier songs such as “Pepepe.” Instead, the new single leans into a softer, atmospheric production designed to spotlight her vocal strength and emotional delivery.
According to the artiste, California Love explores themes of distance, memory and enduring affection. The song draws from her experiences living between Nigeria and the United States, creating what she describes as a sound that bridges cultures while remaining deeply personal.
Nkan said the inspiration behind the record is rooted in faith and personal transformation.
“Music is a vessel for truth and emotion. With ‘California Love,’ I wanted to capture that specific warmth you feel when love transcends distance. It’s about the memories that keep us glowing, no matter where we are in the world,” she said.
The singer also shared details about the period leading up to her relocation to the United States. She recounted falling ill weeks before her move and being told jokingly by a spiritual mentor that she was experiencing “travel fever.” Around the same time, she said the song “California Love” by Tupac frequently played in her mind, even before she had chosen a state to move to.
She added that during her flight to the U.S., the song resurfaced in her thoughts moments before landing. Months after settling in Oakland, she said she experienced a relationship that later shaped the story behind her new single.
With California Love, Nkan continues to refine what she calls her “Kosmopolitan” sound, a fusion of global influences anchored in her Nigerian roots.
The single signals another chapter in her artistic evolution, as she builds on the momentum generated by Surulere and expands her audience across continents.
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