Ikechi Onyenaka taught his sax the language of human emotion for his latest alt-jazz blues single, On My Own

With his latest release, Ikechi Onyenaka set fire to solitude and gave it rhythm in On My Own, a sax-driven exploration of self-sufficiency that drifts between melancholy and defiance. From the opening bars, the keys and synths pulse with funk, opening out into spacey textures that feel like the soundscape of isolation itself. Over that polished, strident, yet euphonically smooth backdrop, Onyenaka lets his sax glide and cry as though it has absorbed the entire spectrum of human emotion. Each phrase arrives as a proclamation, a reminder that resilience can still be coaxed from desolate silence. After making history in Philadelphia and even catching a shoutout from Will Smith, the American jazz saxophonist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist is cementing his place among the modern greats. With influences ranging from Kenny Garrett to Robert Glasper, his work has already earned praise from icons across genres. On My Own deepens his reputation, showing what happens when classical jazz lineage collides with neo-trap inflections and atmospheric production. It is a piece of music that invites listeners to linger in its tension, and in that tension, discover liberation. On My Own is now available on all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud. Review by Amelia Vandergast

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