PREMIERE: Balémore - Care-Less (Single) + 10 Questions

“Care-Less” – When Letting Go Starts Before the Break Up.

Balémore’s new track Care-Less sits in that uneasy space where a relationship isn’t officially over, yet the care that once held it together has already slipped away. Balémore say’s “I wrote it at the point I realised I was still trying while the other person had quietly checked out. It’s not a dramatic break up anthem or a petty dig; it lives in the tension between wanting things to work and learning to release what’s already gone”.

In the track, Balémore call out the emotional neglect, subtle disloyalty and social media flirting that slowly chipped away at what we had, but he’s honest enough to admit, “Maybe I care less too.” The lyrics are blunt rather than bitter, like the sort of late night conversation you have with yourself when you’re tired of pretending everything’s perfect. It’s a male perspective that stays vulnerable and self aware, letting pride and hurt sit side by side.

Sonically, Care-Less is a slow burning Afro R&B record built on warm bass, a steady mid tempo groove and an intimate vocal that feels like I’m speaking directly to you. It starts spacious and reflective before opening into its most energetic moments, with musical breaks and saxophone lines acting as a second voice in the story.

It’s a track you can move to in a club but feel differently about on the drive home. It isn’t a sad song; it’s a moment of clarity and quiet closure, when you finally stop forcing what no longer fits and give yourself permission to step back.

Balémore sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

My first real connection to music was through church, where my dad was a music director. I am one of four and he made it a point that we all learned music, starting with piano and then picking up other instruments over the years. So whether I liked it or not there was barely a moment where music was not blasting in the house.

I was probably the worst musician out of my siblings when it came to theory, but I connected deeply with the emotion. I remember in Year 1 singing “In the Jungle” in front of the whole assembly while my older brother played piano, and later in primary school putting on my own show called the “Valentines Day Special”. I made flyers, handed them out at recess and told people to meet at the basketball courts at lunch. It was literally so my crush would know how I felt because I was too shy to just say it.

My relationship with music has always been more than just sound. I listened to artists I wanted to be like, their lyrics and beats taking me away from the two-bedroom house with six of us, the Salvation Army dropping off meals and clothes, and the daily principal office visits. Music was the place I used to run away from reality. Now it is still how I process my reality, a way to say the things I do not always know how to say out loud. That is where the love started and why it has never left.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I am influenced by a mix of worlds. Growing up outside of Africa I had a lot of African gospel, classical, hymns and Bob Dylan from my dad, but at school I was heavy on rap and R&B. I went through all the phases: 50 Cent, Chris Brown, Tech N9ne, Flatbush Zombies, Section Boyz, Jhené Aiko, Bryson Tiller, A Boogie, Future, Drake, J. Cole. Somewhere out there are old SoundCloud covers of Chris Brown and John Legend that I hope never get found.

J. Cole was a big turning point. I loved the way he rapped with conviction and emotion. I was obsessed with Friday Night Lights, Born Sinner, Forrest Hills Drive and his older projects. That is when I started rapping properly and sharpening my pen game.

As I got older I started to tap more into my roots. Artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems and Omah Lay showed me how far Afro-fusion can travel without losing its core. On the R&B and alt side, people like Brent Faiyaz, Bryson Tiller, Q, Jorja Smith, PND shaped how I think about vulnerability and space in songs.

A big inspiration lately has been Odeal. When I first heard “24/48” I felt how easily he transferred feeling into the music. It did not sound overcooked or forced, just honest and real.

I would love to work with Tems, I really think we could make a generational song. Asake, Omah Lay and CKay are also people I would love to lock in with. There are really so many names fromall over the globe. From the UK it would be Odeal, Nippa, Gabzy, Juls, Cleo Sol, Dave, and Ezra Collective. From North America, Gunna, Kehlani, Coco Jones, J.Cole and Naomi Sharon are high on my list. And at home in Australia, Soli is someone I would love to get on a track with, plus BLESSED and Jaecy. I am drawn to artists who sit in that in-between space and care about storytelling and world-building the way I do.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I have been working on an EP for a while, and like most artists would know, the structure and feel keep changing as life does. I am still deciding whether to drop it as one full project or split it up.

