On November 15th, Lagos based firebrand Tim Lyre kicks off the rollout for forthcoming album SPIRAL with blazing new single ‘Rocketship’. A wavy afrobeats track, produced by London based Nigerian beatmaker KCFreeley, laced with melodic tones that transport the listener into the stratosphere, ‘Rocketship’ continues with thedeep melancholic and reflective tones he’s best known for, set to an upbeat futuristic production.
Escapism is the core motive. Tim starts off expressing an induced anxiety, urging him to find a solution to bringabout a sense of peace, providing commentary on his own coping mechanisms. The melody has an aura ofnostalgia, placing the listener into Tim’s shoes while leaving space for their own reflection.
Commenting on the record, Tim says “‘Rocketship’ is a reflection on the anxieties we all face in life—thepressures, the doubts, and the fears that often hold us back. It’s about those moments when everything feelsoverwhelming, and we search for ways to cope or escape, whether through love, music, or vice. The song represents that desire to break free and rise above, but it’s also a nod to the very human need for escapism when life gets too heavy. Musically, I wanted to blend Afro fusion with spacey, ethereal sounds, creating a feeling of weightlessness, like you’re leaving everything behind for a moment of peace and clarity.”
From his own single ‘I Do’ and following a series of successful collaborations, including “All Night” featuringNigerian alté pioneer BOJ and “Instantly” with rising star Kold AF, Tim is riding a wave of creativity andinnovation, supplemented by a string of stand-out features with Show Dem Camp & The Cavemen (‘Buga’)and AYLØ (‘Bang!’).
‘All Night’ charted in over 70 countries on Apple Music who made it their Track of the Week in Africa, hitting #1on iTunes Portugal, as well as high positioning in Nigeria, US and UK charts. On Spotify, it entered Local Pulsecharts in London, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. It also hit #1 on the Kenyan airplay charts, with supportcoming in from BBC 1Xtra with a Worldwide Premiere on DJ Edu’s show and Hotshot of the Week on theOfficial Afrobeats Chart Show w/ Eddie Kadi, plus heavy airplay on Beat FM, Soundcity FM, Kiss FM,TRACE Radio.
Tim Lyre’s last EP MASTA was heralded as one of the standout Afro-fusion projects in 2023 and garnered widespread acclaim from BBC 1Xtra, Notion, Complex UK, Wonderland, GRM Daily, Mixtape Madness and Wetalksound.
With ‘Rocketship’, Tim enters album mode with a string of singles planned before the release of SPIRAL in 2025, under London and Johannesburg based label Outer South.