Using Music As Spiritual Expression

Close your eyes. Imagine a single, soaring note that carries a weight beyond melody and words. It cuts through all the noise. 

Music, like prayer, is a universal language that speaks to our deepest emotions and connects us to something larger than ourselves.

The Bible tells the tale of David, a man after God's heart. In moments of despair, triumph, and everything in between, David turned to prayer. His Psalms documented his aches. He sang of battles won and lost, pleading for solace and deliverance. Through his music, David was vulnerable, finding solace in the act of prayer itself.

Like David, Victony uses music as a vessel for his prayers. His lyrics grapple with anxieties and plead for strength, reflecting the scars of past experiences. His music is filled with faith, reflecting the hope and faith instilled by his mother's prayers.

I remember the first time I heard ****“Pray”, and being pulled into his state of mind. The stress of being on the verge of a breakthrough only to be dealt with in a life threatening accident in April, 2020.

The honesty in his voice and storytelling, coupled with the melancholic production, resonates with listeners. But what truly strikes a chord is the spiritual anchor Victony finds in his mother's prayers. The line “Dey don dey pray make I fall again, But my mama dey pray for me too” carries so much weight, it shows the importance of a mother’s prayers and the role of a collective effort.

"Pray" was part of a two-track EP titled "Dark Times," which reintroduced Victony to the music scene.

Three years after the release of "Pray," Victony's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Though he battled near-death experiences and the temporary inability to walk, Victony, like  David, turned to God, and wrote psalms that changed his trajectory.

He went on a feature run, turning every hook to gold, the biggest of them was “Holy Father” with Mayorkun which spread across the nation like a wildfire, peaking at No 2 on the TurnTable Top 50 in Nigeria. Victony sang at the top of his voice “Holy father, holy father, I'm screaming. my Lady Gaga, she got me in my feelings, I'll be Adam for this garden of Eden, holy father, my holy father”

Victony's vocals reached a wider audience, and by the end of the year, he had achieved a miracle for many – standing on his feet to perform "Holy Father" at Davido's “A Decade Of Davido” concert. Davido was seen excitedly saying, “Jesus Is Good”. Victony is a living proof of medical support and prayers.

Victony wasn't a mainstream artist then, but his talent was undeniable. Those who were aware of his voice eagerly awaited new music. True talent, after all, isn't defined by constant noise, but by the ability to release music that silences everything around you.

In 2022, Victony released "Apollo," a house-pop record that blends elements of fuji and amapiano log drums.  Similar to David, who penned psalms that addressed his desires, Victony sings about being drawn to beauty in "Apollo."

In Greek mythology, Apollo is a god associated with music, poetry, and dance, mirroring the themes Victony explores in his music.

Victony's "Outlaw" EP further embodies this connection. The opening track, "Outlaw," features him singing, "I wrote down the prophecy of a young boy, everybody finna know now, soon to be the ruler of the game." The EP reflects the multifaceted nature of Apollo and  David.

His follow up single “Many Men” sees Victony returning to faith, acknowledging the temptations around him "Ogbanje wan dey play for my head oh / Mami water say she dey for set oh" __resisting them with faith "Lord have his mercies upon my soul". As he trusts the lord to guide him "Higher powers watch over my soul".

The emotional depth of "Many Men" is undeniable. Victony isn't chasing chart-topping hits; he's creating emotionally relatable music.

Last month, Victony released his latest project, “Stubborn”, which debuted At No. 2 On The Official Albums Chart In Nigeria. One of the standout record on the album is “Street Affair”

We encounter the same honest voice, heavy with the pain of family discord and betrayal. filled with a heavy heart, he seeks guidance and protection from God. The emotions in his vocals and the sparse production beautifully complement the lyrics. "telephone God, make He come clean this skeletons off my closet"

Just like David and the god Apollo, Victony also experienced betrayal at the hands of loved ones.

Victony sings “Shey na you wey dey call me blood, I no know say you reason me less…You know I no dey do best friend, but the place where I carry you keep e high” There’s so much feeling in the words, in the pain-drenched vocals, and the heavy, yet minimal production.

Victony uses his voice as an instrument, conveying feelings through tone. In the song’s hook, he pleads for divine intervention with the lyrics, “Lai lai lai lai lai lai, koni baje oh, My God go interfere oh” emphasising his desire to resolve the family conflict without public exposure.

Victony's music is not solely entertainment; it's a form of spiritual expression. He shares his struggles and triumphs through prayers set to music. In listening to Victony, we may find more than just entertainment; we may discover a spark of introspection, a call to examine our own battles and the solace prayer can bring.

So the next time you hear Victony's music, listen closely. You might just hear the echoes of ancient prayers, reborn in the heart of a modern-day psalmist.