The Wellness Project, by Bopperson & Bikbaye

The Wellness Project

by Bopperson & Bikbaye

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1.	Wellness Is A Practice 02:36	lyrics	buy track
Wellness is a practice it’s not something we can just decide to do once or twice, it has to become part of who we are. There’s a trinity of the human being: The body, The mind and the The Spirit All three of those things must to be fed for balance to be attained. If that balance is attained, what you’re hearing now, if you think this is good, you will find that this is nothing, compared to where an artist can take the craft, if wellness and internal balance is the focus. So tonight, I say to you, the audience, lovers of music, you love the music I encourage you, to also support artists and their wellness and their efforts to be well, so they can give you even better music, they can give you more soundtracks that fits your life. So tonight, is a very, very special night, I have only but a minute, Only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I can’t refuse it. I Didn’t see it, didn’t choose it. But it’s up to me to use it. Must give account if I abuse it. I have only but a minute, but eternity is in it. Please support the wellness of our artists. Please support the wellness for yourselves God bless you, enjoy the rest of the show
2.	Who Are You? 03:44	lyrics	buy track
Who are you? This is a fundamental question. This is a question that I pose to every artist on the planet. Artists specifically because you are the messengers, you control the narrative So who are you, what is your message? Is wellness a goal, and if so does your message reflect that? And even if you don’t know who you are, just know that you are unique, you are one of a kind. What does this have to do with wellness? Knowing that you are unique, that you are one of a kind That you have a predisposition for something, that only you can do What does this have to do with wellness? It has everything to do with wellness. Because the opposite of that, is not knowing who you are, but wanting to become, who you are not. By comparing two things and events that are all out of yourself Which has nothing to do with your personal destiny, purpose or goals. All of those are internal aspects of who you are Its your reason for existing, So who are you, if you’re comparing yourself to someone else? To someone else’s success, to someone else’s bank account. So we have to bring it back, bring it back to our essence, and understanding more about who we are And this gives us insight into how and who everyone else is.
3.	Consumption (ft. Sam Crowe) 02:47	lyrics	buy track
This message is about the consumption. What are we consuming? What are we consuming that we are aware of? What are we consuming that we’re not aware of ? And if we think about consumption and all the many things we consume Let’s look beyond just the physical. So when we consume anything, if we do it purposely. What is the goal of consuming? What is the goal of consuming, good company? What is the goal of consuming anything we find purpose in or use for? Behind every consumption there’s a goal. So if we're subjecting ourselves to people, places and events. All of these people places and events carry a frequency We’re impacted by all these frequencies. Can we find those frequencies? Do we find those frequencies in our music? And we can not talk about this without looking at the full entirety of it, the whole. What other frequencies are not serving What music frequencies are not serving, a wellness plan? What radio frequencies are not serving? What food frequencies are not serving? Everything carries a frequency, because everything is energy. Consuming energies that are not useful, will produce outcomes that are not useful Consuming energies that are useful and fits the goal, will produce outcomes that fits the goal.
4.	Changes (ft. Nick Briggs) 04:43	lyrics
Everything in nature obeys the laws of change, transformation dictates that nothing can, nor will, stay the same. Contrary to popular belief, change doesn’t hurt, it’s our resistance to change that entertains the pain. Changing styles, changing minds, changing seasons, reasons and paradigms, logics, emotions, locations and oceans, perceptions, notions and paths that are chosen. Change is all intersecting, all interwoven, so ready or not here it comes, something no human is except from, silent and swift from dawn to dusk, change is a gift, change is a must. Change your circumstances, change your condition, changing titles and positions. Lovers, friends, colours and trends. Change of the heart from deep within. All we do and say has an expiration date, and will soon come to pass. Change guarantees new opportunities, and ensures the darkness we endure won’t last. Changing your frequency, changes your vibration. Higher consciousness can change policies of any world nation, laws, opinions, directions and feelings. Mental, psychical, spiritual healing all rearranged, becoming notes and melodies of a song we live called, Changes.

about

Label and collaborative musical collective, +33JOY announce their debut release, this first one from Bopperson & Bikbaye.

Born out of a meeting at New York’s annual Winter Jazz Festival, back in 2020, this 4 track EP entitled ‘The Wellness Project’ is a very personal project.

Neil Bopperson is a DJ, musician and producer originally from Yorkshire. Having travelled the world working as a DJ and chef, he landed in London for a while where he remixed afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi for Wah Wah 45s. Now residing in Paris, France, a sharer and carer of music in every aspect, he chooses not to follow trends but instead follow his heart, with variety being an essential part of his musical DNA.

Based in Los Angeles, Bikbaye Inejnema works as a cultural activist, writer, teacher, counselor and spoken word artist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology boasting over ten years experience in social work. He works as a A.T.O.D. (alcohol, tobacco & other drugs) prevention specialist for Homeless Healthcare in L.A. He is also the Executive Director of The Conscious Youth Global Network (CYGN)

Bikbaye strives to utilize art to equip the youth with the skills to become positive, productive citizens. Focusing on diverse topics ranging from leadership development to financial literacy to health and nutrition, Bikbaye gives youth the tools they need to create empowered and enlightened content.
As Bikbaye says, “The goal is to flood the airwaves, the media, everywhere with enlightened art.”

This first release on +33JOY comes in the form of a collaborative project, with music coming predominantly from Neil, with a little help from some additional players - Sam Crowe; keys (Lianne La Havas, Little Simz & Native Dancer) and the saxophone of Nick Briggs; (Joel Culpepper, Poté & The Last Skeptik). All words and vocals are from Bikbaye.

After a chance meeting in NYC, where Bikbaye was hosting talks at The Winter Jazz Festival, speaking mainly about mental health and wellness in the music industry. His words really resonated with Neil, they connected and this EP is the outcome.

Sitting somewhere in the alternative hip hop world, music is used as a vessel for Bikbaye’s words to ring out. Upon being presented with Bikbaye’s recordings, Neil composed music and collected sound design accordingly.

Starting out the set is the stripped back ‘Wellness Is A Practice’, as the opener to proceedings the vocals take forefront and the message is clear. Found sound, an old crunchy keyboard and some guitar pulses keep the poem afloat.

‘Who Are You?’ raises important questions, directed at other artists and music industry professionals. Flute, choirs and spacy drums come together for an eerie and dubbed out moment.

Third track ‘Consumption’ conveys perhaps the most important memo on the release. Sam Crowe’s grand piano floats beautifully over the reading, really highlighting Bikbaye’s statements.

Finally, and with a more hopeful feel, ‘Changes’ was the last addition to the recording sessions. A sketch Neil had been sitting on for a while, DJ Bobafatt added some cuts and Nick Brigg’s sax solo opens this track out to a goosebumps inducing ending. The most upbeat of the four tracks serves as a perfect prelude to the club-ready remixes that will follow this release.

Early support on BBC 6Music from Deb Grant and Huey Morgan.

“This is a lovely and innovative way to highlight an important subject”
Tony Minviele (Jazz FM)

‘The Wellness Project’ releases on October 10th 2023 (International Mental Health Awareness Day) via +33JOY.