Peace Okezie, known as Master Peace, is a British musician. He has cited M.I.A., Blood Orange,[1] Santigold, The Strokes, LCD Soundystem,[4] Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys,[5] Bodyrox, Princess Superstar, Friendly Fires, Justice, early Calvin Harris[6], The Veronicas, Paramore, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, The Notorious B.I.G., and Big L[7] as influences.
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] and moved from South East London as a child to Morden,[8] and then to Surrey where he grew up. He had a childhood interest in UK rap. He has noted that he "grew up around people involved in crime",[3] and said that he went to "quite a posh school".[9] His favourite song growing up was "Don’t Speak" by No Doubt.[7]
Career
editOkezie initially was part of a rap group, which he left before it became successful.[8] In 2018, Okezie released "The Lift", which involved him rapping over a-ha’s "Take On Me".[5] In 2019 he released "Night Time",[2] which featured Jme.[5] The song was praised by Skepta.[7]
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.[10][11] In January 2023, Okezie released "Veronica", about young love, in the run-up to his EP Peace Of Mind.[12]
On 1 March 2023,[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[6] 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",[6] "Start You Up" and "LOS NARCOS", the latter of which Okezie stated was "probably the best song I’ve ever made."[13] 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] 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.[14]
In May 2024 Okezie won the Ivor Novello Award for Rising Star,[15] and stated that he was working on a deluxe version of How To Make A Master Piece to be followed by a second album, which would be "sleazier" and "poppier".[4] He performed "Wrong Answers Only" with The Streets at Glastonbury Festival 2024.[16] He then released the single "Home" featuring Wale in July,[17] and announced his second EP, How To Make A(nuva) Master Peace, due to release on 4 October through PMR Records, followed by a UK and European tour.[17] In August, Okezie released his single "Save Me",[18] and singer TSHA released her single "Can't Dance" on 14 August, which featured Okezie.[19] He is expected to tour in October following the release of his EP.[17]
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 (2023)[1]
Extended plays
editSingles
editReferences
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 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 Trendell, Andrew (25 May 2024). "Master Peace is "going crazy" with indie sleaze on "wild" second album". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 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 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.
- ^ 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 Hussain, Shahzaib (9 February 2024). "Master Peace Reclaims His Agency On 'LOS NARCOS' | News". Clash. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 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.