The Alluring Rise of Rema’s “Calm Down” Remix With Selena Gomez
The NATIVE discuss Rema's biggest hit song yet
Hits aren’t new to Rema but the trajectory of “Calm Down” has been special. Listeners would vary in accounts of when the Andre Vibez-produced song first held them spellbound, but for most, its appeal was instant. It was released in anticipation of an heralded debut album, and before progressing on that journey, the dazzling genius from Benin City showed his hand. Exuberant and vocally dynamic, the record’s potential wasn’t overshadowed by other songs on ‘Rave & Roses’, and rather took the album’s great stature beyond 2022 and into the future.
Two days ago, the announcement came that the Selena Gomez-assisted remix of “Calm Down” had climbed into No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A career-first, the song’s achievement of cultural and commercial acclaim was one scarcely recorded in crossover records, proving Rema’s amorphous style as artistically rewarding. “Trying to hold in the tears,” he shared on social media accounts, “I know how hard I worked to get my sound here.”
Traditionally, songs are known to court peculiar audiences depending on its sound but “Calm Down” has a universal appeal–it cuts across generations and countries. From football icon Cristiano Ronaldo sharing a video of his kids dancing to the song, to pulsating raves and filled-out stadiums, there’s no scene where the tracks feels out of place. The song was at the center of a national moment when it was revealed five kids in Iran were detained for sharing a dance video without wearing the mandatory headscarves. In response, Rema had tweeted, “To all the beautiful women who are fighting for a better world, I’m inspired by you, I sing for you, and I dream with you.”
The engineering of such a global hit song usually demands sturdy label backing and in Mavin Records, Rema has the experience to go with talent. In this roundtable discussion, members of The NATIVE’s editorial team explore the record’s success and other relative considerations.
WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THE SONG?
Nwanneamaka: Following the release of ‘Raves and Roses,’ I leaned more towards songs like “FYN” and “Oroma Baby” so the release of a remix for “Calm Down” didn’t necessarily spark my attention. While I understand the benefit of a remix in taking the track to new heights, I was not enthusiastic about this because I couldn’t see Rema and Selena blending on a track. While this wasn’t a bad attempt, I can say I still prefer the original.
Wonu: I usually don’t listen to Rema as I personally don’t connect with a lot of his songs but “Calm Down” was that song. It instantly did it for me, I remember having the song on repeat for weeks when it initially came out. The record at the time was a fine addition to his ever evolving discography.
Uzoma: I loved it the first time I heard it. The production from Andre Vibez was instantly catchy, and how Rema was slipping in and out of pockets of melody was masterful. I have been a fan of Rema since “Iron Man” and “Calm Down” made me know that the young star was here to stay. Also, Director K’s colourful visuals for the song heightened its appeal.
Daniel: It was love at first listen for me. Having not dropped a record for a minute before “Calm Down”, I immediately fell in love with the feel of the record and sonic shift from Rema.
DID “CALM DOWN” NEED A REMIX?
Dennis: I stopped believing in remixes a while ago, so I didn’t believe “Calm Down” needed a remix when it came out. In fact, I still haven’t listened to the remix since the first time I watched the video. Hindsight is 2020: Without that remix, that song’s potential wouldn’t have swelled into the undeniable behemoth that it is.
Uzoma: Honestly, I never imagined a remix for “Calm Down” because I believed Rema did a great job on the song. When the news broke about the Selena Gomez feature, I didn’t know what to expect. On first listen, it didn’t feel too different from the original. But after a couple of more listens, I had to admit that Selena Gomez came through with top effort. She and Rema had good chemistry and the success of the song is proof of that synergy.
Emmanuel: In the weeks before ‘Rave & Roses’ dropped, “Calm Down” was the song I listened the most to. For me, it was such a perfect song; the writing, the beat, the adlibs, even the video. So naturally, I’d be sentimental and say it didn’t really need a remix. However, the remix is very well done, and doesn’t rub off the wrong way on the OG version. Business-wise, I can’t fault the young man too.
HOW WELL DOES SELENA GOMEZ DO ON THE REMIX?
Nwanneamaka: Undoubtedly a good attempt especially when comparing some of the international contributions we’ve had on the big Afropop songs from these parts. Selena is a good vocalist, no doubt about that, I just wonder if the song was actually elevated sonically.
Wonu: Selena Gomez did good on the remix. I wouldn’t have been bothered if there was no remix to the record but it was a great move for the record, the track surely needed the elevation.
IF YOU WERE TO SELECT AN ARTIST TO BE ON A “CALM DOWN” REMIX, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Daniel: Honestly, I would have been fine without a remix, but if I were to choose, I’d have definitely loved to hear Tems on the track.
Wonu: I would have loved to see Nasty C on the remix actually, that would have been an interesting pair.
