North-West University (NWU) student and artist Alvin Baguma, popularly known as “4LViN”, released his latest single, ‘Tie u Down’ on Friday 26 September. The song is as a letter to his fans, encouraging them to pursue their love interests.
4LViN rose to prominence in 2022 with his debut single ‘Looney Toonz’, which has over 40 thousand plays on Spotify to date.
‘Tie u Down’ is an ode to 4LViN’s younger self, as well as a soundtrack to his experiences. It is also a letter to his listeners encouraging them to pursue their love interests regardless of red flags. In its first week, the song accumulated over 2000 plays on Spotify and 200 views on YouTube, with fans commenting, “I think this is my summer song” and “I love everything about this song,” showing their excitement for the new release.
“I think most of us have been in a situation where we’ve chased someone who can’t be tied down, and I wanted to create a song that captured that feeling,” he stated.
Currently, two lecturers are playing his music and have given him positive feedback, adding his songs to their playlists. “Sharing my music with others is always a lovely experience. My peers are even more supportive. Many of them have told me how excited they are about this release, and they can’t wait to see more performances and watch me grow as an artist.”
4LViN’s love of music was inspired by a number of prominent artists and his parents. One particular song that he learnt by heart was ‘Hell Naw’ by South African rap superstar Nasty C.
“As I grew up, I developed an even greater love for rap and got into a lot of Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era. My parents were always playing Lauryn Hill and Michael Jackson, so that trained my ear to love the sound,” he said enthusiastically.
Baguma, who is known for blending R&B and hip-hop, makes his fans engrossed in thought of new romance, and he hopes that this new single will connect and resonate with as many people as possible. His sound can go from soft to vibey, something one would play whilst thinking about their crush, to soundtracks used in movies like Fast & Furious.
The 20-year-old second-year marketing student stressed that his studies sometimes inspire his songwriting, claiming that this is deeply rooted in his emotions and individual experiences. 4LViN also shared how he often gets lost during study sessions, hoping to capture the inspiration that strikes at any moment.
“A one-hour study session can turn into two because I stop to record a song in between. Extending my time at the library solves this problem because there are no microphones on the tables.”
When dealing with the overwhelming experience of writing his first university exams, 4LViN used his musical talents to write a song that helped him cope better with the situation, achieving a balance between his career and academic studies.
The rising star, who wrote and recorded his first-ever song in his bedroom, is looking to collaborate with German-Nigerian singer and songwriter odeal.
“He is extremely talented and versatile. I’m really looking forward to collaborating with him in the near future,” he said.
“My family has been my biggest source of positive energy throughout my music career. They show up for every single release and I know that I can celebrate every milestone with them, no matter how big or small,” says Baguma, acknowledging the effortless support of his loved ones.
