Peace Okezie, known as Master Peace, is a British musician. Initially collaborating with Jme and The Streets and releasing three EPs, in 2024 he released his debut album How To Make A Master Peace which received high praise from critics and won him a Rising Star Ivor Novello Award. He followed this with a fourth EP How To Make A(nuva) Master Peace.
Master Peace | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Peace Okezie |
| Born | London, UK |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | PMR Records |
| Website | www |
Early life
editOkezie was born in London,[1] to a Nigerian family,[4] and moved from South East London as a child to Morden,[5] and then to Surrey where he grew up.[4] Having said that he "grew up around people involved in crime",[3] he has also noted that he went to "quite a posh school".[6]
He had a childhood interest in UK rap,[3] but has also stated that his favourite song growing up was "Don’t Speak" by No Doubt;[7] he often listened to rap with friends and played music by indie rock bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party at home.[8] Okezie was first inspired to become a musician after seeing the bands Busted and McFly on television.[9]
Career
edit2018–2023: Early career and EPs
editOkezie initially was part of a rap group, which he left before it became successful.[5] In 2018, Okezie released "The Lift", which involved him rapping over a-ha’s "Take On Me".[10] On a BBC Radio 1Xtra session, he was noted for singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".[9] In 2019 he released "Night Time",[2] which featured Jme.[10] The song was praised by Skepta.[7]
His debut EP Love Bites was released 6 November 2020, largely inspired by his childhood; NME called it "unfiltered".[8] Public Display Of Affection, his second EP, was released 2 July 2021. Its track "Boyfriend", featuring Mae Muller, was released alongside a music video.[11] The Streets released a single featuring Okezie, "Wrong Answers Only", on 14 January 2022. He was due to support the group on a 2022 tour which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13] In January 2023, Okezie released "Veronica", about young love, in the run-up to his EP Peace Of Mind.[14]
2024–2025: How To Make A Master Peace and A(nuva) Master Peace
editOn 1 March 2024,[2] Okezie released his debut album, How To Make A Master Peace, stating that he wanted the album to be a "cultural reset for Gen Z kids of the current day and age".[3] He worked with producers Julian Brunetta[15] and Matt Schwartz on the album,[1] which featured Georgia on the song "I Might Be Fake",[2] one of multiple singles which also included "LOO SONG",[15] "Start You Up" and "LOS NARCOS", the latter of which Okezie stated was "probably the best song I’ve ever made."[16] The music video for "I Might Be Fake" was later nominated for Best Independent Video at the AIM Independent Music Awards 2024.[17] Rolling Stone UK stated that Okezie was "leading the way for a new generation of indie stars" with the album, comparing it to Bloc Party, LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Pete Doherty, M.I.A. and The Smiths,[1] later listing it as one of the 24 best albums of 2024,[18] whereas NME compared specific songs to The Hives,[2] also stating it was "an early contender for the best British debut album of 2024".[3]
A remix of "I Might Be Fake" with Princess Superstar, titled "I Might Be Fake-Arrr", was released in March 2024.[19] In May Okezie won the Ivor Novello Award for Rising Star,[20] and stated that he was working on a deluxe version of How To Make A Master Peace to be followed by a second album, which would be "sleazier" and "poppier".[21] He performed "Wrong Answers Only" with The Streets at Glastonbury Festival 2024.[22]
Okezie released the single "Home" featuring Wale in July 2024,[23] and announced his second EP How To Make A(nuva) Master Peace.[23] In August, Okezie released his single "Save Me",[24] and singer TSHA released her single "Can't Dance" which featured Okezie.[25] His 9 September single "Dancing With A(nuva) Man" was called "one of his poppiest offerings yet" by DIY,[26] and his final single for the EP, "This Time", was released 2 October.[27] How To Make A(nuva) Master Peace released on 4 October through PMR Records.[23] Following the EP, he embarked on a European tour called How To Make A World Tour.[27] At the Rolling Stone UK Awards in November, Okezie was nominated for the Play Next Award, for acts they believed would "enter 2025 as firm ones to watch."[28] He is expected to perform at South by Southwest in March 2025.[29]
Artistry
editOkezie has cited M.I.A., Blood Orange,[1] Santigold, The Strokes, LCD Soundystem,[21] Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys,[10] Bodyrox, Princess Superstar, Friendly Fires, Justice, early Calvin Harris,[15] The Veronicas, Paramore, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, The Notorious B.I.G., and Big L[7] as influences.