Emmanuel: Well, songs by Rema are usually versatile so a lot of names come to mind. I think Rema has shown more than any contemporary that he’s willing to stretch his sound outwards, and for novelty, it would have been exciting to see an Africa-facing remix. Perhaps something with CKay or a South African producer, something that spices up the song in an unexpected way. I’m a sucker for freshness.
HOW BIG COULD REMA BECOME GLOBALLY?
Dennis: If you ask me for a shortlist of Nigerian artists that could perform on the most prestigious stages, with an obsessive fan base and possibly the type of mammoth world tours guys like Bad Bunny and The Weeknd have pulled off, Rema would be one of the first two I would name. (The other is Tems, but I digress.) Rema isn’t just talented, he’s a magnetic character with a sound that’s both pop and edgy, and this remix is another example of the great decisions that he consistently makes.
Emmanuel: Musically, I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Rema and that’s frightening. Not for him, though. He’ll definitely be enjoying the start to the year and if anything, the dual release of “Holiday” and “Reason You” is a great way to embark on another journey. With the right moves, I see Rema tapping more into the sporting and fashion aspects of culture, especially after his appearance at the NBA halftime show. And given the world-dominating status of this “Calm Down” remix, it’s expected that Rema would mark out those spaces where he hasn’t yet penetrated, and make a targeted push for ubiquity there.
Uzoma: It feels like Rema is just getting started. With every new release, he keeps elevating his artistry and breaking new ground. His exploits on his songs and other projects—say the ‘Black Panther’ soundtrack—have proved that he can function effortlessly as both a singer and a rapper. With consistency and fresher sonic iterations, he will cement his legacy as one of Nigeria’s biggest music exports.
Nwanneamaka: The growth he has experienced and the boundaries he has managed to break with only a couple of extended plays and one debut album is insane. A crucial trait he also possesses for an artist on the cusp of a breakthrough is good stage presence. Watching how his electrifying energy translates to audiences and to me on the other side of the screen is incredible. A star in the making, without a doubt.
View this post on Instagram
Featured image credits/
ICYMI: Gbemisola Abudu wants to strength basketball & the NBA as a cultural force in Nigeria
Shekhinah Returns With Surprise Album, ‘Less Trouble’
The South African R&B star is at her most assertive on her first album in four years.
South African R&B and Pop singer Shekhinah has released a new surprise album titled ‘Less Trouble.’ The Durban star, who had been quiet for most of the year, took to social media shortly before midnight to share the new album’s cover, synopsis, and tracklist, simply stating, ‘If you’re seeing this my album LESS TROUBLE is out now at Midnight,’ in an Instagram caption.
The soulful singer first began teasing ‘Less Trouble,’ her first album in over four years, about a year ago when she released its lead single “Risk,” a bouncy Afropop-inspired collab with Ghanaian star MOLIY. A few months after the release of “Risk,” she put out “Steady,” a dreamy pop number that suggested that something bigger was on the horizon. But then it was largely radio silence about a project until its surprise arrival at midnight.
If 2021’s ‘Trouble In Paradise’ represented a coming-of-age for Shekhinah, subsisting some of the dreamy, youthful exuberance of her debut album for more measured musings on themes like heartbreak and grief, ‘Less Trouble’ finds her at her most assertive, writing and singing with the acuity of someone who is grown, decisive and discerning. The delicate opener “Break Up Season” sets the tone for the rest of the album as she shows little tolerance for shady behaviour and toxic patterns.
Other standout cuts on the album like “Bare Minimum,” a sombre collab with fellow South African award-winning singer lordkez, the ethereal, in-your-face interlude “New Casanova,” and the percussive “What Are We,” where Shekhinah contemplates the nature of a relationship but ultimately demands all or nothing, all drive home a part of the album’s synopsis, which reads ‘A BOOK ON MORE HEARTBREAK BUT LESS HEARTACHE.’
Shekhinah invites a couple of new collaborators on ‘Less Trouble,’ featuring the aforementioned MOLIY and lordkez as well as multi-instrumentalist Mars Baby and Young Stunna across the album’s 11 tracks. Mpilo Shabangu handled the majority of the album’s production, while other producers like Michael Morare, her longtime collaborator, Mthintheki Mzizi, and Vuyo also contributed to the album.
Listen to ‘Less Trouble’ here.
Keep reading...
The NATIVE’s First Impressions Of Amaarae’s ‘Black Star’
‘Black Star’ marks another evolutionary arc for Amaarae, and The NATIVE team offer our thoughts after a...