This year I came back properly with “Kryptonite” and “DFR”, which felt like the start of a new chapter. My new single “Care-Less” is out now and it lives right between those two worlds. It has the energy of “Kryptonite” and the honesty and vulnerability of “DFR”. I feel like the three together set the tone for what people can expect from me moving forward and give a little glimpse into the project I am building.

Beyond singles, I am working towards my first proper audio-visual body of work that sits in the Afro-fusion and R&B space. It explores modern relationships, identity and love in this generation. I want it to feel like you are watching a story unfold, not just listening to a playlist.

The visuals are a big part of how I tell the story. The aim is to close next year out with a project around November just in time for the Detty December love stories.

4. How would you describe your sound?

I usually describe my sound as Afro-fusion and alt R&B with a bit of soul, hip hop and sometimes indie woven in. Rhythmically it draws from Afrobeats and Afroswing, but melodically it leans into R&B and smooth, soulful lines.

I love stacking vocals and building harmonies. That definitely comes from church and my love of gospel choirs. I like making songs you can move to that still punch you in the chest when you really listen to the lyrics. Vulnerability, emotional detail and storytelling are at the centre, but the grooves stay warm, bouncy and replayable. It is music for long drives, late nights and day parties all at once.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

It is hard to pick one moment. I am honestly really proud of this whole season. Changing my name, rebranding and shifting my sound was scary. The idea of starting again and asking people to accept a new version of me felt daunting.

But I am glad I did it. I have been able to strip back the mask, be a lot more honest and pour my heart into the music in a way that feels true to me, and so far it has resonated. The thing that really touched me is how much love I have gotten from Nigeria. Having my motherland tap into my music made everything feel that much more real.

It has not been an easy year, but through grace and the support of my brother and manager Luki we have overshot our expectations. I am proud of where we are and even more excited for the future because I know there are plenty more proud moments to come.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Authenticity and consistency. Take what you love from your favourite artists and flip it into your own thing. All the artists we love now are who they are because they did their own thing. There is already a Drake, a SZA and a Stormzy, but there is not a you, so lean into that.

Be patient and consistent, even when it feels like no one is watching. Most of the growth happens quietly. Learn the basics of the business early, protect your masters and your contracts, and do not be afraid to keep a day job while you build.

Most importantly, build community, not just “fans”. You want real people who care about you and your vision. And be ready for disappointment. Videographers, producers, artists and media will test you. People will ghost you. You need thick skin and the ability to keep it pushing.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Yeah, absolutely. There are a number of talented artists coming out right now, I could rave on about some dope music I am hearing from artists around the globe especially the UK and Nigeria but I think I'll focus on shouting out my True Blues.

Locally, Soli is an amazing R&B and soul singer that everyone should know about. She has already been co-signed by artists like Stormzy and Tems and opened for Tems in Sydney. We are spoiled for great female R&B leads here: Maina Doe, Shanae, Rissa and Devaura are all serious. I have got to send out love and give a shout out to the soul bros out here like Boy Soda, CVIRO and Dean Brady - amazing voices and music being made.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

For the past two to three years you will almost always find Odeal, Tems, Asake and Naomi Sharon’s projects in rotation. Outside of them I have been really enjoying Knucks and Dave’s recent albums. Over the last year or two, Gunna has also been in the mix, especially as he leans more into Afro-influenced sounds. I think he sounds great on Afro tracks.

When I feel like going “old school” you will often find Sade or Kirk Franklin playing. I’ll throw on some 1950-80’s soul and jazz playlists almost every week. But for the most part I love listening to new music and new artists. I think on average I discover around a thousand new artists a year on Spotify. I live in Discover Weekly.

I like playlists that move between continents but still feel like one emotional world. I always find myself bouncing between whatever new drops are coming out of Lagos and London.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

Outside of music I am a bit of a nerd. I work and study in the world of business and finance, so I spend a lot of time reading, learning about investing and thinking about how to build things that last.

I love hanging out with my people, playing basketball, going to church, and catching live shows.

All of that normal life feeds back into the music. The more real life I live, the more honest the songs become.

10. Name three things you can't live without when in the studio?

First is a bottle of water. You do not realise how much you need it until you do not have one.

Second is my notes app and voice memos folder, full of random lines and melodies I have captured during the week. A lot of songs begin from those little ideas.

Third is lip balm. I might actually be a lip-balm-aholic, I hate the feeling of dry lips. Luckily most of my creating happens in my bedroom where I produce and record, so I have access to everything I need all the time.