Personal life
editOkezie suffers from peripheral neuropathy, which causes nerve pain, frailty, and numbness in his limbs.[3] He also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[7]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- How To Make A Master Peace (2024)[1]
Extended plays
edit- Love Bites (2020)[10]
- Public Display Of Affection (2021)[5]
- Peace of Mind (2023)[14]
- How To Make A(nuva) Master Peace (2024)[23]
Singles
edit- "The Lift" (2018)[10]
- "Buck Me" (2018)[3]
- "Night Time" (2019)[2]
- "Veronica" (2023)[14]
- ""LOO SONG" (2023)[15]
- "I Might Be Fake" (2023)[16]
- "Start You Up" (2023)[16]
- "LOS NARCOS" (2023)[16]
- "Home" (feat. Wale, 2024)[23]
- "I Might Be Fake-Arrr" (2024)[19]
- "Save Me" (2024)[24]
- "Dancing With A(nuva) Man" (2024)[26]
- "This Time"[27]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Richards, Will (12 December 2023). "Master Peace: the singer leading the way for a new generation of indie stars". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Shah, Rishi (1 March 2024). "Master Peace – 'How To Make A Master Peace' review: indie's new party boy has arrived". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Richards, Will (5 March 2024). "Master Peace: "I wanted to make an album that's a cultural reset for Gen Z"". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b Jolley, Ben (9 July 2021). "Notion 89: Master Peace". Notion.
- ^ a b c Shutler, Ali (4 March 2024). "Master Peace: "There's more to this than 'Black guy making indie music'"". Whynow. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Wickes, Jade (3 March 2023). "Master Peace on Phil Collins and making Black indie music". The Face. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hobbs, Thomas (9 September 2019). ""I'm what a rock star looks like" – Master Peace is the chaotic British punk rapper tired of lethargic music". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b Richards, Will (6 November 2020). "Master Peace - 'Love Bites' EP review: Londoner sitting pretty on the indie-pop throne". NME. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ a b Watson, Elly (13 November 2019). "Change of Heart: Master Peace". DIY. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Richards, Will (6 November 2020). "Master Peace - 'Love Bites' EP review: Londoner sitting pretty on the indie-pop throne". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Master Peace links up with Mae Muller for 'Boyfriend'". DIY. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (14 January 2022). "The Streets share new song 'Wrong Answers Only' featuring Master Peace". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Lavin, Will (13 January 2022). "The Streets team up with Master Peace on new track 'Wrong Answers Only'". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Aubrey, Elizabeth (15 January 2023). "Master Peace releases new single 'Veronica' from upcoming EP 'Peace Of Mind'". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d Kelly, Tyler Damara (10 October 2023). "Master Peace announces his debut album, How To Make A Master Peace". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hussain, Shahzaib (9 February 2024). "Master Peace Reclaims His Agency On 'LOS NARCOS' | News". Clash. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Tibbits, Ben (16 October 2024). "Master Peace & George Riley On AIM Independent Awards 2024". Wonderland. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ Reilly, Nick; Richards, Will (16 December 2024). "Rolling Stone UK's albums of the year 2024". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ a b Ackroyd, Stephen (29 March 2024). "Master Peace has teamed up with Princess Superstar for a new remix". Dork. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (27 May 2024). "Master Peace wins Ivor Novello Rising Star Award". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (25 May 2024). "Master Peace is "going crazy" with indie sleaze on "wild" second album". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Burton, Poppy (2 July 2024). "Watch The Streets mix Black Sabbath's 'Iron Man' with 'Has It Come To This' at Glastonbury 2024". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Newton, Felicity (15 July 2024). "Master Peace has teamed up with Wale for a new single, 'Home'". Dork. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b Taylor, Sam (9 August 2024). "Master Peace has released a new single about moving on, 'Save Me'". Dork. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Coney, Brian (14 August 2024). "TSHA shares new single, 'Can't Dance', featuring Master Peace: Listen". DJ Mag. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b Carter, Daisy (9 September 2024). "Master Peace drops bouncing pop anthem 'Dancing With A(nuva) Man'". DIY. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Sam (2 October 2024). "Master Peace has unveiled new single 'This Time' ahead of his upcoming EP". Dork. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ Richards, Will (13 November 2024). "Here's the nominees for The Play Next Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards 2024". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ England, Adam (12 December 2024). "Big Special and Master Peace among 160 new acts added to SXSW 2025 line-up". NME. Retrieved 6 January 2025.