Change has always been a constant theme in any discussion about the career of Ghanaian-American star, Amaarae. Since she emerged as a singular voice in the late 2010s, she has evolved from a sirenic Afropop-adjacent singer into a Punk-Pop firestarter with minimal fuss. ‘Fountain Baby,’ her 2023 sophomore album, was a sweeping departure from the lilting melodies and shapeshifing cadences of the hypnotic ‘The Angel You Don’t Know,’ emphasizing her commitment to charting new courses with her music.
In the lead-up to her new album, ‘Black Star,’ she has wholly embraced a Pop aesthetic and sheen that was reflected on the album’s promotional singles, “S.M.O.” and “Girlie-Pop!.” Now that the album has arrived, the singer has advised listeners not to go in expecting a continuation of the soundscape on ‘Fountain Baby.’ As keen followers of Amaarae’s career from its start, we are sure that ‘Black Star’ marks another evolutionary arc for her, and we offer our thoughts after a few listens.
WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF AMAARAE GOING INTO THIS ALBUM?
Kemnachi: I had zero doubts that she would impress me again. Amaarae always comes correct. She is audacious with her choices, taking creative risks most artists would not dare to imagine, and somehow rendering them seamless, deliberate, and effortless. Her music has a way of enveloping me: it’s fluid, slightly dangerous, and yet irresistibly sensual. Every project feels like an immersive world she has curated down to the finest detail. With ‘Black Star,’ I knew it was not going to be a mere collection of songs but another meticulously constructed realm.
Bamise: I expected something fun, genre-bending, and sonically diverse in the fashion that Amaarae’s music typically is. I may have taken the album title a bit too literally, though, because listening made me realise I had an eye out for some Pan-African statements or something to spark discourse on African identity, but I didn’t quite catch any of that.
Boluwatife: Amaarae has largely delivered throughout her career, so I knew she was going to come correct again. She’s one of those forward-thinking artists who take the kind of risks most others wouldn’t, but she always manages to make it work. She’s proven to be a musical omnivore who constantly meshes her wide-ranging influences into something new, fluid, icy, and more often than not, sensual. I knew ‘Black Star’ wasn’t going to be any different.
WHAT SONGS STOOD OUT ON THE FIRST LISTEN?
Wale: I liked “Girlie-Pop!.” I feel like it captures Amaarae’s vision of pushing Afropop into the future. She’s also really grown comfortable with music and lyricism and will not dumb down her message for anybody. The instrumental for “Girlie-Pop!” is also a wonder; it’s so dense, but there are pockets for Amaarae to be emotive about her feelings. Top song!
Daniel Akins: I need to hear “B2B” at the next rave I’m at. Amaarae is in her Dance era, and I’m here for it. Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2” with PinkPantheress is the collaboration I knew I needed, and I’m glad they finally linked up. It’s a clear standout on the project; their ethereal style complements each other.
Shina: “B2B” was the one that did it for me. That is my favourite track on the project. The number of times I ran it back was unhealthy for a first listen. It was also really fun to catch the Don Toliver “Best You Had” sample. I need to hear this outside!
HOW WELL YOU THINK THE GUEST APPEARANCES ENHANCED THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE?
Israel: The guest features on Black Star aren’t mere flexes. They’re strategic, theatrical, and sometimes emotionally resonant. They enhance, yes, but they do so on Amaarae’s terms. A standout for me was PinkPantheress on “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2.” The tradeoff is that a few songs feel like dazzling cameos rather than an integrated conversation, yet overall they enhance the album’s drama, texture, and bravado with precision.
Daniel Banjoko: Everyone showed up and delivered, no weak links here. Instead of just guest spots, they felt like vital pieces of a bigger puzzle. Charlie Wilson on “Dream Scenario” nailed his part especially, making the track sound exactly like its name promises.
Moore: The guest appearances on ‘Black Star’ feel very intentional; each one enhances the album’s world without overshadowing Amaarae’s vision. PinkPantheress’s signature airy delivery meshes with Amaarae’s experimental pop sound. Naomi Campbell’s commanding voice on “ms60” is an unexpected but powerful addition, adding drama to the track. Each feature feels carefully chosen.
WHAT SONG IS THE BIGGEST SKIP?
Bamise: Not to be a party pooper, but I don’t get the PinkPantheress collab, “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2.” It feels like a PinkPantheress song with less pop in it, and just borrows the title of the iconic Soulja Boy song but has no other similarities. It’s between that and “ms60.” For me, the chorus of that sounds like something I’ve heard from Amaarae before, and I doubt its absence would have diminished the album.
Shina: I feel like biggest skip is a strong word for a solid project, but if I have to pick a song to skip, it’ll be “ms60.” I think it’s easily forgettable.
Wale: It’s hard to single out a song that stuck out to me, but hearing Naomi Campbell on “ms60” threw me off. It’s just too contrived to bear for me.
WHAT SONG HAS THE BIGGEST HIT POTENTIAL?
Boluwatife: My gut answer would probably be “She Is My Drug,” just because of how she beautifully reworks the melodies from Cher’s “Believe.” DJ remixes of this song could go crazy. But if I were to think a bit more logically, TikTok would probably lap up “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2.”
Daniel Banjoko: “Kiss Me Thru the Phone pt 2” goes crazy. Amaarae and PinkPantheress are the perfect match. This collab feels like it was destined to happen, and it delivers in full. Honestly, I can’t believe it took this long, and now I just need more tracks from these two, ASAP.
Moore: “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2” has the biggest hit potential on the album. The song has a nostalgic, sad party girl vibe that makes it appealing, and it’s also catchy and well-produced. PinkPantheress consistently performs well on platforms like TikTok, and her fanbase overlaps in a really interesting way with Amaarae’s. The collaboration feels organic and exciting, and will likely create a lot of buzz.
OVERALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Wale: There is a very visceral quality to how Amaarae expresses desire that I don’t hear very often in a lot of music. It’s abstracted and warped in futuristic textures, but it’s very profoundly human, and it’s always great to hear that even as she advances the sonics of her delivery. I do, however, have an issue with the thematic scope of ‘Black Star.’ I thought there would be overt references to her experiences of navigating her Ghanaian identity, but those references are limited to samples and interpolations. It’s still an incisive listen and a triumph for finding ways to advance music from Africa.
Bamise: It’s Amaarae; she can never go wrong. But for me, this is the album that excites me the least from her catalogue. Other than how bass-heavy some songs on the album are, like “S.M.O.” and “She Is My Drug” among others, it feels similar to other projects I’ve heard from her in a way that’s not exactly refreshing or mind-bending. I may have gotten spoiled by how diverse and eclectic Amaarae’s music tends to be, but I wanted more from her. I expected more gangster, Hip-Hop Amaarae. Thematically, I didn’t get anything that gives the Black Star of Ghana, or black stars are ruling the world. Will I listen again and enjoy every bit of it still, though? Yes, I will.
Shina: So first off, this is a solid body of work. I love the fact that Amaarae stuck with the Dance, Electro-Pop route she was going with throughout the album. The features also played their part, adding their unique touches to each record. I would say, though, a feature I would’ve loved to hear on this project is 070Shake. I think she would have been perfect on “100DRUM,” but we don’t always get what we want, do we? Thematically, I think Amaarae could’ve leaned heavily on her Ghanaian heritage, seeing as the title and cover of the album are a nod to that. Maybe Amaarae just wants us to dance, and that’s what I’m just gonna do, and you should too.
Keep reading...
Tems Partners With Hennessy For Leading Vibe Initiative
Launching in Lagos, Nigeria, this event pioneered by Tems marks the beginning of a continent-wide movement to...
In July, Tems announced the Leading Vibe Initiative (LVI) to support women in music and the creative space on their journey to make a mark in their fields and create space for other women in those industries. Born from Tems’ journey as a self-taught artist with a focus on driving change, the initiative offers training, mentorship, industry access, and community for women in music in Africa.
After a rigorous selection process for its inaugural cohort, Hennessy will join the two-time Grammy Award-winning star to celebrate the launch of the Leading Vibe (LVI) Initiative in Lagos, Nigeria. Held from August 8 to 9, 2025, the two-day event is the beginning of a bold new chapter in Hennessy’s long-standing commitment to music and culture in Africa.
“I’m excited to partner with Hennessy in bringing this initiative to life, supporting talented young women in music as they find their voices, embrace their power, and shape the future of the industry across Africa and beyond,” Tems said about the partnership.
The Leading Vibe Initiative aims to champion the next generation of female artists, producers, songwriters, and music professionals, increasing representation within all areas of music across the continent and beyond.
With Hennessy as lead partner, this ambitious program kicks off with an immersive event in Lagos featuring curated workshops, networking moments, and panel discussions led by top-tier talent from across the global and African music industries.
“Her vision, talent, and purpose align deeply with Hennessy’s legacy of championing those who push boundaries and redefine the world around them. We’re honored to support the Leading Vibe Initiative and to continue empowering African communities and cultures,” said Vincent Montalescot, Hennessy Global Chief Marketing Officer.
Hennessy’s partnership with Tems builds on the brand’s decades-long history of supporting music and artistic expression globally and on the continent. From Hip-Hop to Afrobeats, Hennessy continues to stand beside the artists and communities that shape culture.
In Africa, the Maison has deepened its commitment through meaningful initiatives like In the Paint and now, with the Leading Vibe Initiative, is taking a focused step toward amplifying women’s voices in music. With the Lagos launch as a powerful first step, the Leading Vibe Initiative will expand across Africa and globally, creating a cross-continental network of empowered women ready to shape the future of African music.
Keep reading...
